Publisher is forced to pull the book from shelves after Alex Malarkey admitted that the story about the time he spent in heaven after a 2004 car crash was all a lie.
- January 17, 2015
AceShowbiz -
"The Boy Who Came Back From Heaven" was never really in heaven. Alex Malarkey, who co-authored the 2010 best-selling book with his father Kevin, recently admitted that he made up story contained in his memoir.
In an open letter posted online on Tuesday, January 13, the boy who is now 16 years old wrote, "I did not die. I did not go to heaven. People have profited from lies, and continue to. They should read the bible, which is enough. The Bible is the only source of truth. Anything written by man cannot be infallible." He added, "I said I went to heaven because I thought it would get me attention. When I made the claims that I did, I had never read the Bible."
Alex got into a car accident in 2004 that left him in coma for two months and paralyzed. After he woke up, he told stories of "miracles, angels, and life beyond This World" which were shared in the book.
Following Alex's confession, the publisher Tyndale House said it would stop selling the book. The publisher has removed the title from the list of books it has published.
Alex's mother Beth, who is now divorced from his father, previously said that Alex "has not received monies from the book nor have a majority of his needs been funded by it." She also said that Alex previously told a pastor that the book was made up, but he was told the publication was "blessing" people and to stay quiet.
Beth is now caring for Alex.
The book was turned into a TV movie by Franklin Films in 2010.
