Over the past week, Moby has copped a lot of media attention for a controversial story about himself and Natalie Portman he included in his new memoir. After swinging from dogmatic to apologetic about the whole situation, Moby has now cancelled his book tour and “all upcoming public appearances for the foreseeable future”.
The announcement came via Moby’s website, which stipulated that all tickets will be refunded. Moby reiterated his apology on Instagram, adding that “I’m going to go away for awhile.”
“I am the one who released the book without showing it to the people I wrote about. I’m the one who posted defensively and arrogantly. I’m the one who behaved inconsiderately and disrespectfully, both in 2019 and in 1999.” He wrote.
To backtrack, the drama was prompted by a passage in Moby’s memoir, Then It Fell Apart, that claims Natalie Portman instigated a relationship with him in 1999 when he was 33 and she was 20 (though she was actually 18).
Natalie responded by clarifying that they never actually dated. Speaking with Harper’s Bazaar she said, “I was surprised to hear that he characterized the very short time that I knew him as dating, because my recollection is a much older man being creepy with me when I just had graduated high school.”
She also called out the fact-checking, as she was actually 18. “There was no fact checking from him or his publisher — it almost feels deliberate.” she said.
Moby responded to Portman in a since-deleted Instagram post that insisted the relationship did happen and was “brief, innocent, and consensual” adding the backlash he’s received is “affecting [his] business and [his] health”.
After being called out for his inappropriate reaction, and past behaviour, Moby then apologised for the claims.
“As some time has passed I’ve realized that many of the criticisms leveled at me regarding my inclusion of Natalie in Then It Fell Apart are very valid.” he wrote on Instagram.
“I also fully recognize that it was truly inconsiderate of me to not let her know about her inclusion in the book beforehand, and equally inconsiderate for me to not fully respect her reaction.”
“Also I accept that given the dynamic of our almost 14 year age difference I absolutely should’ve acted more responsibly and respectfully when Natalie and I first met almost 20 years ago.”
Cancelling the book tour means that Moby retreats from the harsh spotlight of backlash that he is currently facing, and it also means he does not profit (as much) from the controversial inclusions in his book and subsequent drama. It’s a win win.
