Category

Arts, letters and intellectuals

56 profiles

28 profiles of this category are not translated yet: see the French page.

Sort: by name · by number of controversies

No. 2664

India · Spirituality / Isha Foundation / environment / public statements / alleged pseudoscience

Religion, sects and spiritual movementsArts, letters and intellectuals

Sadhguru

Documented profile covering 11 controversies, including “2018–2026: controversy over environmentally sensitive site, elephant corridors and land occupation; several central allegations contradicted by official records” and “2024–July 2026: defamation case against Nakkheeran; Delhi High Court orders removal of dozens of items deemed prima facie false or defamatory”.

11 controversies · 17 sources

No. 2682

India · Culture / literature / freedom of expression / religious controversies

Arts, letters and intellectuals

Salman Rushdie

Documented profile covering 9 controversies, including “2022–2025: attempted murder at Chautauqua; attacker sentenced to 25 years” and “2024–2025: administrative basis for Indian ban on The Satanic Verses cannot be found; new application rejected”.

9 controversies · 18 sources

No. 2382

United States · science / intellectuals / activism

Arts, letters and intellectuals

Sam Harris

Documented profile covering 9 controversies, including “Gaza after 7 October: Rejection of genocide allegations and characterisation of much anti-Zionism as antisemitism” and “2006 prediction that France could become majority Muslim, subsequently withdrawn”.

9 controversies · 9 sources

No. 2317

France · Science / intellectuals / activism

Arts, letters and intellectualsIdeologies, militancy and activism

Simone de Beauvoir

Documented profile covering 8 controversies, including “Bianca Bienenfeld/Lamblin: Relationship with teenage pupil and posthumous controversy over power imbalance” and “1977 'À propos d'un procès' petition: Challenge to severity of criminal law in case involving minors”.

8 controversies · 10 sources

No. 0694

United Kingdom · Culture / media / celebrities

Film, television and entertainmentArts, letters and intellectuals

Stephen Fry

Documented profile covering 10 controversies, including “Legal action against CogX organisers following fall from stage” and “J.K. Rowling described as a "lost cause" and "radicalised by TERFs"”.

10 controversies · 18 sources1 conviction1 formal charge

No. 0310

Japan · Culture / media / celebrities

Film, television and entertainmentArts, letters and intellectuals

Takeshi Kitano

Documented profile covering 6 controversies, including “Tokyo Olympics opening ceremony: "give the money back", shame and scathing attack on organisers” and “2021 pickaxe attack on his car: armed suspect arrested, Kitano unharmed”.

6 controversies · 12 sources1 conviction1 formal charge

No. 0752

Pakistan · Religion / ideologies / activism

Arts, letters and intellectualsIdeologies, militancy and activism

Tariq Ali

Documented profile covering 11 controversies, including “Calls to withdraw recognition of Israel and support for a democratic one-state solution” and “Letter opposing proscription of Palestine Action”.

11 controversies · 15 sources

No. 1186

United States · Science / health / intellectuals

Arts, letters and intellectualsScience, medicine and health

Thomas Sowell

Documented profile covering 8 controversies, including “Minimum wage: recurring argument that it destroys low-skilled employment despite far more mixed empirical literature” and “'Intellectuals and Race': argument that disparities are too readily attributed to racism”.

8 controversies · 16 sources