Ekman was elected member of the Swedish Academy in 1978, but left the Academy in 1989, together with Lars Gyllensten and Werner Aspenström, due to the debate following death threats posed to Salman Rushdie.
Kerstin Ekman blev i 1978 medlem af Svenska Akademien men forlod akademiet sammen med Lars Gyllensten og Werner Aspenström i 1989 på grund af debatten om dødstruslerne mod Salman Rushdie.