Tennessee library director fired following conduct at Kirk Cameron story hour

A Tennessee library board has voted to fire its library director following the conduct of the director and staff members during a February stop on Kirk Cameron’s Freedom Tour.

Hendersonville Library Director Allan Morales was fired by the Sumner County Library Board in a 4-3 vote, Sumner County Mayor John Isbell told the Tennessean. The move to fire Morales was "related to the Kirk Cameron event," Isbell said.

The February 25 event, held in collaboration with Brave Books, was held at the Hendersonville Library, and included former University of Kentucky swimmer Riley Gaines and Missy Robertson of "Duck Dynasty."

On Facebook following the event, Cameron wrote, "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."

In emails obtained by the Tennessean, Morales was seen expressing concerns over how big the event was becoming.

"Our invitation was sincere to read a book during our story time," Morales wrote in a February 22 email to a Brave Books representative. "We guard that time because it is for small children and not adults. We work hard at not promoting any agendas left or right."

According to the outlet, the emails indicated discussions about moving the event to a nearby church.

"I just have chosen not to say anything," Morales told the Tennessean following his firing. "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."

According to the Daily Mail, when Cameron, Gaines, and Robinson went to film a promotional video in the library, held before the public was allowed inside, Morales and library staff started talking loudly, banging cabinets, and playing music.

"It’s not an accurate representation of Hendersonville, Gallatin or Sumner County," Gaines, a resident of Sumner County, told the Tennessean. "I hate that it resulted in termination. I don’t know if it was politically driven. There were bomb threats (reported), a lot of things going on (leading up to the event). I don’t know if it is an accurate representation of him."

Hendersonville police charged 49-year-old Mark Frakl of Connecticut with making a false bomb threat and harassment after he allegedly sent 14 emails during a short period of time referencing death and blowing up the library building. Frakl will be extradited to Sumner County.

In video taken of the filming, Gaines was seen confronting library staff members as loud band were heard in the background.

"This is just immature, and it’s honestly just really disrespectful," she said. "Like, you guys are old enough to know that that is, like, extremely disrespectful."

"Like, to slam your feet or books or whatever on the ground, that’s pretty ridiculous. We have 60 more seconds and that’s all that we ask of you guys. And it would be made quicker if we weren’t slamming books and stomping our feet. Thank you so much."