In September 2010, Lenihan attracted controversy when it emerged that he was to attend the launch of "The Origin of Specious Nonsense", an anti-evolution book by John J. May. PZ Myers, on his "Pharyngula" blog, expressed shock that a Minister of State with special responsibility for Science would lend support to such a book. Lenihan claimed that he was "not launching the book as Minister for Science but rather as a TD because May is a constituent of his". In the wake of this controversy, May asked Lenihan not to launch the book "because I am so embarrassed that the Minister for Science has been so insulted" and "eviscerated" on a political website.