House Majority Leader Matt Dean does not like Neil Gaiman

Allan Amato

​How much is lecture by a celebrity worth? When such fees become public, the reaction is often outrage. Last year author Neil Gaiman was criticized by the Star Tribune for receiving $45,000 for a four-hour talk at the Stillwater Junior High School.

The attention given to the local controversy has not gone unnoticed by House Republicans, who cited the hubbub as an example of excess in public spending. They are currently pushing a bill that would require organizations like Minnesota Public Radio to compete for grants, rather than receive a yearly allotment. House Majority Leader Matt Dean, who supports the new bill, took a moment to let people know how he really feels about the sci-fi author. Gaiman, "who I hate," is a "pencil-necked little weasel who stole $45,000 from the state of Minnesota," he stated.

If Neil Gaiman is stealing from the state, then he is apparently giving it back to the poor. According to the author himself, he didn't keep the money. After the controversy garnered some attention he took the time to respond discussing what typically happens to the money he earns speaking.

"The vast majority of the events I do and of the talks, lectures or readings I give are done for free, often as charity fundraisers," he writes from his public blog. "I figure money like that, sort of out-of-the-blue windfall money, is best used for Good Deeds, so I let a couple of small and needy charities (one doing social work, the other library/book based) know that I would be passing the money on to them, after agents had taken their commission, and did not think twice about it."

Since Dean's announcement of his dislike for the author fans have shown their support of Gaiman on Twitter. "Any nice, sane Minnesota Republicans reading this, please vote for someone who isn't a bully with a hate list next time," he recently tweeted.