Yahoo News JK Rowling: Jameela Jamil, Sarah Paulson and more react after Harry Potter author controversy
The world of entertainment has responded after Harry Potter author JK Rowling posted a series of tweets labelled “anti-trans”.
Rowling was met with a backlash after calling out an article’s use of the phrase “people who menstruate”.
“I’m sure there used to be a word for those people,” she wrote, adding: “Someone help me out. Wumben? Wimpund? Woomud?”
While many Twitter users supported Rowling for her tweet, there were plenty who criticised her comment as “transphobic” arguing that transgender, non-binary and non-gender conforming people can also menstruate.
Aisling Bea shared a written statement from stand-up comedian Sarah Keyworth, adding: “From the lovely, brilliant stand up @sarahkcomedy to the author @jk_rowling, who created a lead character who was told he was one thing but could absolutely be another if he wanted by a magical hat. Even the sorting hat saw nuance & was aware it was infallible defining people.”
Singer Hozier wrote: “Trans rights are human rights. I don’t know who might need to hear this today but you are loved, you are seen and you deserve to be happy and respected for who you are and the God given life you live. Solidarity, Love and Happy.”
Jameela Jamil, acknowledging Rowling’s follow-up post stating that she supports transgender rights, urged the author to “share some of [her] mega wealth” with a fund helping homeless black trans women.
Model and transgender activist Munroe Bergdorf called out Rowling’s decision to send the tweets in the same weekend that Black Lives Matter protests are taking place.
“[It] is an indicator of how you only care about liberation for people like YOU,” Bergdoff wrote.
Sarah Paulson shared a post criticising Rowling, adding: “Word. Goodnight and shut up @jk_rowling.”
To choose pride month to come out with yet more transphobia, in a time when people are coming together to call out bigotry, is an indicator of how you only care about liberation for people like YOU...
READ THE ROOM @jk_rowling— Black Lives Matter ✊🏾 (@MunroeBergdorf)
From the lovely, brilliant stand up @sarahkcomedy to the author @jk_rowling who created a lead character who was told he was one thing but could absolutely be another if he wanted by a magical hat. Even the sorting hat saw nuance & was aware it was infallible defining people. 🧙🏻♀️ https://t.co/X8fiHCxl6J
— Aisling Bea (@WeeMissBea)
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. https://t.co/3WoGduRuSE
— Jameela Jamil 🌈 (@jameelajamil)
Trans rights are human rights. I don’t know who might need to hear this today but you are loved, you are seen and you deserve to be happy and respected for who you are and the God given life you live. Solidarity, Love and Happy #PrideMonth
— Hozier (@Hozier)
There wasn’t much in the way of of celebrity support for Rowling save for former tennis player Martina Navratilova.
Navratilova posted a series of tweets agreeing with Rowling from a “sports” perspective, writing: “I am sorry if you think speaking up for a level playing field for girls and women in sports is hurtful. What is hurtful is saying to girls and women to just try harder.”
I am sorry if you think speaking up for a level playing field for girls and women in sports is hurtful. What is hurtful is saying to girls and women to just try harder...
— Martina Navratilova (@Martina)
Other stars to comment on the tweets included Stranger Things’ Barb star Shannon Purser, Canadian actor, writer and director Sarah Polley and Harry Potter actor Katie Leung.
Leung shared her “thoughts” on the matter after the tweets reignited a debate surrounding the author’s decision to name Harry Potter’s one main Asian character Cho Chang.
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