Celebrities, world leaders react to assault at NY occasion

Celebrities and world leaders voiced their shock on social media as writer Salman Rushdie fights for his life on a ventilator after he was stabbed on Friday.

The 75-year-old author was attacked on stage at a literary occasion in upstate New York and will likely lose one of his eyes because of the surprising assault.

Rushdie’s alleged attacker, 24-year-old Hadi Matar, of Fairview, NJ, was arrested on the scene by a state trooper who was assigned to the lecture.

President Joe Biden led tributes as he issued a White Home assertion after studying that Rushdie is in important situation.

“As we speak, the nation and the world witnessed a reprehensible assault towards the author Salman Rushdie,” the POTUS said in a statement. “This act of violence is appalling.”

“All of us within the Biden-Harris Administration are praying for his speedy restoration. We’re grateful to good residents and first responders for serving to Mr. Rushdie so shortly after the assault and to regulation enforcement for its swift and efficient work, which is ongoing.”

Echoing Biden’s sentiment, the outgoing British Prime Minister Boris Johnson took to Twitter to voice his considerations over the assault.

“Appalled that Sir Salman Rushdie has been stabbed whereas exercising a proper we must always by no means stop to defend,” Johnson, who is ready to formally step down as Prime Minister subsequent month, tweeted.

“Proper now my ideas are together with his family members. We’re all hoping he’s okay.”

French President Emmanuel Macron additionally paid his respects on Twitter, writing, “For 33 years, Salman Rushdie has embodied freedom and the struggle towards obscurantism.

“He has simply been the sufferer of a cowardly assault by the forces of hatred and barbarism. His struggle is our struggle; it’s common. Now greater than ever, we stand by his facet.”

Celebrities and different members of the literary world additionally rushed to social media to voice their considerations whereas sending well-wishes to the writer.

“Such stunning information of Salman Rushdie having been stabbed,” celeb meals author Nigella Lawson tweeted. “That is horrific. Am distraught. Please, please let him be okay.”

Horror author Stephen King additionally expressed his concern, tweeting, “I hope Salman Rushdie is okay.”

“What sort of asshat stabs a author, anyway? F–ker,” King added in a follow-up tweet.

Creator of the “Harry Potter” franchise, JK Rowling, tweeted, “Horrifying information. Feeling very sick proper now. Let him be okay.”

Creator of the DC Comics sequence “The Sandman,” Neil Gaiman, stated he was “distressed” to see the information about his “pal.”

“He’s a very good man and an excellent one and I hope he’s okay,” Gaiman tweeted.

Creator of The Kite Runner, Khaled Hosseini, additionally condemned the assault.

“I’m totally horrified by the cowardly assault on Salman Rushdie. I pray for his restoration. He’s a vital voice and can’t be silenced,” he tweeted.

Rushdie’s writer Penguin Random Home issued an announcement.

“We’re deeply shocked and appalled to listen to of the assault on Salman Rushdie whereas he was talking on the Chautauqua Establishment in New York,” CEO Markus Dohle said in a statement.

“We condemn this violent public assault, and our ideas are with Salman and his household at this distressing time.”