Kirk Cameron reacted to The Daily Wire’s report about how he, swim champion Riley Gaines, and “Duck Dynasty” alum Missy Robertson were harassed by library staff at his faith-based story hour in Tennessee on February 25.
The 52-year-old actor spoke to The Daily Wire on Wednesday about what happened at the Hendersonville public library and admitted he wasn’t sure how they were going to be greeted after dealing with some pushback by the the director Allan Morales. Initially, Morales approved the faith-based story hour event for Cameron to read his book, “As You Grow,” by publisher Brave Books, but when he learned who Cameron was and that he would be joined by Robertson and Gaines, he wanted to cancel, as previously reported.
“We didn’t know what was going to happen,” Cameron shared. “All we knew was that we had a reservation. We had rented [the room] and got a receipt. … And then they tried to push us off and kind of hide us in a little church down the street. We decided that I am not going to ghost hundreds of people at a public library who think I’m going to be there. I told them I would be there so I’m coming, and we will just see what happens.”
Kirk Cameron, @Riley_Gaines_ And 'Duck Dynasty' Alum @MissyDuckWife Robertson Harassed By Library Staff At Faith-Based Story Hour https://t.co/za5sjYWmnw
— Katie "Red Pickle" Jerkovich (@redsoutrage) March 1, 2023
The TV star wanted to reiterate that the story here is about “how people are coming out of the woodwork to support good values.”
“It’s not about this disgruntled library director,” the actor shared before taking time to clarify what had been reported about him and Morales exchanging some loud words before the event.
“And then when we were filming some things in the lobby,” he added, noting that this is during the time that the clanging of the books, the stomping, and the music took place. And that’s when I heard him [Morales] say, ‘No, we’re not going to turn off the music, we’ve got stuff to do. And besides, you guys aren’t even supposed to be here.’”
Cameron said he told the director, “‘Actually sir, that’s not true. We are supposed to be here. This is a public library and we’ve rented the space.’ And he [Morales] walked away.”
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He called the staff’s treatment of him and the others “disappointing,” but noted that Morales and his staff’s attempt to turn them away instead created a revival.
“It’s another example of another denial turning into a revival,” Kirk explained. “It’s a beautiful gathering of people that are saying, ‘We don’t want this woke and broke ideology to come to our town.’ In a sense, I want to thank the disgruntled librarians for teeing up a local revival for us.”
The “Lifemark” star also backed what Gaines and Robertson told us about how hundreds of attendees were treated by the staff who made families stay out in the cold and rain, rather then let them inside the “big beautiful library” to wait until they could get into the conference room where the reading was taking place.
Cameron said trying to shut down events like his faith-based story hour is playing the long game; the Left knows that “the children of today become the leaders of tomorrow,” which is why he’s doing the book tour in order to reach as “many hearts and minds of children as possible.”
“Because love and kindness and faithfulness and self control, that’s the fruit that comes from the root of a Judeo Christian world view,” the actor explained. “So, it’s the root that they don’t like. So, the reason that they’re rejecting my book is not because they don’t like the word love. It’s because it’s connected to the root of a Judeo Christian world view, which is the foundation of this country and leads to liberty.”
The Daily Wire previously reached out to the director of the public library in Hendersonville, who told us that “with all the stuff that has gone back and forth,” he would “not like to comment” and that he’s “going to stay out of it.”
Cameron explained that this spring, he will be busy with several more stops on the book tour, including San Francisco, Washington, D.C., and New York City. Cameron encouraged people to hold their own story hour at their library. He also said that those who want to support their efforts can join the Brave Braves book of the month club, which provides books that “teach these values to your own kids.”