A Tennessee library director was fired after actor and author Kirk Cameron accused him of “unkind” treatment during a Christian children’s reading event.
The Sumner County Library Board booted Allan Morales from his Hendersonville library post Wednesday in a 4-3 vote in relation “to the Kirk Cameron event,” the Tennessean reported.
Morales allegedly started pushing back against the Feb. 25 scheduled event — where the “Growing Pains” actor read his spiritual children’s book, “As You Grow” — as soon as he found out who Cameron was, a Brave Books representative told The Post.
The director allegedly told the publishing company, who joined forces with Cameron on the book, he was “concerned that you are bringing a movement to my library and all of the other things that come along with that. That’s not going to happen.”
Brave Books said Morales threatened to cancel the event — which also included former University of Kentucky women’s swimmer Riley Gaines and Missy Robertson of “Duck Dynasty” — over concerns the library would not have the space to accommodate the expected large crowd.
In an email obtained by the Tennessean, Morales tried convincing the publisher to move the event to a church in the city, a suggestion that was ultimately brushed off.
“Our invitation was sincere to read a book during our story time,” Morales told a representative of Brave Books in a Feb. 22 email obtained by the Tennessean.
“We guard that time because it is for small children and not adults. We work hard at not promoting any agendas left or right.”
Morales and his staff continued to be rude to Cameron, Robertson and Gaines throughout the event, and even left parents and kids to wait outside in the rain for a portion of time, Brave Books alleged.
The event was held at the Hendersonville library as planned, where children happily sat on the floor of a packed room.
“Despite the rain and the unkind pushback (from one disgruntled librarian), an OVERFLOW crowd of families, mayors, county commissioners, and celebs welcomed and joined us at the library in Hendersonville, TN. for singing the National Anthem, Pledge of Allegiance to the flag, praying and teaching faith in God and moral values to our kids,” Cameron wrote in a Facebook post three days after the event.
Gaines — who has stirred up headlines by speaking out against allowing transgender athletes to compete — told the outlet the tension between Morales and Cameron was palpable leading up to and throughout the entire event.
Cameron accused Morales of speaking too loud during a promotional filming session inside the library, though the swimmer is unsure Morales did so intentionally.
“It’s not an accurate representation of Hendersonville, Gallatin or Sumner County,” Gaines, a local to Sumner County, said.
“I hate that it resulted in termination. I don’t know if it was politically driven. There were bomb threats, a lot of things going on. I don’t know if it is an accurate representation of him.”
Hendersonville police arrested 49-year-old Mark Frakl Thursday for allegedly making the bomb threats last month and for repeatedly harassing the library staff from his Connecticut home.
He had sent at least 14 emails over a short period of time threatening “death and blowing up the building,” police said.
The defeated former director didn’t say whether he felt strife with the actor, but wished to leave the incident behind.
“I just have chosen not to say anything,” Morales said. “I don’t want to add to all this. I’m hoping now that they have fired me that the community can move on. There’s not much of a point to giving my side. At end of the day I don’t hate anybody.”
