JD Barker | AUTHORS BEHAVING BADLY

[@StephtheGD]

Remember to use “alleged” a lot so you don’t get sued, like “alleged writer” and “alleged human being”.

[@exomake_mehorololo]

Sage advice

[@williamelliott186]

😂😂😂 savage

[@delyseonduty]

Based

[@cerebrumexcrement]

😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@onlyfrog]

lmfao

[@sweetstacks3631]

"I'm a husband and a father" got me so much. Like, buddy, there's no way you don't know husbands and fathers can't be creeps or predators.

[@nomisunrider6472]

I’ve never understood the whole “I have female relatives” excuse. Literally every man ever has had female relatives and it never stopped them.

[@Steampunkfox143]

Like there was an episode of "To catch a Predator" where the guy brought his 6 year old with him!

[@exomake_mehorololo]

He must know, he is one

[@adrianghandtchi1562]

@@Steampunkfox143absolutely, remember the movie The Quiet (2005) ? Or Girl in the Basement (2022) ? Just appalling.

[@perlyshell]

exactly! like some "fathers" out there being creeps to their own children

[@seanboggs215]

This creep could've saved himself a lot of embarrassment if he had just paid some actual models or adult film actors to pose for some publicity photos or something. Why did he have to cheap/creep out and send random emails to random women to pose for something with only a vague promise of "potential" payment? This is all kinds of sketchy.

[@strigiformthunderstorm]

I'm sure he would have found a way to embarrass himself no matter what, no sex worker/model with experience would respond to an ad like this.

[@bellanacht]

I find it weird that people try to say "well I'm a husband and father" or "i have a wife, daughter, sister" So? That has no impact on your obvious actions.

[@starophie]

if there's not already a kinky sweeney todd fanfic called "fifty shaves," there probably will be now

[@ReadswithRachel]

Hahahahaha

[@dejadoodligton6010]

I'd imagine it'll play out similarly to the freaky Fred episode from Courage the cowardly dog

[@ShuhPond]

@@dejadoodligton6010NAWTY

[@silentlyjudgingyou]

That needs to exist I may cry if I can't find it

[@GarnetHeartIllustrations]

@@ShuhPondyou need like 5 more w’s in that “Nawty” 😂 NAWWWWWWTY

[@cedarmay4245]

New York Times best seller doesn’t mean anything anymore 😭

[@amara560]

It hasn't in awhile xD

[@katherinealvarez9216]

​@@amara560for how long? I'm genuinely curious.

[@AuthorWASimpson]

Agreed.

[@blackdahlia42]

I've been let down by far too many NYT 'best sellers' to believe in it anymore - and i'm not even that picky of a reader if i'm being honest.

[@tarotsushima3332]

Might as well be the participation trophy you get when you make a physical publication of a book atp. That and it can get pretty easy to manipulate by overinflating numbers.

[@s1eepykinq]

im going to point out the fact that if anyone, man OR woman sent something like this i would be equally creeped out - no one and i mean NO ONE should be sending emails like this to anybody. period.

[@exomake_mehorololo]

Yep

[@JennyTroutstanding]

This is the man who, at a book event where he was THE ONLY MAN, talked at length about his seven figure advances and how James Patterson told him "We're going to get you a seat at the big boys table." Big shock: his parents know Stephen King because they have vacation homes near each other.

[@ReadswithRachel]

JENNY SAY SIKE RIGHT NOW

[@JennyTroutstanding]

@@ReadswithRachel My friends and I have made fun of him FOR YEARS without knowing his name, because we only remember him as "the big boy." When this drama happened and I saw his picture I was like... you gotta be f***ing kidding me.

[@JennyTroutstanding]

@@ReadswithRachel This would have had to have been in 2018. I went and looked it up via google photos because I remembered that I took a picture of a cute kitten that day but not JD Barker's name LOLOLOL

[@eldrichnemo9312]

You know I was thinking "I bet this isn't the first time dude has pulled SOMETHING" and lo and behold Jenny with the receipts!

[@bib4eto656]

"I have a wife and a daughter" and I'm feel really bad for them

[@vvitch-mist20]

He could have asked sex workers to promote his book. If he had asked people who already to spicy content to start with then it wouldn't be weird, but this just feels like he went after women he was sexually attracted to. Scummy and weird.

[@kirikirikiri99]

have you heard about Taylor Barton/Jupiter Wyse/Freydis Moon/Taylor Brooke/Brooklyn Ray/Saint Harlow? Talk about an author behaving BAAAAAADLY.

[@ReadswithRachel]

I did, and WOOF

[@MDSpencersLs]

Just watched Cindy’s video on that and geez that is a whole mess I am awaiting more videos on

[@hannahbrennan2131]

What did they do?

[@brightasthedawn]

@@hannahbrennan2131 Short version: a white person pretended to be a POC. Check out withcindy for more details, it’s their most recent video.

[@Scatscar1985]

​@@ReadswithRachelElaborate please.

[@ratkyle]

The fact that this is the best idea he had for a social media marketing campaign *about an evil social media app* is astounding. The ARG/ guerrilla marketing for this could've gone crazy

[@exomake_mehorololo]

Sounds to me he was just very horny at the time

[@heyheysheashea12]

"No don't take my Not a Misogynist passport stamp away! I didn't do anything to earn it but I like showing it off!"

[@vcutler4735]

This is so gross and 100% he had to have been trying to commission custom spank bank material and probs never intended to pay most if any of them. The only clients (in any profession) who asks to commission but wont at least partially pay before the commission is started let alone complete... that's a scam.

[@mel4957]

Can't imagine paying only $100 bucks for an influencer with *3k-5k followers* in general, let alone for this type of video. Not to mention it's not even guaranteed payment?? The audacity of this man is astounding.

[@bookbelle5475]

12:47 Also anytime anyones says I have a "insert marginalized group here" friend in order to excuse behavior I immediately assume they do not have a friend from that group, they have a acquaintance they've decided is a friend to allow them to be horrible

[@bookbelle5475]

LOL, I paused this right before you said you don't believe they have a friend from those groups😂

[@elena_1776]

imo the reason he added the "with no regards to age or gender" line is because it was even creepier that all the people he solicited were young women and he wanted to pretend they were chosen at random

[@aaron_99887]

I swear, people will use the “I’m a husband, I’m a father” excuse or anything even remotely similar to that for EVERYTHING.

[@Stu161]

"Did I do a no-no? 🥺" This phrase was like a bomb in my ears. I legitimately thought this was going to be the part of his site where he addressed the solicitation incident 💀

[@alldolledupinstraps]

He's not wrong, technically. There are influencers making content like this. Except they're SW and they consented to do so. Not book bloggers being cold-emailed like thos.

[@booksfrombed]

Not me literally covering part of the screen anytime his picture is up because I don't want him staring at me 😂 Absolutely heinous!

[@kir-is-here]

he’s staring through my soul😳

[@moonstone___]

did you cover it with the ebook like you’re supposed to your Naughty Bits?

[@sophdog2564]

*pays for KZbin premium just so I can turn the screen off for THIS video* 😂

[@booksfrombed]

@@moonstone___ Dang, I didn't! Guess I'm out that $100 🙄

[@BlankPageEmperor1334]

"There is no excuse for the insensitivity demonstrated by my actions." *gives several excuses*

[@brittanyphillips9157]

“It’s your choice” wow, thanks Rhysand 🤦‍♀️🤣

[@laurelinvanyar]

The scream I scrumpt

[@kymar4810]

Every time you read from his "apology," I just kept chanting "liar, liar, LIAR" because it's SO blatant. You’re right - he thinks the people he targeted are stupid. Probably because he's a misogynist. Love your commentary, as always. ❤

[@dragonquestV]

The way his statement said it was sent without consideration to "age or gender" implies that sending a harassing email to men is just as bad as sending it to minors 🤢🤮 (as in if it was just sent it to adult women it would have been ok)

[@Kaiheart]

Im just sitting here wondering why all the skeezy authors have names like JD and JM and JK... it feels like a trend.

[@krenko-]

y'know I've never noticed that but they really do. the J curse strikes again.

[@Kaiheart]

​@@krenko-and James Patterson! Nearly forgot him.

[@krenko-]

@@Kaiheart holy crap. this is a legit problem lmao

[@idongesitusen5764]

If it was a female author doing this to male book influencers, I can imagine a large number would be angry. I sure would.

[@ReadswithRachel]

Not even just influencers there was an issue with a booktoker sexualizing a hockey team and one of the guys and his wife came forward and asked for it to stop, and unfortunately there were a lot of influencers who thought that this sexual harassment was justified while the rest of us were horrified

[@GarnetHeartIllustrations]

I hate when public apologies are overly flowery or poetic, it feels like grandstanding or making a show out of something that should be sincere. Like, just say “I sent out an inappropriate set of suggestions for promotional tiktoks, objectifying the influencers I reached out to.” Not “words can hurt more than the most dangerous weapon and I wielded that weapon”

[@Mathilde_Bruhn]

I kinda hope at least one person decided to take the piss out of the "suggestions": starts with a "sugar" segment of a far-shot where the person in question is wildly swinging on a swingset, then the "spice" segment being them driving a go-kart. Camera pans over their pet cat with the book lying so it covers the cat's butt. Then they recreate the pointing meme using pngs, followed by the picture of the black hole, with the book being thrown inside

[@sophiaaldous3199]

How can a person be so oblivious to think that it’s NOT inappropriate and creepy to send an email soliciting nudes from strangers? I mean… how you done lived for so long on this earth, in this time, and you don’t know that?

[@valentinewhite9298]

In this “Julia”’s defense. I wouldn’t come out about a fuck up like this. That is a sure fire way to have all future job prospects ruined

[@AutsiticAlien007]

When this went down, I had no words because that email was something else. And the fact that he tried to blame a fake person makes me question the intelligence of this person. Also it’s rude that there are certain people who were not emailed (he clearly has a weird thing against people who didn’t look a certain way, that’s not suspicious at all). I’m still upset I never got this email and I think I look cute enough. 😂😂 (I am being sarcastic) Also I am being real, using the term “naughty bits” makes me very very uncomfortable because there is nothing naughty about my naked body. That feels like we are in some murky weird waters that I don’t wanna be in.

[@phonty1]

It seems like he doesn't know that influencers probably get asked things like this all the time, and with low or no pay. The influencers that would have the most reach are always going to want a contract and real pay for promoting someone else's product. And the whole non apology and acting like he's not the one who sent out the email, that's super suspicious and cringy at the same time. Gross man. He's going on my DNR list.

[@Mushroomelixir]

Whats with the J's???? JM Arlen, JM Buckler, JK Rowling, and now JD Barker? Like- CALM DOWN-

[@shangc2781]

... rowling

[@dazzanation3806]

My exes with J names were the worst!

[@caramelcomplx9518]

Don't forget JK Rowling

[@farnregen]

Damn, my Name starts with an J... Well good thing my username and maybe someday Pseudonym starts with an F

[@Mushroomelixir]

@@shangc2781 HOLY SHIT I FORGOR ABOUT HER

[@o0BlackSand0o]

Just told my husband what this guy did and he cracked up and said the guy is delusional. Also, were trying to work out who he's marketing towards. If he wants women to read it, getting women to market it like porn isn't a grwat idea. If its for men, then men should be marketing it.

[@onceuponamelody]

I know there's a book influencer that does this, but, AND I CAN'T STRESS THIS ENOUGH, it is HIS choice to do that. No publisher or author asks him to pose nood with books.... This is horrific and he shouldn't be allowed to publish ever again. Throw him in jail and toss away the key...

[@dunniaromolaran2233]

What exactly is the criteria for a NY bestselller? They seem to just give those out to anybody

[@exocutionn]

“I think he should go back in the box” My brain: “Stay in the box! NOOO! Stay in the box! NOOO!”

[@carililyyarbrough2305]

“and by ‘interesting,’ I mean ‘YIKES!’” babe, new reaction just dropped

[@NC-dw1ir]

first of all, there is no way a man got this email unless he has a female name as his youtube/tiktok handle. secondly, for him to apologize publicly and then go back on some shady site to let low-lives tell him he did nothing wrong and agree with them is even more disgusting. thirdly, him being a husband and father makes it worse. That means he could've asked his wife or kids how the email would be perceived before sending it or tried to think about how he'd feel if a man sent that email to his wife/kids. And finally, the fact that he didn't just use a site known for that sort of thing to solicit from instead of tiktok/youtube where the content creaters can be as young as 12 and him not even checking age before sending that email is just NO.

[@vikingqueentierney]

One thing that you didn't mention here is that JD founded the PR company that was sending out the emails, so he is also quite literally "Julia's" boss, so him not seeing or signing off on the email makes even LESS sense

[@Iratepandabear]

7:04 this feels like someone took a masterclass in how not to advertise to women

[@ashleypreim9014]

The audacity of men strikes again!

[@VickiWeavil]

Apparently this guy writes books "with" (for) James Patterson, so yeah, I guess Patterson might give him a positive blurb.

[@spellbound_bj]

This is some bizarre digital casting couch nonsense. How gross.

[@equinoxcrow]

This reeks of predatory boomer thought process.

[@teslashark]

Bastard can't even hire people at market price, on accepted platforms like Onlyfans

[@aliaspurr9745]

Damn. Imagine tanking your whole career and reputation because you were too goonbrained and forgot to use the burner email

[@faramirbutnothatone]

ngl if someone compared my writing to 50 shades I'd have to like attack them. That is NOT a compliment imo.

[@ALittleMagpie]

ETA: Ew. No thank you. Goodbye. --> I want a hoodie of this. A few thoughts: (1) Anyone who asks me to do something like this, I don't care who you are, regardless of gender, it is very cringey at best, predatory at worse (and I feel this is the latter). (2) Anyone who says "I am a husband and father" or "wife and mother" or "parent and spouse" makes me want to barf. It doesn't mean anything to me. (3 and most importantly) Love the video as always!

[@heyimsasa]

the fucking audacity 🗡️ 🗡️

[@friendnotafan]

Also wasnt it revealed that he also owned the marketing company that he used as a scapegoat? He definitely wrote that email

[@jennderqueer]

I remember this exploding across the booksphere. What a mess!

[@varying-quality-creations]

"so get creative" *Smash cut to that clip from 'Don't hug me, I'm scared'* "Let's never be creative again"

[@rachelMB]

His follow up response is giving major “hey will you be my girlfriend?” …no response… OMFG MY FRIEND STOLE MY PHONE AND SENT THAT IT WASNT ME I SWEAR HAHA HES SO FUNNY SORRY BOUT THAT But also, the attempt to shift the onus onto creators and say “some _influencers_ have suggested posing racy” or whatever is just so gross. We all know they absolutely did not do that, lol. Cut it out.

[@howaboutno2050]

“I’m a husband and father” and a massive creepster so it seems

[@BookishBatz]

I didn't know about the fb group. I cannot believe people are defending him.

[@TheRPGNerd]

one time i got into an argument with a game dev (not saying who for personal reasons) abt hogwarts legacy. he claimed his trans friends were fine with it. im literally trans

[@B-zk9bt]

Help Rachel I saw this persons books in my local library and an elderly woman told me that she loved them I’m sobbing

[@eldrichnemo9312]

This whole thing makes me feel gross all over and while I have zero evidence of this the feeling this is not the first time this person crossed a line. Glad the agent dropped them. I wonder if anyone responded to the email with demands for a contract and much higher, fair pay for the kind of work requested? And what a great point about the research because if the error form is any indication clearly no work was done to identify booktokers who specialize in spicy material AND put forth a more s--ualized aesthetic in their posts. There were so many more ways to do this without coming off like a creeper trying to get free material but NOPE! Laziest and most offensive manner possible!

[@runa_7022]

i mentioned this on a previous video about this, but if he reached out to OF creators or creators who have made suggestive content, i dont think this would be AS bad (would still be weird imo but i could see it being a genuine marketing campaign if their audiences are what hes after) but reaching out to women who have NEVER consented to being viewed in that kind of way let alone shown themselves that way online before... thats where its a huge red flag to me. there are women out there who DO want to do things like this, and thats okay!!!! however, most women on booktok do not!!!! if they did theyd probably be on OF themselves!

[@davidchess1985]

"Definitely the fault of one of my many PR firms."

[@zachreads]

My question is did he write the book specifically so he could attempt to get creepy videos?

[@vanessas_library9386]

If you look at the one star & two star reviews on goodreads, there is a person named Kyle Stotts replying to the reviewers to stop spreading misinformation and to read a certain article about the authors apology. I'm thinking Kyle is actually JD Barker.

[@Zanyotaku]

Rachel with more bad behavior callouts… this may sound weird but other people’s drama makes me feel more… calm? Like “hey my life isn’t going that badly” thank you for your service

[@angryotter9129]

I’m currently rewatching the ABB playlist, because I’m having a mental health ✨ crisis ✨ and these horrible people make me feel better about myself. Rachel is doing a community service here.

[@duckynoodles3560]

I don’t even know what to comment anymore. I just appreciate Rachel for keeping us up to date on authors. Also I finished crocheting a cow and I love them 😊

[@girlypopgay]

Oh that’s sickening 🤢

[@vyhurz7275]

i think in the twitter statement saying "without consideration of age of gender" is trying to say he didn't target younger girls/women.

[@alinastarkov9793]

Thank u Rachel for keeping in the loop about the tea about authors because my only social media I have is KZbin and fable (thanks to u)but following every little thing authors do must be exhausting love to u and your family and the community you have built. Stay safe and keep your sanity😅

[@angelaholmes8888]

I'm very thankful Rachel keeps us informed 😊

[@katalinilles5497]

I don’t know much about PR firms, but i’m quite sure they wouldn’t start a contacting influencers about a media campaign without an approval from their customer, in this, Barker.

[@HirilCelebrian]

Seeing what he looks like is all I needed.

[@CarisiCreates]

Anyone that unironically uses “new fangled” in a sentence needs to leave the internet alone. Boomer needs to go back and be apart of the silent generation.

[@valmaihanson1989]

Public apologies feel very much like they go off of a MadLibs type script. Oof. Just say you messed up! Don’t rope your family into this, sir!!

[@starfiring]

*deflects blame with obviously fake lies* But I take full responsibility! ????? something isn’t adding up here and it might be your sales, mr barker bc I don’t think you’ll be any kind of bestseller again anytime soon.

[@starfiring]

also rachel i love your lipstick shade i was actually distracted for the first part of the video bc i was just obsessed with it lmao. if you don’t mind me asking what brand is it?

[@incompletemachine877]

My god the ego on this Man is the size of a small gas giant isn't it?

[@danaparsonsliquidcosmosart2669]

psst Rachel.. nerve was a book first. lol

[@ReadswithRachel]

No way!

[@Sparkinthedarkness]

@@ReadswithRachelyep. I loved the book!

[@adrianghandtchi1562]

I remember this story! I think Cindy talked about this on their channel

[@DarthHydra456]

Thank you Rachel! I love these videos. They are so much fun 🤩

[@Iratepandabear]

6:20 everybody's so creative 🤠

[@moominwoo2316]

«best of booktok» got to his head lmao he was like i know the lay of the land (immediately creeps out the entire demographic he was supposedly so in tune with)

[@AtlantaFireplace]

I think he should go back in the box 😂😂😂😂 Rachel you crack me up! Love it and yes this is an insane story

[@Scatscar1985]

Ick ick ick ick ick....😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮ick...

[@SFF180]

This is beyond bonkers. Like, beyond "what was he thinking?" into whole new realms of disconnection from observable reality, for him to think this would have been received well by any living breathing human. And I really enjoyed _Dracul_ too, goddammit. 🤦🏻‍♂

[@Virgo117]

How can I possibly be a misandrist!? I have male friends 😂😂

[@m.a.w.]

If anyone ask me to tell a lie: “New York time best seller”

[@annajoseph7319]

Not that it could get worse but I’m pretty sure that cover is ai. Look at some of those puzzle shapes.

[@amylemcoauthor]

My cousin loved We Shall Not Bow by Adaline Winters and was watching the countdown to release of second part, when it vanished on the day of--obvi bc it was plagerized from Amelia Hutchin's Fighting Destiny. Sad twist is that my vousin then thought she could jump into Hutchin's series only to find, in her opinion, the style unbearable in comparison to the rip off😳

[@ChrisWilliamsDallas]

My experience with Facebook groups is that they will always support the most toxic authors.

[@yeenbean3318]

He probably didn't send you the email because he knew you would absolutely demolish him in a video like this.

[@kittenskittenskittenskittens]

When I’m already watching a Rachel video and then scroll to a brand new one after it’s done!!!

[@SemicolonExpected]

Been waiting for this video when I heard about this whole debacle

[@JulianGreystoke]

I've missed seeing these authors behaving badly

[@druidOcelot]

appalling behavior, being a creep in people's emails and trying to essentially get nudes from what amount to reviewers who have not consented to that being a part of their work. just 100% gross, disgusting behavior. just more proof that traditional publishing is deeply held by some of the worst people. and just how does he not do research? HOW? research is a solid 35-40% of my time when writing. EVEN FICTION. just. HOW? how how how how how? another 25-30% is editing. actually writing is the SMALLEST portion of my writing process. i'm appalled. the number of things i have had to research just to make sure certain things make even CURSORY amounts of sense.

[@absolutelynotarobot]

FCK YES NEW AUTHORS BEHAVING BADLY DROPPED

[@cheyennetrumbos]

I'm getting deja vu, haven't we done this before? Hasn't sometime done this exact shit before?

[@Srbthmlnsmth]

This is so disgusting!!! People these days…

[@OxyMauron]

I like that he put up a form to submit errors. Like, do some basic research on medicine names, but typos do slip through, even with traditionally published books. Passing them on and getting things fixed for subsequent prints is always a plus. The promo could have been interesting if done right - seeking authors who do spicy content already, and offering good terms, instead of emailing everyone you find.

[@Tareltonlives]

"I think he should go back in the box" I'd ask what he was thinking but that would suggest that he was thinking rather than just being creepy and exploitative. The responses are amazing I'm getting "I'm not racist BUT-" energy from him

[@kajielin4354]

Aah I've been waiting on your video on that situation, thank you!

[@Geraldine-ny5zk]

Unrelated but I really enjoyed Raybearer by Jordan Ifueko, great book to feature on your shelf. Love the way she wrote character motivations in that book; It's rare to read about a character making a bad decision and think "yeah, no, that makes complete sense" 👌