Elizabeth Gilbert halts release of a new book after outcry over its Russian setting

Elizabeth Gilbert is delaying publication of The Snow Forest, a novel set in Russia, after receiving an outpouring of "anger, sorrow, disappointment and pain" from Ukrainian readers who object to releasing any work about Russia. Here, in this photo from September 2010, Gilbert arrives at the European premiere of the film Eat, Pray, Love in Leicester Square, London. (Paul Jeffers/AP)

Elizabeth Gilbert, the bestselling author of Eat, Pray, Love, announced that she is halting the release of her next book following a "massive" backlash about its setting in Russia.

In a video announcement posted to Twitter on Monday, Gilbert said her upcoming novel, The Snow Forest, will be removed from the release calendar following criticism from Ukrainians, whose country is still at war with Russia since its invasion in February 2022.