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Simon and Schuster won’t distribute the book written by the policeman who shot Breonna Taylor last year.
“The Fight for Truth: The Inside Story Behind the Breonna Taylor Tragedy” written by Sergeant Jonathan Mattingly was denied distribution by Simon and Schuster. The book is being published by the supposedly conservative Post Hill Press, a publisher known for releasing works of known far right conspiracy theorists and republican leaders.
The issue started last Thursday when news went around saying that S&S was distributing the book. Naturally, this caused a large wave of complaints from the American public. S&S released a statement saying that they have no editorial control over the smaller publishers it distributes for. After a lot of criticism and complaints, they gave way just a few hours later.
Freaking hell. One of the cops who fired more than two dozen bullets into Breonna Taylor’s apartment has been given a book deal.
The book will be distributed by @simonschuster. Maybe we should tell them how we feel about that. https://t.co/DTCCLOTDGy
— Mark Elliott (@markmobility) April 15, 2021
please sign this if u live in america https://t.co/ATuEUIc66Y
— master manipulator (@CHlLDEKYS) April 16, 2021
Some even called out S&S for their statement of standing with BLM yet still agreeing to publish a book by the cop who killed Breonna.
Hi, @simonschuster, is this you? https://t.co/EekXEwDFei pic.twitter.com/0Ic5YRvyvW
— Tomes And Textiles (@tomestextiles) April 15, 2021
In the second statement, S&S distanced itself from Mattingly. “Like much of the American public, earlier today Simon & Schuster learned of plans by distribution client Post Hill Press to publish a book by Jonathan Mattingly,” the publisher said. “We have subsequently decided not to be involved in the distribution of this book.”
— Simon & Schuster (@simonschuster) April 16, 2021
How this will affect the book’s distribution is unclear. Before S&S released their second statement Post Press Hill stated that they support freedom of speech for all of their authors, in a statement they said that “the mainstream media narrative has been entirely one-sided related to this story and we feel that he deserves to have his account of the tragic events heard publicly, as well.” She added “Post Hill Press is standing behind our decision to publish his story.”
Whatever the case may be, this led to a great victory for those sympathetic to Breonna Taylor’s case and BLM. But many are still unsatisfied with how S&S handled the matter.
I’m glad Simon & Schuster is distancing from the disgusting Mattingly book but absolutely fuck off with this “we found out when you did”. You’re a corporation in a professional relationship with a troll publisher. You didn’t find this information out on Twitter.
— R. Eric Thomas (@oureric) April 16, 2021
Recently, S&S has come under fire again due to them undertaking a publishing of former Vice President Mike Pence’s autobiography, despite pushback from both the company’s staff and the public.
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