“What’s that about?” said Mr. Patterson. “Can you get a job? Yes. Is it harder? Yes. It is even more difficult for older writers. You don’t come across many 52-year-old white men.”

The comments were roundly criticized by writers and others who noted that despite efforts to increase diversity, the publishing industry remained overwhelmingly white.

In a company survey published in September 2020, Mr. Patterson, Hachette, that among the new authors and illustrators only 22 percent were people of color. Lack of diversity was also a problem within Hachette’s workforce, which was 69 percent white. And 80 percent of executives in senior management positions were white.

Other major publishing houses have reported similar homogeneity in their ethnic and racial makeup. A 2020 survey at Penguin Random House found that about 80 percent of employees were white.

In a Penguin Random House audit of its employees, including authors, illustrators and other creators, the company found that 75 percent were white, 5 percent Hispanic, 6 percent black and about 7 percent Asian.

“What a stupid statement by James Patterson,” wrote Shola Mos-Shogbamimu, the author of “This Is Why I Resist: Don’t Define My Black Identity.” on Twitter† She suggested that Mr. Patterson read books to educate himself about racism.