Search icon
Download the all-new Republic app:

Published 13:29 IST, December 20th 2019

JK Rowling gets flak on Twitter for supporting woman with transphobic views

British author JK Rowling caused controversy with her latest tweet where she expressed her support for a woman who was fired over her anti-trans posts

Reported by: Vishal Tiwari
null | Image: self

British author JK Rowling caused controversy with her latest tweet where she expressed her support for a woman who was fired over her anti-transgender posts on social media. Rowling in her tweet took a jibe at the pro-trans liberal community and London-based nonprofit Center for Global Development for forcing the woman out of her job.

Read: Harry Potter Author JK Rowling Donates For Multiple Sclerosis Research

Rowling in her tweet mentioned a woman named Maya Forstater, who is a tax expert and was recently fired for tweeting that trans women couldn't "change" their biological sex. Maya's tweet led to the Center for Global Development not renewing her contract in March. Maya lost the case in the Central London Employment Tribunal where Judge James Taylor dismissed her claims and said that her views were "not worthy of respect in a democratic society."

Read: JK Rowling Working On Four New Harry Potter Books. Here's What They're Called

After JK Rowling expressed her solidarity with Maya Forstater, she was extensively trolled on social media. Many were disappointed in the Harry Potter author for her backward views. Human Rights Campaign also took a shot at Rowling as it reminded her that trans women are women.

Replying to Rowling's tweet, one fan wrote that she grew up reading the Harry Potter series as a trans child and that the author's decision to support Maya Forstater for her anti-trans views brought tears to her eyes. 

Read: VIRAL: Now, JK Rowling Can Reveal Something Specific About You. Here's How To Get Your Revelation

Rowling's tweet has garnered more than 136k likes and has been shared over 26k times. Rowling's name was at number 1 position on twitter's trending list alongside "JK Rowling is a TERF, which stands for "trans-exclusionary radical feminist." The term is used in the LGBTQ community and is used to refer to liberal feminists whose activism excludes the rights of trans women.

Read:   I Can't Separate 'writing Life' From 'life', Says JK Rowling
 

Updated 14:09 IST, December 20th 2019

LIVE TV

Republic TV is India's no.1 English news channel since its launch.