The former isn't supposed to show on non-touch devices. Maybe something like this would do the trick?

diff --git a/frontend/apps/reader/modules/readerhighlight.lua b/frontend/apps/reader/modules/readerhighlight.lua
index e80998717..abba38f1f 100644
--- a/frontend/apps/reader/modules/readerhighlight.lua
+++ b/frontend/apps/reader/modules/readerhighlight.lua
@@ -593,6 +593,7 @@ Except when in two columns mode, where this is limited to showing only the previ
     if not Device:isTouchDevice() and Device:hasDPad() then
         menu_items.selection_text = util.tableDeepCopy(menu_items.long_press)
         menu_items.selection_text.text = _("Select on text")
+        menu_items.long_press = nil
     end
 
     -- main menu Search

that works! should I PR this or will you?

If you have time to, please do.

I found the [guilty] offender here #8608. 😂

The former isn't supposed to show on non-touch devices. Maybe something like this would do the trick?

diff --git a/frontend/apps/reader/modules/readerhighlight.lua b/frontend/apps/reader/modules/readerhighlight.lua
index e80998717..abba38f1f 100644
--- a/frontend/apps/reader/modules/readerhighlight.lua
+++ b/frontend/apps/reader/modules/readerhighlight.lua
@@ -593,6 +593,7 @@ Except when in two columns mode, where this is limited to showing only the previ
     if not Device:isTouchDevice() and Device:hasDPad() then
         menu_items.selection_text = util.tableDeepCopy(menu_items.long_press)
         menu_items.selection_text.text = _("Select on text")
+        menu_items.long_press = nil
     end
 
     -- main menu Search

But, with this line added, we do not need tableDeepCopy anymore.

I tried to get it to work without tableDeepCopy and every approach I try fails... I am sure it will be something silly and obvious once it is solved but for now, I'm stuck.

You just have menu_items.selection_text = menu_items.long_press, right?

You just have menu_items.selection_text = menu_items.long_press, right?

that was the very first thing I tried, and it didn't work for some reason. But now it does, weird.