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Milo Yiannopoulos book deal cancelled after outrage over child abuse comments | Milo Yiannopoulos book deal cancelled after outrage over child abuse comments |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Simon & Schuster has cancelled the publication of Milo Yiannopoulos’ book, and his fellow Breitbart employees have reportedly threatened to quit if he is not fired. | Simon & Schuster has cancelled the publication of Milo Yiannopoulos’ book, and his fellow Breitbart employees have reportedly threatened to quit if he is not fired. |
A statement from the publisher late on Monday said: “After careful consideration, Simon & Schuster and its Threshold Editions imprint have cancelled publication of Dangerous by Milo Yiannopoulos.” | A statement from the publisher late on Monday said: “After careful consideration, Simon & Schuster and its Threshold Editions imprint have cancelled publication of Dangerous by Milo Yiannopoulos.” |
Yiannopoulos confirmed the report on Facebook with a post: “They canceled my book.” | Yiannopoulos confirmed the report on Facebook with a post: “They canceled my book.” |
He added: “I’ve gone through worse. This will not defeat me.” | He added: “I’ve gone through worse. This will not defeat me.” |
The book was reportedly secured for an advance of US$250,000 (£200,000) and was to be published by Simon & Schuster’s conservative imprint, Threshold Editions. | The book was reportedly secured for an advance of US$250,000 (£200,000) and was to be published by Simon & Schuster’s conservative imprint, Threshold Editions. |
According to Yiannopoulos’ Facebook page, the book – an autobiography titled Dangerous – was due out on 13 June. | According to Yiannopoulos’ Facebook page, the book – an autobiography titled Dangerous – was due out on 13 June. |
It is the third book that Yiannopoulos has announced that has not eventuated, after he flagged forthcoming titles on the Gamergate controversy and Silicon Valley that never appeared. | It is the third book that Yiannopoulos has announced that has not eventuated, after he flagged forthcoming titles on the Gamergate controversy and Silicon Valley that never appeared. |
Threshold Editions has been contacted for comment by the Guardian. | Threshold Editions has been contacted for comment by the Guardian. |
Simon & Schuster’s decision follows outrage over a recording that appeared to show Yiannopoulos endorsing sex between “younger boys” and older men. The remarks were made during an internet livestream and circulated in an edited video on Twitter. | |
In the clip, Yiannopoulos said the age of consent was “not this black and white thing” and that relationships “between younger boys and older men … can be hugely positive experiences”. | |
The American Conservative Union subsequently rescinded its invitation to Yiannopoulos to speak at its annual CPac conference over the “offensive video … condoning paedophilia”. Matt Schlapp, the ACU chairman, said Yiannopoulos’ response was “insufficient” and urged him to “immediately further address these disturbing comments”. | |
The Washingtonian also reported that employees at Breitbart in the US, where he is a senior editor, were threatening to quit if Yiannopoulos were not fired. | The Washingtonian also reported that employees at Breitbart in the US, where he is a senior editor, were threatening to quit if Yiannopoulos were not fired. |
In a video that was on his Facebook page for a few hours on Monday, Yiannopoulos said, of reports that he had endorsed child abuse, that “nothing could be further from the truth”. | |
“I find those crimes to be absolutely disgusting. I find those people to be absolutely disgusting.” | “I find those crimes to be absolutely disgusting. I find those people to be absolutely disgusting.” |
He did not contest the recording but said his comments were “stupidly worded” and that it had been edited to remove context. | He did not contest the recording but said his comments were “stupidly worded” and that it had been edited to remove context. |
“In most cases – you guys know – if I say something outrageous or offensive, in most cases my only regret is that I didn’t piss off more people, but in this case if I could do it again I wouldn’t phrase things the same way. Because it’s led to confusion.” | “In most cases – you guys know – if I say something outrageous or offensive, in most cases my only regret is that I didn’t piss off more people, but in this case if I could do it again I wouldn’t phrase things the same way. Because it’s led to confusion.” |
The video was no longer available on Facebook three hours after it was posted. | |
Yiannopoulos’ book deal with Simon & Schuster was condemned by many who perceived the publishers to be giving him a mainstream platform for his often offensive and controversial views. | |
Color of Change, a US organisation for racial justice, had campaigned online against Simon & Schuster since the book was announced. | |
Rashad Robinson, the executive director, told the Guardian that its decision to publish the book had said “racism sells”, adding: “They were willing to cultivate hatred and racism in order to make money.” | |
He hoped the decision to pull the book would send a message to other media platforms “that you should be careful who you stand beside”. | |
Yiannopoulos was permanently banned from Twitter in July 2016 for instigating abuse of the Ghostbusters actor Leslie Jones. | Yiannopoulos was permanently banned from Twitter in July 2016 for instigating abuse of the Ghostbusters actor Leslie Jones. |