Aslo question ,there was some PERK
It's described in the link you posted:
For $150: collaboration with the backer so that their story of successfully escaping an abusive belief system (300 words max) features along with others in the final pages of How to Escape From Jehovah's Witnesses. The text will be written by the author but will include a minimum of one quote worded by the backer. The backer will also be allowed to include a black and white photo with their story (with the author's approval of the image) if desired. This perk comes with a complimentary signed, advance copy of How to Escape From Jehovah's Witnesses (mailed 3 weeks / 21 days before it is released on Amazon) with the backer's name in the Acknowledgments. (The author reserves the right to issue a refund for this perk if the story is not a good fit for the book.)
The controversy was for the $150 perk where he was soliciting exit stories, many of whom were CSA survivors. Though he worded it carefully, he was claiming complete editorial control over what the backer wrote, saying at least one sentence would be a direct quote. Some questioned the integrity of soliciting for profit stories from CSA survivors. His response was a snotty "If you don't like it then don't get that perk". So partly due to his attitude and the fact his other book had just been released, it didn't sell well. He only collected $5000+ dollars, whilst he cleared $20,000 USD for the indiegogo campaign for The Reluctant Apostate:
