How Micah Beckwith reacted to author John Green referring to him as his 'nemesis' (2024)

Superman has Lex Luthor. The Joker has Batman. Indianapolis authorJohn Green's "nemesis," he said Sunday, could very well be in the running as Indiana's next lieutenant governor — Micah Beckwith.

Details remain scarce on whether the men have donned brightly colored spandex and duked it out on a rooftop overlooking Monument Circle. Both, however, have sparred on issues regarding censorship.

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Green aired his opinions about the Noblesville pastor and self-described Christian Nationalist on Instagram after Saturday's Republican state convention, in which Indiana delegates slapped down U.S. Sen. Mike Braun's preferred choice of state Rep. Julie McGuire in the lieutenant governor's race and selected Beckwith instead. Beckwith will now join Braun on the November ballot to face Democrat Jennifer McCormick, Libertarian Donald Rainwater and both parties' nominees for lieutenant governor.

Green wasn't thrilled by the news. Because Indiana is a red-leaning state, Beckwith's chances of landing in the lieutenant governor role are high.

'New nemesis just dropped': What John Green said about Micah Beckwith

Beckwith is "the lowest form of culture warrior," Green said on Instagram, bemoaning Beckwith's candidacy in a video posted with the phrase "New nemesis just dropped."

"I don't know how to put it generously, but he's just one of those people who will exploit any vulnerable or marginalized population in order to make himself more popular," Green said.

Green concluded the video saying, "I've always wanted to have a lieutenant governor personally hate me, and now it seems my dream may come true."

Does Micah Beckwith 'hate' John Green?

It's possible the hate might be one-sided.

IndyStar reached out Monday to Beckwith, who said he had no "ill feelings" toward the best-selling author of "Looking for Alaska" and "The Fault in our Stars," despite a flare-up last year in Fishers.

"I haven't heard much from John Green since the whole Hamilton County Public Library Board thing," Beckwith said. "I don't hate (John Green) at all."

What happened between John Green and Micah Beckwith in Hamilton County?

On social media, Green said he and Beckwith are "not on the best of terms" after the ultra-conservative pastor — then a Hamilton East Public Library board member — led effortslast year to remove books off the shelves in the library's teen section.

In addition to scores of other material, staff pulled Green's coming-of-age novel "The Fault in Our Stars" out of the teen section due to a policy labeling it not "age appropriate." Green's bookwas returnedafterintense public backlash.

Beckwith, however, told IndyStar he regrets Green's novels were included in the purge.

"Honestly, I was upset that even some of his books got moved in the first place," Beckwith said, who later resigned from the library board to concentrate on his campaign. "That was never the intention. It was designed to go after p*rnographic and very graphic material and move them into the adult section."

What books by John Green are being challenged in Indiana and elsewhere?

Green is no stranger to controversy from officials challenging his books. The popular author is known for young adult novels that touch on prickly subjects involving sexual maturity, teenage angst and mental health.

According toan exclusive investigationby the Star's sister publication The Des Moines Register, Green's 2006 debut novel, "Looking for Alaska," a story that follows a boy who leaves home for boarding school and meets a girl named Alaska Young, is among the most challenged books in Iowa.

Green and otherauthors are suing the state of Iowaover a law seeking to remove books from libraries and classrooms. He also has faced book challenges in his home state of Indiana.

What books did Hoosiers in Indiana challenge in 2023?

Indiana's top ten most challenged books in 2023, according to the America Library Association, are as follows:

1. "Looking for Alaska," by John Green.
2. "It's Perfectly Normal," by Robie H. Harris.
3. "The Goats," by Brock Cole.
4. “Gender Queer: A Memoir,” by Maia Kobabe.
5. "Crank," by Ellen Hopkins.
6. "The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian," by Sherman Alexie.
7. "Jesus Land: A Memoir," by Julia Scheeres.
8. “The Bluest Eye,” by Toni Morrison.
9. "The Glass Castle," by Jeannette Walls.
10. "Water for Elephants," by Sara Gruen.

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John Tufts covers trending news for the Indianapolis Star. Send him a news tip atJTufts@Gannett.com.