Sean Spicer book event canceled 'due to political climate'

Crowd kept behind barrier at Sean Spicer book promotion July 25, 2018, at Barnes & Noble in Manhattan.

Known for his fierce battles with establishment media during his tenure as President Trump's press secretary, Sean Spicer has returned to the front lines in a tour to promote his new book, and the conflict only seems to have moved to new venues.

A popular East Coast warehouse retailer has canceled an event this Saturday, citing "the political climate," and a heckler stood up at a bookstore event in Manhattan and shouted: "Hey Sean! You're a real piece of garbage!"

As the heckler was being escorted out, Spicer could be heard likening the incident to his daily briefing days at the White House.

Meanwhile, Regnery, the publisher of Spicer's book, "The Briefing: Politics, The Press, and The President," said it got word last Friday that a BJ's Wholesale outlet in Seekonk, Massachusetts, canceled a scheduled event with Spicer "due to the political climate," apparently after receiving criticism.

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"Of course, we were very disappointed, but also surprised since we have had such a terrific response to all of the other events we have scheduled around the country," Regnery said in a statement.

Shortly after WND left a message Tuesday with the chief communications officer at BJ's corporate headquarters in Westborough asking for comment, the company informed Regnery the event was to proceed as planned.

But Regnery said Thursday it hasn't heard since then from BJ's, and "there seems to be some confusion because, as of last night, the store is still telling people who call that the event has been canceled."

A bookstore in nearby Barrington, Rhode Island, has been protested, but the event is going ahead.

Spicer's book chronicles the early days of the Trump administration and his adversarial relationship with establishment media.

The outburst in Manhattan came after an interview Wednesday in which Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Calif., urged Americans to be "out in the streets screaming" about President Trump.

She told CNBC's John Harwood she believes the president is "dangerous."

"I don't know why people take it. I think Americans should be out in the streets screaming to the top of their voice. Do something. Make something happen," she said, adding she thinks Trump is "one of the most deplorable people I've ever encountered in my life."

In June, on the heels of at least three Trump officials being heckled in public places, including Sarah Huckabee Sanders' ejection from a restaurant, Waters encourage the public to harass Cabinet members, claiming "God is on our side."

Back to the daily heckling

At the Manhattan event, the heckler, as he was being seized by security and escorted out, told Spicer: "And I hope you look around and you see all these empty seats, and you realize even in New York City, people will not come and pay money to hear you speak."

A photograph taken at the event, however, indicates a substantial crowd was held back from the seating area behind a barrier.

People who bought one of Spicer's books in the days leading up to the event were given a wrist band allowing them to attend. But customers who bought books Wednesday just prior to the event were not given a wrist band, according to a source, and were forced to remain behind the barrier.

The heckler took his own video of his protest, which was published by the left-leaning ThinkProgress.

Spicer, amid the heckler's shouts, made a reference to the scene being something like his daily press briefings.

The heckler said: "I've read the reviews, it's a garbage book!"

Spicer, with a smile, interjected: "I hope you bought it."

One Spicer defender shouted to the protester, "Get the f--- out!"

The heckler continued: "It's a garbage book, and you're a garbage person."

Spicer also commented, "It's America, and everyone has a right to their own [viewpoint]."

See an attendee's video of the heckling:

Regnery said an upcoming book event with Spicer at the Reagan Library in Simi Valley, California, and an event in San Francisco have been sold out.

The former Trump spokesman, who resigned one year ago after some six months in the White House, has more than 50 tour stops scheduled in the coming weeks.

Trump Cabinet members and other Trump administration officials will attend an exclusive event for the book Thursday at the Trump International Hotel in Washington, D.C., the New York Times reported. The paper said the Trump family is charging Spicer $10,000 for use of the hotel's lobby.