Clementine Ford pulls writing grant application after COVID-19 tweet

The City of Melbourne will not be issuing controversial bestselling author Clementine Ford a $2800 writing grant after she tweeted that COVID-19 wasn't killing men fast enough.

Melbourne Lord Mayor Sally Capp tweeted on Friday night that the author of Fight Like a Girl had decided not to proceed with her application for the grant from the City of Melbourne.

The grant, which was awarded to the writer through an independent process, was part of a program to support Melbourne's local arts and cultural sectors during COVID-19.

"I respect her decision not to proceed with the application and not to accept the funding. The @cityofmelbourne is committed to freedom of speech but I also acknowledge the hurt felt by many people who have contacted me this week," Cr Capp tweeted.

The news comes after Ms Ford tweeted on May 23, "honestly, the coronavirus isn't killing men fast enough".

The tweet was in response to an article on thelily.com, about women taking on extra work during the pandemic as they juggle childcare, their houses and work commitments.

It sparked a twitter storm, with Cr Capp calling the comments "deliberately divisive" and "incredibly unhelpful" in the face of tackling COVID-19 as a community.

She had asked Melbourne City Council chief executive to review the selection process for the grants in response to the tweet.

Ms Ford, who also wrote Boys Will Be Boys, has since deleted the tweet and apologised. "This acknowledgement isn't for men who are looking for any reason to ignore patriarchal impact but for the people genuinely hurt by my words," Ford tweeted.

"I'm sincerely sorry, and I wish I had framed my argument in better terms and in a way that didn't compound harm. Be well."

While there has been a huge backlash, Ms Ford has also received a deluge of support from her followers.