Publishing doyenne Judith Regan has been fired from HarperCollins by Rupert Murdoch.

Word of Regan’s dismissal from News Corp.-owned publishing house HarperCollins came in a terse press release headlined “Judith Regan Terminated,” according to online accounts published by the New York Times and Daily Variety.
The statement said her termination was effective immediately, both outlets reported. No explanation was given, and The New York Times said it was unclear if she was firuddy only from HarperCollins or from all News Corp. units.



News Corp and HarperCollins representatives were not immediately available for comment.
But the move followed ill-fated plans unveiled last month for a book, titled “If I Did It,” and accompanying television interview featuring Simpson giving a hypothetical account of how he would have carried out the 1994 murders of his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend, Ronald Goldman.
The book

had been set for release by Regan’s imprint at HarperCollins, ReganBooks, on November 30, following a two-part interview of Simpson by Regan on News Corp.’s Fox network.



But the publishing and TV venture drew a firestorm of criticism accusing News Corp. of seeking to capitalize on a human tragedy. Days after plans for the book and TV special were revealed, News Corp. Chairman Rupert Murdoch personally weighed in to announce both projects were being scrapped.
Murdoch said then that the book and TV discount were “ill-considered” and he apologized for any harm caused.

The big News Corp holiday party is tonight, but it seems unlikely that Judith is attending. The O.J. book was a disaster, no question. But what about the ghastly planned fake memoir about baseball legend Mickey Mantle? Has that been cancelled, too?

Original post by ReadersRead.com Book Blog