#TSRUpdatez: #LindaFairstein’s long-time book publisher has dropped her following the release of #AvaDuVernay’s #Netflix miniseries, #WhenTheySeeUs, @abcnews reports.
Today, Dutton publishing has announced that it has “terminated its relationship” with Fairstein, nearly a week after we reported that social media users were calling for retailers to pull her books. The fallout stems from #FelicityHuffman’s portrayal of Fairstein who prosecuted the original #CentralPark5.
In a statement issued through Laura Rossi Public Relations, Fairstein said Friday that she and Dutton had “decided to terminate their relationship.” The statement also said that “Fairstein is the author of 24 books, including 16 New York Times bestselling crime novels, as well as a nonfiction work that was a “New York Times Notable Book of the Year.”
Since the wrongful conviction of the Central Park 5 back in 1989, Fairstein has gone on to become a New York Times bestselling author for her crime novels. Social media users feel that she has built her success at the expense of the innocent men who wrongfully served a good portion of their life in prison.
It’s been a tumultuous week for Fairstein, who had to block people from commenting on her Instagram pages and eventually deactivated her Twitter account during the fallout. People were asking for her to be canceled in just about every possible way.
Just a few days ago, people were calling her to be removed from several boards she sits on, prompting her to resign from the board of trustees at Vassar College.
A viral post with the title “Justice for the Central Park 5” is being shared by influencers and across social media, asking people to call their local bookstores and ask for Fairstein’s books to be removed.
The post says: “@lindafairstein went on to become a successful author after she coerced and convicted 5 innocent boys of a crime they did not commit. These boys sat in prison and lost their youth inside of a broken system! Call your local book stores and ask to remove this woman’s books off the shelves!”
The post has been shared by several celebrities including Yandy Smith and Jonathan from the “Love and Hip Hop” franchise.
Fairstein still has not spoken publicly about the fallout other than her move to resign from Vassar’s board. You can read about her resignation here.
TSR STAFF: Christina C! @cdelafresh
