The power of Twitter. On Saturday, June 6, author J.K. Rowling came under fire after posting multiple tweets that seemingly slammed the trans community.
The controversy began when the Harry Potter creator, 54, shared an article titled “Opinion: Creating a more equal post-COVID-19 world for people who menstruate.” In addition to linking to the post, she tweeted, “‘People who menstruate.’ I’m sure there used to be a word for those people. Someone help me out. Wumben? Wimpund? Woomud?”
Celebrities Fight Back on Social Media Read articleWhen receiving angry responses that explained that transgender, non-binary and gender-nonconforming people can menstruate, the author claimed that she has done her research.
“I’ve spent much of the last three years reading books, blogs and scientific papers by trans people, medics and gender specialists. I know exactly what the distinction is,” the producer tweeted. “Never assume that because someone thinks differently, they have no knowledge.”
Rowling then shared many more tweets about sex.
Celebrities LGBTQ Allies Read article“If sex isn’t real, there’s no same-sex attraction. If sex isn’t real, the lived reality of women globally is erased. I know and love trans people, but erasing the concept of sex removes the ability of many to meaningfully discuss their lives. It isn’t hate to speak the truth,” the author wrote. “The idea that women like me, who’ve been empathetic to trans people for decades, feeling kinship because they’re vulnerable in the same way as women – ie, to male violence – ‘hate’ trans people because they think sex is real and has lived consequences – is a nonsense. I respect every trans person’s right to live any way that feels authentic and comfortable to them. I’d march with you if you were discriminated against on the basis of being trans. At the same time, my life has been shaped by being female. I do not believe it’s hateful to say so.”
Her messages caused quite an uproar on social media, leading to reactions by celebrities as well as the LGBTQ rights organization GLAAD.
“If you want to direct your rightful anger over JK Rowling’s latest anti-trans comments into something positive, support orgs that help Black trans people like @MPJInstitute, @blacktransusa, @TransJusticeFP, @Genderintell and @ukblackpride,” the official GLAAD account tweeted on Saturday. “JK Rowling continues to align herself with an ideology which willfully distorts facts about gender identity and people who are trans. In 2020, there is no excuse for targeting trans people. We stand with trans youth, especially those Harry Potter fans hurt by her inaccurate and cruel tweets.”
Best LGBTQ Romances in Pop Culture Read articleGLADD added, “By the way, looking for some summer reading? ‘Percy Jackson’ author Rick Riordan isn’t transphobic.”
This isn’t the first time Rowling has come under fire for her tweets. In December 2019, she faced backlash after publicly supporting British researcher Maya Forstater who was fired after making transphobic comments.
Scroll through the gallery for more celeb reactions to Rowling’s latest comments.
“Respect for transgender people remains a cultural imperative, and over the years I have been trying to constantly educate myself,” the Fantastic Beasts star, 38, said in a statement on June 10. “This is an ongoing process. As someone who has worked with both J.K. Rowling and members of the trans community, I wanted to make it absolutely clear where I stand. I disagree with Jo’s comments. Trans women are women, trans men are men and non-binary identities are valid. I would never want to speak on behalf of the community but I do know that my dear transgender friends and colleagues are tired of this constant questioning of their identities, which all too often results in violence and abuse. They simply want to live their lives peacefully, and it’s time to let them do so."
Three months later, Redmayne told the Daily Mail that he was shocked by the "vitriol" and "absolutely disgusting" criticism directed toward Rowling in the wake of the scandal, despite disagreeing with her stance.
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“I don’t think what she said was offensive, really,” the actor, who played Rubeus Hagrid in the Harry Potter franchise, told the Radio Times. “I don’t know why, but there’s a whole Twitter generation of people who hang around waiting to be offended. They wouldn’t have won the war, would they?”
Coltrane continued, “That’s me talking like a grumpy old man, but you just think, ‘Oh, get over yourself. Wise up, stand up straight, and carry on.’ I don’t want to get involved in all of that because of all the hate mail and all that s--t, which I don’t need at my time of life.”
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The Sex and the City alum opened up about the impact Rowling’s stance had on her son Samuel, who is transgender. “It was really painful for him because so much of his childhood was tied up with Harry Potter,” Nixon told the Independent on September 14. “We’re a Harry Potter family. The books seem to be about championing people who are different, so for her to select this one group of people who are obviously different and sort of deny their existence, it’s just … it’s really baffling. I know she feels like she’s standing up for feminism, but I don’t get it.”
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"I firmly stand with the trans community," the actor, who starred in all of the Harry Potter movies, said in a statement to Us Weekly. "Trans women are women. Trans men are men. We should all be entitled to live with love and without judgment."
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The Billy on the Street star shared a gentle reminder with his fans one day after the Harry Potter author explained her stance in a lengthy op-ed. "Trans women are women. Trans men are men. Non binary people are non binary. And I will never understand why some people are bothered by this," he tweeted on June 11. "Life is short. Let people be who they are. It doesn’t concern you!!!"
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“If Harry Potter was a source of love and belonging for you, that love is infinite and there to take without judgment or question,” Wright, who played Ginny Weasley in the HP franchise, wrote via Twitter on June 10. “Transwomen are Women. I see and love you, Bonnie x.”
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“Trans people are who they say they are and deserve to live their lives without being constantly questioned or told they aren’t who they say they are,” the Harry Potter star wrote via Twitter on June 10. “I want my trans followers to know that I and so many other people around the world see you, respect you and love you for who you are. I donate to @Mermaids_Gender and @mamacash. If you can, perhaps you’ll feel inclined to do the same. Happy #PRIDE2020 Sending love x.”
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The actress, who played Luna Lovegood in the Harry Potter movies, tweeted on June 9 that she is “so saddened to see trans people feeling abandoned by the HP community.” She went on to write, “I think it’s irresponsible to discuss such a delicate topic over Twitter through fragmented thoughts and I wish Jo wouldn’t. That said, as a friend and admirer of Jo I can’t forget what a generous and loving person she is.” After reiterating that “trans women are women,” Lynch concluded, “I’m sending my love out to the trans community especially at this time.”
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“While Jo is unquestionably responsible for the course my life has taken, as someone who has been honored to work with and continues to contribute to The Trevor Project for the last decade, and just as a human being, I feel compelled to say something at this moment,” the actor, who played the title character in Harry Potter, wrote in an essay published on June 8. “Transgender women are women. Any statement to the contrary erases the identity and dignity of transgender people and goes against all advice given by professional health care associations who have far more expertise on this subject matter than either Jo or I.”
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The Scottish actress, who played Cho Chang in the Harry Potter film series, seemingly responded to Rowling’s comments by sharing resources to organizations and charities that help to support black transgender people. “So, you want my thoughts on Cho Chang? Okay, here goes … ,” she tweeted on June 7, before writing in a final tweet, “#AsiansForBlackLives.”
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"Word. Goodnight and shut up @jk_rowling," the American Horror Story star, 45, tweeted.
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"Close mouth. Open purse," the former Good Place star, 34, wrote. She also shared a GoFundMe page to raise money for black trans women that live in Atlanta and are sex workers and/or homeless. "Hey JK as you claim to support trans rights and this is a historical moment where we are globally discussing the impact of white supremacy on Black People, please share some of your $650million mega wealth with this charity," she added.
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"How did she manage to have a victim complex about all of this?" Wilson, 32, wrote about Rowling. She retweeted many of the responses, including Paulson's. "THANK YOU," she replied.
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"If you are a TERF and following us, please f--k off and unfollow us," the band wrote. "Everyone else - if you can - donate." They included a link to a Vice story that lists organizations to donate to that support black trans people.
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"What the actual f--k??? This is so disgraceful, @jk_rowling. Of all the hills to die on, and for what reason? Trans women are women and they are fighting for their lives. When you push this trans exclusionary agenda, you make their lives infinitely more difficult. Shame on you," the singer, 31, wrote. "You have power and influence. Why would you do this? What does it achieve? Do you feel like more of a woman when you punch down? Are you threatened? Some trans men menstruate. Why does that affect you? Why do you want to police that?"
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"She has such a powerful voice. Why is she using that voice to die on a hill of transphobia? It is damaging and sad and makes zero sense," the actor, 48, tweeted. "Is it really her belief that trans women somehow threaten her own selfhood? What is she so f--king afraid of?"
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"Trans women are women," the Queer Eye star, 33, wrote. "Trans Black people & trans non-Black people are discriminated against every single day. They’re dying. We’re fighting for Black people & trans people and you’re doing this?"
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