By Megan Cartwright
Copyright newsweek
Stephen King has spoken out about being “the most banned author in the United States.”
Newsweek reached out to King’s representative via email for comment on Monday.
Why It Matters
The rising number of banned books in the United States has reignited debates over free expression, censorship and parental control in public education. King’s works have been among the most targeted, with dozens removed from school libraries, highlighting a broader trend impacting libraries and young readers nationwide. Advocates warn that such actions threaten access to diverse ideas, while supporters of bans say they protect children from inappropriate content.
Stephen King attends “Meet the Creators” at the Apple Store SoHo in New York City on June 3, 2013.
What To Know
On Friday, King—an acclaimed horror author—declared himself “the most banned author in the United States” on X, stating that 87 of his books have been pulled from shelves across the country.
“I am now the most banned author in the United States–87 books,” the 78-year-old told his 6.8 million followers on the platform. “May I suggest you pick up one of them and see what all the pissing & moaning is about? Self-righteous book banners don’t always get to have their way. This is still America, dammit.”
At the time of publication, King’s post had racked up more than 7.5 million views and over 107,000 likes.
I am now the most banned author in the United States–87 books. May I suggest you pick up one of them and see what all the pissing & moaning is about? Self-righteous book banners don’t always get to have their way. This is still America, dammit.— Stephen King (@StephenKing) September 26, 2025
Most of these removals have occurred in public school libraries, not from general circulation nationwide. The primary reason cited for these bans is mature content, though critics allege a broader ideological motivation behind the bans.
Florida, in particular, has witnessed a significant number of King’s works removed following state legislation addressing sexually explicit material in school bookshelves. Last year, King responded to Florida’s removal of 23 of his books from school libraries, sharing on social media: “Florida has banned 23 [of] my books. What the f***?”
In a statement to Newsweek at the time, King added: “I have said it before, and will say it again: When books are banned from school libraries, run to your public library, or the nearest bookstore, and read what it is your elders don’t want you to know.”
Some of King’s banned titles include: The Gunslinger, The Running Man, Carrie, Four Past Midnight, Bag of Bones and It.
Supporters of recent book restriction laws, such as those signed by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis in 2022, argue the measures only target content deemed inappropriate for age groups. Critics, including King, view the bans as attempts to stifle discussions of race, sexuality and controversial topics in public schools.
What People Are Saying
King has long been the target of book banning, and in 1992, he addressed the issue in a column he wrote for The Bangor Daily News via StephenKing.com: “First, to the kids: There are people in your home town who have taken certain books off the shelves of your school library. Do not argue with them; do not protest; do not organize or attend rallies to have the books put back on their shelves. Don’t waste your time or your energy. Instead, hustle down to your public library, where these frightened people’s reach must fall short in a democracy, or to your local bookstore, and get a copy of what has been banned. Read it carefully and discover what it is your elders don’t want you to know. In many cases you’ll finish the banned book in question wondering what all the fuss was about. In others, however, you will find vital information about the human condition. It doesn’t hurt to remember that John Steinbeck, J.D. Salinger, and even Mark Twain have been banned in this country’s public schools over the last 20 years.”
He continued: “Second, to the parents in these towns: There are people out there who are deciding what your kids can read, and they don’t care what you think because they are positive their ideas of what’s proper and what’s not are better, clearer than your own. Do you believe they are? Think carefully before you decide to accord the book-banners this right of cancellation, and remember that they don’t believe in democracy but rather in a kind of intellectual autocracy. If they are left to their own devices, a great deal of good literature may soon disappear from the shelves of school libraries simply because good books — books that make us think and feel—always generate controversy.”
What Happ…
