Central Park 5 Prosecutor Linda Fairstein Dropped By Publisher Amid Uproar Over Netflix’s ‘When They See Us’

After Netflix debuted Ava DuVernay’s brand new four-part series, When They See Us, viewers everywhere have been in an uproar over prosecutor Linda Fairstein’s handling of the 1989 “Central Park 5” case. The former Manhattan lawyer has now been dropped by her publisher as fallout continues over her wrongful conviction of five teens for the rape and beating of a female jogger.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, those who have called the customer service line of the publisher for the best-selling crime novelist have been told that Dutton has “terminated its relationship” with Fairstein. The publicist declined further comment, however, the firm’s spokeswoman Amanda Walker did confirm the news.

Fairstein released her latest book titled Blood Oath in March and is known for her previous titles such as Deadfall, Killer Look and Devil’s Bridge (most of which feature sex crimes prosecutor Alex Cooper).
The racially divisive case dubbed the “Central Park 5” after the five teen defendants, has been retold in Netflix’s latest hit miniseries When They See Us directed by Ava DuVernay.

Viewers who either developed renewed interest in the case or are just hearing about it for the first time took to social media to express their disdain for Fairstein by starting a #CancelLindaFairstein movement, resulting in her resignation from at least two nonprofit boards. This isn’t the first time Fairstein was criticized for her role in the controversial case, however. Last year, the Mystery Writers of America withdrew a lifetime achievement award at the behest of other authors who share the prestigious award.

Fairstein, who was the top Manhattan sex crimes prosecutor at the time of the conviction, was forced to resign in 2002 after convicted murderer and serial rapist Matias Reyes confessed to committing the crime alone with DNA placing him at the scene. The five black and Latino teenagers originally convicted were then released after claiming that their confessions were coerced. There has since been a call to reopen some of Fairstein’s closed cases.

The infamous prosecutor, to this day, still denies that the teens were coerced and has defended authorities’ conduct in the case, despite the city reaching a roughly $41 million settlement with the five the next year. Authorities have not admitted to any wrongdoing.

Michael is a music and television junkie keen on most things that are not a complete and total bore. You can follow him on Twitter — @Tweetskoor

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