Book Coming From Controversial Breitbart Editor, Despite Uproar

Preorder for Milo Yiannopoulos' book sits atop Amazon best seller list
By Newser Editors and Wire Services
Posted Dec 30, 2016 4:00 PM CST
Book Coming From Controversial Breitbart Editor, Despite Uproar
A supporter of Republican presidential candidate, businesswoman Carly Fiorina browses a bookshelf before a town hall-style campaign stop at the Ray-Free Senior Center, Saturday, Jan. 16, 2016, in Raymond, N.H.   (AP Photo/John Minchillo)

In the face of heavy criticism, Simon & Schuster is moving forward with plans to publish a book by the conservative provocateur Milo Yiannopoulos, the AP reports. Yiannopoulos writes for Breitbart News, considered by many a platform for the so-called "alt-right" movement, an offshoot of conservatism that mixes racism, white nationalism, and populism. Yiannopoulos' Twitter account was suspended earlier this year after a series of racially insensitive tweets aimed at Ghostbusters actress Leslie Jones, who is black. Yiannopoulos has denied he is a white nationalist. While many in and outside of the publishing industry criticized Simon & Schuster, the book, which is available for preorder, was at the top of Amazon.com's best seller list Friday.

Simon & Schuster said Friday that it does not condone discrimination or hate speech and said the book, which is titled Dangerous, is about free speech. It will be published in March by an imprint of Simon & Schuster geared to conservatives. It has also published books by Glenn Beck, Rush Limbaugh and President-elect Donald Trump. "We have always published books by a wide range of authors with greatly varying, and frequently controversial opinions," Simon & Schuster said. It asked readers to "withhold judgment until they have had a chance to read the actual contents of the book." The Chicago Review of Books tweeted that it won't review any Simon & Schuster books next year because of the publisher's "disgusting validation of hate." In an emailed statement, it said that 15 of the more than 300 books it wrote about last year were Simon & Schuster imprint books. In their place, The Chicago Review of Books said it will choose 15 books from independent and small publishers to cover. (More Milo Yiannopoulos stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X