The author of 50 Shades agreed to answer any question. Big mistake.

Twitter reckons EL James has got some ‘splainin’ to do.

Tweeting types were rubbing their hands together with glee when it was announced that the author of execrable erotic novel-turned-film 50 Shades of Grey would participate in a Twitter Q&A with fans.

Her PR team should have told EL James, 51, that this was a terrible, very bad, no good idea.

But they did not, and the resulting questions – about ideas around consent, domestic abuse, racism, homophobia and James’ literacy skills – may prove difficult to answer.

James is the author of the 50 Shades trilogy, which have sold an insane 70 million copies worldwide. The film version stars Dakota Johnson and Jamie Dornan and despite poor reviews is the fourth-highest grossing film of 2015 so far.

#AskELJames Is it liberating or restricting having the writing age of a twelve year old slash fiction author?

— Matt Richardson (@MattRichardson3) June 29, 2015

 

If I stalk a girl and GPS her car, does that mean it’s true love? #AskELJames — Trevor Donovan (@TrevDon) June 29, 2015

#AskELJames What’s your favourite shade out of the 50? Is there a chance that more shades will be added?

— Jack Howard (@JackHoward) June 29, 2015

When I told my partner I wasn’t into certain sexual acts, he didn’t pressure me to do them. Does that mean he doesn’t like me? #AskELJames — Ponta (@typicalfeminist) June 29, 2015

Sweet mercy, there’s so much I want to #AskELJames Most start with “why” and end with the implacable howling of the damned.

— Dan Olson (@FoldableHuman) June 29, 2015

#AskELJames CG constantly ‘murmurs’ and ‘growls’ his lines. Is he intended to sound like a sulking teenager or was that accidental? — Dan Olson (@FoldableHuman) June 29, 2015

James’ writing career began with fan fiction, which she authored under the nom de plume Snowqueen’s Icedragon. It was fan fic of teen Twilight novels by Stephanie Meyer that eventually turned into 50 Shades of Grey.

Her own Wikipedia page describes her as an “author”. Not an author, an “author”.

#AskELJames Can you confirm that you will be writing the story of Ramsay Bolton from his perspective, showing he is just misunderstood? — Ros (@GameOverRos) June 29, 2015

Will you be rewriting the book from Stephenie Meyer’s point of view next time? #AskELJames — Skeptical Dinosaur (@skepticosaurus) June 29, 2015

#AskELJames Seriously, why did you ignore then block me when I told you I was a survivor & suggested you maybe donate to an abuse charity? — Emma Tofi (@EmmaTofi) June 29, 2015

i see people complaining about the #AskELJames tweets being “rude” or “hating”, but all i see are truth bombs and a sea of truth pudding. — Rebekah Weatherspoon (@rebekahwsm) June 29, 2015

#AskELJames How many times a day do you think Charlie Hunnam just laughs with sheer relief? — Kayleigh Anne (@Ceilidhann) June 29, 2015

There are so many it’s impossible to pick a favourite!

The questions have been pouring in under the hashtag #askELJames, but James has yet to respond. The Q&A officially starts at 6pm, Northern time.

The firing of her PR team is likely to begin shortly after that.

More on the 50 Shades phenomenon?

The dominatrix verdict: Is 50 Shades of Grey what bondage is really like?

We read “Grey”, the “50 Shades” sequel, so you don’t have to (you’re welcome).

11 things with more sex appeal than 50 Shades’ Christian Grey.