Alix Earle sparks backlash: 'I've never read a book'
By: Moises Mendez II (USA TODAY)
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
Moises Mendez IIUSA TODAYSept. 30, 2026Updated Oct. 1, 2026, 12:27 p.m. ETHear this story
Alix Earle sparked outrage among book lovers after glibly answering a question about reading in a recent interview.
The influencer, who has over 14.6 million followers across TikTok and Instagram and stars in a new Netflix reality series, was asked by Interview Magazine editor-in-chief Mel Ottenberg, "What's the last book you read?" She goes on to respond, "I've never read a book. Like maybe Dr. Seuss."
After that, the conversation quickly turned to asking Earle about her preferred hair color. The video was then shared across social media, and many tied her comments to the literacy crisis in the United States. According to the National Endowment for the Arts, less than half of U.S. adults read a book in 2021, and last year a study found that reading for pleasure in the U.S. has declined by more than 40% over the last 20 years.
The Instagram reel showing the clip was immediately inundated with comments saying that Earle not having read a book since childhood is not exactly an achievement.
"Not having read a book since elementary school is not ditsy and cute, it's embarrassing," one person wrote. "PSA during this literacy crisis: READING MAKES YOU HOT AND COOL," someone else responded.
USA TODAY reached out to Earle's team for comment but did not immediately hear back.
Sarah Madaus, a librarian at a New York City high school, tells USA TODAY that she sees Earle's comments as "embarrassing." She goes on to say, "Given Earle's platform, which consists largely of young women, regarding reading with such flippancy sends a dangerous message that you can amass wealth and fame without ever picking up one of those pesky books."
"While reading is important for everyone, it's key for people like Earle in the entertainment industry. You need an extensive vocabulary, understanding of context and a knowledge of thematic elements to create engaging and intelligent content," she continues. "Alix, if you need book recommendations, I've got plenty, because Dr. Seuss isn't even that good."
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Maybe when she looks down she cant see the pages.
Ain't plastic marvelous???
Who cares?
But really. I know many people whom I consider smart who have not read a book since high school. Bazoingas!
Why is this news? There are too many pretty, shallow, 'influencers' for me to care what one particular idiot says.
I guess books are for fat, ugly people.
No idea who she is and she hasn't influenced me to do a damn thing.
The whole “influencer” thing is a mystery to me. How low does an IQ need to be to be influenced by these plastic deadbeats?
Apparenty not all that low LOL
What I would like to know is how they make the millions they seem to be making. I guess there are plenty of people they influence for that to happen. It seems to be a valid career path for some. Probably started with the Kardashians, famous for being famous.
Part of it is due to the Internet. You can reach a YUGE number of people in one post.
And with big numbers like that there will be a percentage who will want to buy whatever it is that you are selling.
Most people in my orbit never read. I think it's a damn shame
i'm embarressed to say I never read after my required middle school book list. I would read the newspaper, but I missed out on the informative and entertainment of books.
As i writer of wrong, I was in not reading and writing for a few decades, just when and where I grew up, it was not 'cool' or acceptable.
I've always been a reader even when I was a little kid
I am always reading one book or another. For some reason I've always loved reading books.
... you should re-write the bible, the easy to read goober version that skips over all the pedophilia and incest, you'd make a fortune.
And I never heard of Alix Earle
Meet the ‘Earle Meets World’ Cast
beats' me too.
She
resembles Lara Trump
I hope she at least read the warnings on and about those plastic baggies she got installed.
her first sugar daddy probably bought her those, because she wanted her very own silicone valley ...
I've been trying to read this article since it was posted but I can't get past "Sports Illustrated", then I have to start over.