An open letter to publisher Judith Regan, O.J.'s pimp

Dear Judith Regan,

You've really done it this time. You've sunk lower than a snake's belly to publish O.J. Simpson's  controversial new book. I won't even give you the satisfaction of linking to you or O.J., nor for that matter will I even call the disgusting tome by name. I saw your pathetic "explanation" - an eight page statement in which you claim you published this book because you thought the money was going to his children, you've been the victim of domestic violence and you hoped to get a confession from this presumed killer.

Gimme a break, Judith. You have a reputation for publishing controversial books. For you, it's all about the publicity and you're getting it in spades. It sickens me that the main stream media is being suckered into covering this non-story. I don't believe for a nanosecond that you brought this crap to life for any reason other than your own selfish need to be the center of attention. You and O.J. deserve one another. This book doesn't offer anything of historic value. O.J. isn't introspective enough nor smart enough nor honest enough to provide insight. In short, this is the perfect example of what is truly IRRELEVANT.

The only thing more smarmy or irrelevant than you so-called publishing coup is the fact that a  national TV network plans to  air an interview with O.J. Sadly, it's likely that millions will watch the show. I plan to Tivo it for one reason: so I can later zip through the show and see who supported such dispicable programming with advertising. I'll document each advertiser and then refuse to ever buy a product from them. Will they notice? WIll it make a difference to anyone other than me? Probably not. But activism starts at home. I would love for the readers of this blog to join me in this protest.

I can hear your argument now: national TV programming has long included interviews with child molestors, death row inmates and any number of other dysfunctional people. The difference, in my opinion, is that those shows also present the consequences of this dysfunction and usually are instructive in some way. In this case, O.J. is simply getting air time to promote a book, which you published because you're greedy, selfish, myopic and totally, completely irrelevant.

You seem to think this new controversy will somehow make you relevant. I've got news for you, Judith. Being in the news doesn't make you relevant. Making a contribution to the world somehow does.

Please just go away and take O.J. with you.

Comments

[Gary Goldhammer]

Marilynn, very well said. And yes, consider me part of the protest :-)

[Rebecca Morgan]

Marilynn:

Thank you for taking such a strong stance on this. The whole book deal and subsequent publicity sickens me.

I wish there were a way you could communicate the boycotted advertisers in a way that didn't get them more publicity. Pehaps an email to your pals?

Your fan,

Rebecca

[Myra McElhaney]

Dear Marilynn,

You're right! I'm disgusted by the thought that a book publisher and a TV producer would give O.J. this platform.

Sad to think that they can so easily be blinded by the possibility of ratings and loose all concept of right or good.

The advertisers should know better. I'm with you, let's boycott any company that sponsors this show!

Myra

[Gary Goldhammer]

Well, I guess our protest worked :-)