[gnicholas]

I wouldn't characterize it as a stunt. I believe this review was initiated around 2020, back when "woke" was still a compliment. They brought in a firm that specializes in sensitivity readings, and they've now announced the results of the process that began several years ago. I'm sure they planned for the possibility that there would be a loud backlash, and they are now walking back their initial announcement.

This may result in some additional sales, as people scramble to get the old versions. But it also puts egg on Puffin's face, and may hurt their reputation among buyers and authors. Overall, it seems more like inertia and incompetence rather than a finely-tuned publicity stunt.