Fox News apparently unwittingly helped sell books for provocative Jesus biographer Reza Aslan, who appeared on the network in an awkward interview, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Aslan, who appeared on the FoxNews.com show "Spirited Debate," was immediately asked by host Lauren Green why, as a Muslim, he decided to write about Jesus, who founded Christianity.

"Well, to be clear, I am a scholar of religions with four degrees," Aslan said, "including one in the New Testament, and fluency in biblical Greek, who has been studying the origins of Christianity for two decades, who also just happens to be a Muslim."

"It’s not that I’m just some Muslim writing about Jesus," he continued. "I am an expert with a PhD in the history of religions."

The clip went viral after the website Buzzfeed posted it with the headline "Is this the most embarrassing interview Fox News has ever done?" Click here to see the video.

After the interview, the book rose from the No. 8 spot on Amazon on Friday to No. 1 on Sunday, reports The New York Times.

"I’ll be perfectly honest — I’m thrilled at the response that people have had to the interview,” Aslan told The Times. “You can’t buy this kind of publicity.”