Stephen Colbert just learned about Amazon’s ongoing dispute with publisher Hachette, so he’s urging a boycott of the largest online retail store in the country. It’s personal for Colbert, since Hachette publishes his books.
Hachette and Amazon’s dispute went public earlier last month when Hachette said that it believes Amazon is deliberately delaying shipments of its books. Later, Hachette said that Amazon is even taking away pre-orders of its books. The cause of the dispute appears to be that Amazon is tying to get a bigger cut of Hachette’s ebook profits.
“Delaying shipments. Sometimes three to four weeks. Folks, that is just cruel,” Colbert said during last night’s Colbert Report, notes GigaOm. “If you ordered Hachette’s 21 Day Weight Loss, by the time it arrives, you’re still fat.”
In addition, Colbert had a special gift for Amazon and its chief, Jeff Bezos - two middle fingers in a box. He has also taken to Twitter to create the hashtag “#CutDownTheAmazon” and is urging viewers to buy Hachette author Edan Lepucki’s California on ColbertNation.com.
Colbert also had author Sherman Alexie on to explain the feud.
The Huffington Post has reported that Amazon has begun to stock some Hachette titles, so the situation may be cooling off before Colbert’s boycott gains traction. Amazon has not made an official statement on the situation.
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