'Haunting Adeline' author H D Carlton addresses film adaptation backlash: 'This movie is still happening'

Haunting Adeline author H D Carlton has broken her silence following days of online backlash surrounding the upcoming film adaptation of her bestselling dark romance novel, defending readers while confirming the project is moving forward.

In a video shared on her social media accounts, Carlton began by apologising, not for the book or the film, but to readers and supporters who she said had been subjected to harassment during the online debate.

"Whether you're a fan of Haunting Adeline, or you hate it, or you've never read it, or you don't care about it, but you believe in its right to exist as a book or a movie, I am so sorry for what you've had to experience this past week."

Carlton condemned the hostile discourse that followed the film's announcement, saying she found it ironic that some critics accused her novel's central character, Zade Meadows, of hypocrisy while engaging in abusive behaviour themselves.

"You cannot champion for sexual assault and rape survivors, and in the same breath condemn them, invalidate them and shame them for how they cope and heal from their trauma simply because you do not agree with it."

"I don't care what anyone thinks or says about me... But I do care about all of the people that you've caused an insane amount of harm to this past week."

Carlton defended fans of dark romance, arguing that reading books featuring non-consensual themes does not make readers "wrong," "disgusting" or "unhealthy."

"Whether you read dark romance specifically with non-con triggers because it helps you heal or cope with your trauma, or just because you like it, you are not wrong, you are not disgusting, and you are not unhealthy."

She added that, in her view, qualified mental health professionals support the idea that fictional stories can serve different purposes for different readers.

Addressing concerns that a film adaptation could encourage violence against women, Carlton rejected the argument outright.

"No one and nothing is to blame for a man harming a woman except the man."

She also warned against calls to censor the adaptation, arguing that banning one work of fiction could set a broader precedent for restricting creative expression.

"Censorship is very dangerous because if you get one movie banned, what is to stop people from banning media that you do agree with? Once you ban one, you ban them all."

Carlton stressed that details about the adaptation remain under wraps and said no one yet knows exactly how the novel will be translated to the screen.

Despite the controversy, she ended her message by reassuring readers that the adaptation remains on track.

"This movie is still happening, and we are doing it for you guys."

The adaptation of Haunting Adeline, one of the most commercially successful dark romance novels in recent years, has generated significant discussion online since its announcement, with supporters citing creative freedom while critics have raised concerns about its subject matter. Carlton's latest statement marks her most extensive response to the backlash to date.