Glosslip Exclusive: Andrew Morton On Book Ban: “Vietnam, Serbia and China sell my book, but not the UK?”
British biographer Andrew Morton is synonymous with controversy. He’s also synonymous with “NYT bestseller,” and making publishing companies rich, yet for some reason (and we know the reason) he can’t catch a break in his home country. For a place known for exposing some of the most slanderous tabloid journalism, the UK sure is frightened of Scientology and Tom Cruise.
Several outlets are reporting on the continued banning of sales on Morton’s book on Cruise in the UK. The Independent points to the harsh libel laws in the country as the reason for the ban:
The American public lapped up the series of lurid accusations contained within, British readers were forced to wait while the book’s UK publishers removed any passages that might be deemed anything approaching libellous. Now it appears that Morton’s latest offering, Tom Cruise: An Unauthorized Biography, may never be printed this side of the Atlantic. Sources at Macmillan told a Sunday newspaper that by the time lawyers had finished deleting any potentially libelous passages there was “not enough left to make a good read”.
Morton spoke with Glosslip exclusively about this latest development and he’s clearly unimpressed with the UK’s decision to ban any publication or sales of his latest NYT’s bestseller: Tom Cruise, An Unauthorized Biography:
I am thrilled that my Tom Cruise biography was a number one New York Times bestseller - my fourth NY Times number one during my writing career. It is for sale in Vietnam,Serbia and China - not countries known for allowing free of expression. Yet in Britain it cannot be sold because of my country’s repressive legal system. The gagging of freedom of speech and expression in Britain and the willingness of judges to pay huge settlements to plaintiffs means that Britain is a haven for libel tourists and sharp lawyers. In an increasingly flat world where information is freely available to the rest of the world apart from Britain this will be a growing problem for authors and publishers.
When we met with Morton a couple weeks ago in New York, we discussed how the distribution of this book had been hampered by its ties to the Church of Scientology, who lists Tom Cruise as their most famous (and now infamous) spokesperson. Morton even indicated the American media’s reticence to do interviews about the book simply out of fear of retribution from Scientology lawyers.
Cruise’s lawyer and close friend, Bert Fields, publicly criticized the book for being poorly researched stating Morton spoke with no one in Cruise’s inner circle. Initially the Cruise camp threatened to sue Morton and and his publisher St. Martin’s press for $50 million. As of yet, no lawsuits have been filed. With over two years of Morton’s life dedicated to exploring Tom Cruise — easily one of the most recognizable figures in the world — and the faith he public shills for, Morton bristled at the notion he would be unable to distribute this book in the UK.
Clearly Tom Cruise, his lawyers and the Church of Scientology’s litigious tentacles have reached across the pond and have publishers cowering. In reality, Tom Cruise should be shaking Andrew Morton’s hand for finally crushing all of the homosexual rumors dogging Cruise for years. You’d think the guy would be a little more appreciative. So much for gratitude.
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Pingback by Andrew Morton on book banning - Enturbulation.org Activism Forums — April 14, 2008 @ 2:47 pm
Isn’t it ironical. UK writers do the best books on Scientology, look down the list: Roy Wallis, Russell Miller and Jon Atack, and also Stewart Lamont. Now Andrews excellcent book, full of material I know for a fact is solid, especially about the Scientology end of things. The UK media is NOT fooled about Scientology, that’s for sure! Good job Andrew, and thanks GlossLip! You guys are on top of the Scientology story! Chuck Beatty
ex Scientology staffer (1975-2003)
412-260-1170 Pittsburgh, USA (anyone call me anytime!)
http://www.freewebs.com/chuckbeatty77/
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http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/05205/542899.stm
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Comment by Chuck Beatty — April 14, 2008 @ 3:31 pm
It is a sad day for freedom of speech when lawyers succeed in banning books.
But it does make me really want to read it. I hear you can order it from overseas or even buy the audiobook version from iTunes or a similar website.
Comment by Steven — April 14, 2008 @ 4:27 pm
Coming soon, a Glosslip exclusive to include an anonymous vocabulary of unknowable words, enjumbled but juxtaposed for enlightened confusion. Stay tuned …
Comment by Terryeo — April 14, 2008 @ 4:28 pm
So, this is the actual state the free world? We are dependent on States with little free speach and famed for human rights abuse for Free Speach. Maybe we really are in the Matrix. We are free so long as we obey without question the orders and wishes of great powers that be.
You know something, I don’t like that. Call it ‘bad think’ but I don’t like being told what I can or can not read. I can make the decision for myself. A book is a book, an idea. If it is bad and stupid, nobody will care to read it.
Finally, how can a Religion support such actions? The supression of the freedom that allowed it to trive? I can understand Tom’s motives. But Scientology’s? Why should it care? Does it have something to hid?
Comment by An On looker — April 14, 2008 @ 4:51 pm
“Coming soon, a Glosslip exclusive to include an anonymous vocabulary of unknowable words, enjumbled but juxtaposed for enlightened confusion. Stay tuned …”
Not really that hard Terryeo… of course, you took a couple of weeks to spell lulz correctly - do you know what it means yet??
Comment by Thomas — April 14, 2008 @ 5:26 pm
Scientology is known for its “unknowable words”. Not to mention a whole religion made up by a deranged, scifi hack.
Enturbulate? Ack? KSW? Engrams?
Puh leeze.
Comment by terryeocallingthekettleblack — April 14, 2008 @ 7:36 pm
Don’t worry Andrew, I bought your book, thank you very much for the interesting read. You WILL have the last laugh (and REALLY, I thought you were rather KIND to poor old Tommy boy…I thought he’d be QUOTING the book as evidentiary proof that he’s not GAY)
and for those unfamiliar with terryeo: poor terryeo is a scientologist who for some time has tried, and FAILED miserably, to keep up the proScieno comments on many blogs. She always gets overwhelmed by the antiSci comments…tee hee.
DOWNSTAT Terryeo: do you understand that lingo? your cult uses the term FREQUENTLY.
Comment by anonymousofcourse — April 14, 2008 @ 8:12 pm
“Coming soon, a Glosslip exclusive to include an anonymous vocabulary of unknowable words, enjumbled but juxtaposed for enlightened confusion. Stay tuned …
Comment by Terryeo”
You mean they’ll be posting excerpts from Dianetics?
Comment by Riddick — April 14, 2008 @ 8:38 pm
Aren’t scientologists the ones who brag about having redefined or otherwise pulled from their asses over 28,000 words in their quest to use 1984 as a how-to manual?
As an aside, I think we broke terryeo. He/She used to be somewhat…well, if not articulate at least semi-comprehensible. These days? My three year old cousin expresses himself more coherently.
Anyways, in other news: Pat Harney officially is full of shit and blatently lied to the media about Disconnection!
Comment by Anonymous — April 14, 2008 @ 8:55 pm
Terryeo…Please crawl back into your hole.
Comment by D-Bomb — April 14, 2008 @ 10:48 pm
“in Vietnam,Serbia and China - not countries known for allowing free of expression”
Isn’t this like comparing apples and turds. For these countries it is repression of expression regarding their human rights problems”. They probably encouraged the publication of his book. Perhaps Morton believes China would have no problem if he were to publish a book on the Tiananman Square protest.
Comment by Curiouser — April 14, 2008 @ 11:46 pm
Coming soon, a Glosslip exclusive to include an anonymous vocabulary of unknowable words, enjumbled but juxtaposed for enlightened confusion. Stay tuned …
Study harder at those English classes, Terry. Someday, you’ll learn how to halt the word salad you’ve paid money to have stamped onto your face.
Perhaps Morton believes China would have no problem if he were to publish a book on the Tiananman Square protest.
His point is that the U.K. has a sudden problem with his gossip-style book(albeit one researched), when gossip is damn near the national treasure. And yes, it is true that the book has no problems with the rights violations in those three mentioned countries. But the U.K. prides itself on freedom of press and expression. THAT is the “what?!” here.
Comment by Dio Brando — April 15, 2008 @ 12:22 am
Hey, Curiouser: Go take a look at the Jason Beghe video. Your screwy little cult took another hit. Great news for the rational, sad news for people who believe in body thetans and Xenu.
Comment by Narcissus — April 15, 2008 @ 12:24 am
Dio Brando,
Still looks like Morton is comparing apples to turds when he compares Britain to these 3 countries - China, Vietnam and Serbia. Since gossip is a national treasure, I think Morton ought to simply replace unauthorized biograpy on the title to something with gossip or make it look like tabloid journalism somehow or just make the cover pink and he would have no legal problems whatsoever in Britain, but he is selling it as responsible careful well researched journalism while its just a cleverly vetted collection of gossip.
Comment by curiouser — April 15, 2008 @ 3:54 am
[…] GlossLip Similar Posts Andrew Morton + Scilons interviewed by WKRC […]
Pingback by Andrew Morton On Book Ban: “Vietnam, Serbia and China sell my book, but not the UK?” | It's Over Nine Thousand — April 15, 2008 @ 10:51 am
That’s it, Curiouser. Keep ignoring all the evidence your “religion” is bunk. That oughta work for ya.
Comment by Narcissus — April 15, 2008 @ 12:07 pm
I think Morton ought to simply replace unauthorized biograpy on the title to something with gossip or make it look like tabloid journalism somehow or just make the cover pink and he would have no legal problems whatsoever in Britain, but he is selling it as responsible careful well researched journalism while its just a cleverly vetted collection of gossip.
Apparently “unauthorized biography” doesn’t translate into simple-enough English for you.
Morton spent quite some time doing research, and if I’m not mistaken, the book itself actually backs this up. “Unauthorized” just means that Cruise had no involvement. Morton is free to call his book just that– it is indeed a biography, and by operative definition, an unauthorized bio is meant to be seen as an outside-looking-in.
Comment by Dio Brando — April 16, 2008 @ 3:48 am
Is that post a joke?
Tom didn’t ask Morton anything. He don’t need Morton to let people know he’s not a homo
Morton is God now? you think because Holy Andrew say He’s not gay , people are going to stop speculate?
LOL, you’re a joke.
Plus with all the diffamation in that book and lies about his life he should be offensed and sue over Morton’s dirty butt!
Comment by Holy Mary — April 16, 2008 @ 7:56 pm
Tom didn’t ask Morton anything.
Did anyone say he did? For an OSA seed, you sure can’t read. Even Terryeo can grasp sentences.
Morton is God now? you think because Holy Andrew say He’s not gay , people are going to stop speculate?
Seriously, you OSA seeds are getting dumber and dumber.
Plus with all the diffamation in that book and lies about his life he should be offensed and sue over Morton’s dirty butt!
You’re officially the dumbest one. What the hell is “diffamation”?
Unauthorized biography: NOT WRITTEN BY THE SUBJECT OF THE BOOK. Morton did research, and had proof to back up much, if not all of it.
P.S.: I can’t stress this enough. You’re failing like whoa at trying to provoke or drive people away. You’re like a vegan trying to convince someone who primarily eats meat to switch over by saying “these dirt cakes are delicious!”. Learn some grammar, learn some English.
Comment by Dio Brando — April 17, 2008 @ 1:47 am
Back to our hole Terryeo, we know all about you second rate OSA troll, its all on the Encyclodedia Dramatica page under your name.
Comment by Centurian 10 — April 17, 2008 @ 6:22 pm
First diobrando, kind of retard, I’m not osa, I’m anon and foreigner, I was in abig paper in france, so watch your language
Diffamation? it’s easy to translate, make an effort with your brain.
Proof? oh yeah: a source, a friend, a real named friend who can say whatever they want to make themselves feel better because Tom did far better than them and attract jealousy.
Comment by Holy Mary — April 17, 2008 @ 6:34 pm
It has also been banned for sale in Australia .
With the electronic age , nothing is/ or can be banned ………Banning it just made my desire stronger to have it , I simply ordered it off of Ebay .
Have nearly finsished reading it , and have to say what an absolute fruitcake Tom Cruise is …anyone getting mixed up with scientology has some serious mental health issues ……..I mean who the heck talks to invisible beings supposedly hanging from your thumb , knee or toes ?
Well done Andrew Morton , exposing this for it is ……a cult
Comment by Megan — April 27, 2008 @ 3:26 am
[…] of Scientology: youfoundthecard.com, enturbulation.org, xenu.net, xenutv.com, exscientologykids.comhttp://glosslip.com/2008/04/14/glosslip-exclusive-andrew-morton-on-book-ban-vietnam-serbia-and-china…Morton SubotnickOfficial site. Includes biography and chronology, instrumental music, media works, […]
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