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Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling became the latest subject of so-called Internet cancellation on Thursday after she defended a researcher who was fired for tweeting that transgender people cannot change their sex.
After an employment judge ruled against think-tank researcher Maya Forstater, who was fired for tweeting out her views on transgender people, Rowling defended the woman on Twitter.
“Dress however you please. Call yourself whatever you like. Sleep with any consenting adult who’ll have you. Live your best life in peace and security,” Rowling declared. “But force women out of their jobs for stating that sex is real? #IStandWithMaya #ThisIsNotADrill.”
Dress however you please.
Call yourself whatever you like.
Sleep with any consenting adult who’ll have you.
Live your best life in peace and security.
But force women out of their jobs for stating that sex is real? #IStandWithMaya #ThisIsNotADrill— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) December 19, 2019
The post was so controversial that the author soon became the number one trending topic on Twitter, along with the term TERF, or “trans-exclusionary radical feminist.”
Despite receiving over 60,000 likes, Rowling also became the target of widespread condemnation over her comment.
“Trans women are women. Trans men are men. Non-binary people are non-binary. CC: JK Rowling,” posted Human Rights Campaign, while the organization’s president Alphonso David accused Rowling of “promoting a harmful fundamentalism that endangers the LGBTQ community.”
Trans women are women.
Trans men are men.
Non-binary people are non-binary.CC: JK Rowling.
— Human Rights Campaign (@HRC) December 19, 2019
.@jk_rowling says she’s opposed to fundamentalism in any form, but she’s promoting a harmful fundamentalism that endangers the LGBTQ community — particularly transgender youth. She should apologize. https://t.co/2Acq4S77SW
— Alphonso David (@AlphonsoDavid) December 19, 2019
“I grew up as a trans child reading your books as an escape. I would often pick out names from characters to give to myself, before I ever felt comfortable in who I was. This decision, to support people that hate me, and want to do me harm. It brings me to tears… Why. Why?” replied one social media user to the author.
I grew up as a trans child reading your books as an escape. I would often pick out names from characters to give to myself, before I ever felt comfortable in who I was. This decision, to support people that hate me, and want to do me harm. It brings me to tears… Why. Why?
— Noel is entering peak holiday spirit (@notafootstool) December 19, 2019
Another user declared, “My daughter, who is trans, is a big fan of yours. It breaks my heart to see you post something indicating that discrimination against her is perfectly fine behaviour for an employee. The world’s most credible medical orgs affirm trans people. Please catch up.”
My daughter, who is trans, is a big fan of yours. It breaks my heart to see you post something indicating that discrimination against her is perfectly fine behaviour for an employee.
The world’s most credible medical orgs affirm trans people. Please catch up.
— Amanda Jetté Knox (@MavenOfMayhem) December 19, 2019
As a gay man that found safety in Hogwarts throughout my childhood – knowing that Trans people wouldn’t be able to have that safety breaks my heart.
— Shahmir Sanni (@shahmiruk) December 19, 2019
Wholeheartedly disagree. I stand with intersectional feminist humans,who recognize that trans women are real women,and against bigots like yourself. Bigotry masquerading as feminism is anything but. Your internalized distortions are helping me to continue dismantling mine.Thanks!
— Sara Ramirez (@SaraRamirez) December 19, 2019
Even prominent Donald Trump reply guy Tony Posnanski turned his sights towards Rowling.
Never thought I would say this but here we are…
Fuck you, J.K.
— Tony Posnanski (@tonyposnanski) December 19, 2019
Some people used the opportunity to criticize Rowling for other reasons too.
if you liked grateful slaves & hooknosed banking goblins you’ll love harry potter and the biological essentialism of gender https://t.co/59Glxwppir
— Talia Lavin (@chick_in_kiev) December 19, 2019
Will JK Rowling be held accountable for being a TERF, or will she get a pass like she did for the antisemitism?
Not just anyone can get away with “griphook” and heartless, hook-nosed, money-gripping side-locked goblin bankers on banks with Jewish stars.pic.twitter.com/fZHMHf85h7
— rafael (@rafaelshimunov) December 19, 2019
Campus Reform Editor-in-Chief and former Marco Rubio staffer Cabot Phillips, commented, “JK Rowling getting cancelled is proof you can never be woke enough for the Left. You can tirelessly promote SJW causes for a decade but will instantly be labeled a nazi bigot if you diverge slightly from their narrative. Intersectionality is fun!”
JK Rowling getting cancelled is proof you can never be woke enough for the Left.
You can tirelessly promote SJW causes for a decade but will instantly be labeled a nazi bigot if you diverge slightly from their narrative. Intersectionality is fun!!! https://t.co/48ybRgRzN3
— Cabot Phillips (@cabot_phillips) December 19, 2019
LET ME OUTTA HERE DEPT: That moment when you realize that you are in crazy camp and the rest of the people with you are even crazier than you are https://t.co/2SauYis8bU
— Dinesh D’Souza (@DineshDSouza) December 19, 2019
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