Arts Council England Faces Legal Threat Over Magazine's Withdrawal of Poet's Work
A poet is threatening Arts Council England (ACE) with legal action after a magazine it funds withdrew her work due to her 'social media presence', which she believes refers to gender-critical posts. Abigail Ottley, represented by solicitors, argues that ACE failed to conduct a sufficient inquiry into the Aftershock Review's decision not to publish her poem, accusing the magazine of discrimination.
Aftershock, launched by Max Wallis, received £32,368 from ACE in April 2025 and £60,000 on January 28, 2026, according to ACE data. Ottley's poem was accepted for publication in September, but she received an email in October informing her of the magazine's decision not to proceed, citing concerns about her social media presence.
The email, cited in the legal letter, states, 'Following an internal review, and in light of concerns raised about your social media presence, we’ve decided not to proceed with publishing your work in this issue.' The Aftershock Review, described as a trauma-informed and inclusive publication, claims it has a duty of care to ensure contributors and readers feel safe and respected.
Ottley, who did not receive a response to her request for clarification, complained to ACE in November and approached the Freedom in the Arts (FITA) organisation, which also lodged a complaint. ACE responded on January 28, stating that Aftershock's decision-making did not breach its funding terms and conditions. The email mentioned that the grant-holder confirmed Ottley's poem was not withdrawn due to her gender-critical beliefs.
FITA described Ottley's social media activity as consisting primarily of expressing and re-posting gender-critical views, including retweets of prominent figures like JK Rowling. Ottley's solicitors argued that, without further clarification, there are sufficient facts to establish discrimination based on her gender-critical beliefs.
The legal letter demands that ACE disclose all documents related to the January dismissal of the complaint and re-open the case for a thorough investigation, reviewing its decision to fund Aftershock to ensure compliance with the Equality Act 2010. A spokesperson for ACE declined to comment, citing ongoing legal proceedings.
The Aftershock Review has not responded to requests for comment.
