Bob Dylan, the singer/songwriter who received this year’s Nobel Prize for Literature, says he won’t be attending the ceremony on December 10, 2016, angering many in the literary community.

 Dylan refuses to receive his Nobel Peace Prize that was awarded by the Swedish Academy. Dylan refused phone calls from the academy and failed to accept the $871,412 check that accompanied his award. He  wrote minimal words on social media saying that he appreciates the acknowledgment but is “too busy” to attend the event. The singer also deleted his title of winning the prize off his website and did not mention his achievement at his performances after he won the award.

His behavior has not been taken lightly by his fans and other people around the world. Many people are outraged that he would refuse such an honorable award and especially frustrated by the fact that he even received it in the first place.  Others are fine with it, some actually expressing excitement over it, specifically evident in statements like, “I am ecstatic that Bob Dylan has won the Nobel.  A great and good thing in a season of sleaze and sadness,” written by Stephen King on his Twitter feed.

Acclaimed novelist Irvine Welsh even went as far as saying, “this is an ill-conceived nostalgia award,” also on Twitter.

Many other literary figures who strive for the same achievements feel that he should show up to accept the prize.

Amidst the controversy following his actions, many people feel that his behavior is not a surprise. Dylan is known for being different and a non-conformist. He is known for the quote, “All I could do is be me, whoever that is.”

“If you look into his past you could see that he is an advocate for protest and individuality. He is known for not following the rules,” says Toni Kiernan, an English teacher at WHHS.

Dylan is the voice behind the well-known songs “Blowin’ in the Wind” and “Like a Rolling Stone.” Overall, the literary community feels his achievement is well-deserved; it is a disappointment to many that he is not accepting the reward.