J. K. Rowling

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[[File:Jk-rowling-crop.JPG|right|thumb|165px|Double, double toil and trouble.]]
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{{cquote|every time rowling tweets the first part of her obituary gets shorter and the second part gets longer|||[[Shaun|shaun_vids]] on how Rowling's transphobia has not only [[#Tarnishing legacy as a beloved author|tarnished her current legacy]] but will likely [[Anita Bryant|define how the future remembers her]].<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20221217213122/https://twitter.com/shaun_vids/status/1604219451204845569</ref>}}
'''Joanne Rowling''', {{lived|1965}} pen name '''J(ust) K(idding) Rowling'''<ref group=note>J. K. Rowling wasn't given a middle name. When choosing to write under initials, she added a "K." after her grandmother, Kathleen. Wikipedia confidently states that her surname is pronounced ''/ˈroʊlɪŋ/ ROH-ling'', but most people ignore this.</ref> is a [[United Kingdom|British]] [[author]] of fictional wizard books for young people, namely the ''Harry Potter'' series. Naturally, this means British newspapers consider her opinions to be of pressing public interest during national elections.<ref>Samantha Riedel (July 5, 2024). [https://www.them.us/story/keir-starmer-election-uk-lgbtq-rights "Here's What the Election of the U.K.'s New PM Means for LGBTQ+ Rights"]. ''Them''.</ref>

Her political online footprint was originally known through her opposition to [[Scottish]] nationalists, [[Brexit]]eers, [[Donald Trump]] supporters, [[anti-Zionist]]s, and [[Jeremy Corbyn]] fans. However, after seeing some Tweets and blog posts, she has since fashioned herself into a prominent [[Trans-exclusionary radical feminism|TERF]] (trans-exclusionary radical feminist),{{efn|For key points on her trans-exclusion, see: [[#TL;DR — "JKR's top hits"]]. For discussion about her vulgarized form of [[radical feminism]], see [[#Flawed understanding of sexual abuse]], as well as e.g. her use of an [[Andrea Dworkin]] quote.<ref name="StephenKing1"/>}} and arguably a [[Nazism|Nazi]] crimes denier.{{efn|Per a definition of "denial of Nazi crimes" that has gained some official and legal merit in modern Germany.<ref>Laurie Marhoefer (June 6, 2023). [https://theconversation.com/historians-are-learning-more-about-how-the-nazis-targeted-trans-people-205622 "Historians are learning more about how the Nazis targeted trans people"]. ''The Conversation''. Quote: "In the fall of 2022, a German court heard an unusual case. It was a civil lawsuit that grew out of a feud on Twitter [unrelated to J. K. Rowling] about whether transgender people were victims of the Holocaust. … The court took expert statements from historians before issuing an opinion that essentially acknowledges that trans people were victimized by the Nazi regime."</ref><ref>Enrique Anarte (January 27, 2023). [https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSL8N34C2PZ/ "German parliament remembers LGBTQ+ victims of the Nazis"]. ''Reuters''.</ref>}}<ref name="JKRForward"/><ref name="JKRStranger"/> Since becoming a vocal TERF, she has been known among some ''Harry Potter'' fans as "'''she who must not be named'''"- a reference to a similar moniker for {{w|Lord Voldemort||,}} the main antagonist of her ''magnum opus''.<ref>[https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/entertainment/2020/07/jk-rowling-now-she-who-must-not-be-named-for-harry-potter-fans.html JK Rowling now 'she who must not be named' for Harry Potter fans] (04/07/2020) ''Newshub''.</ref>

She went from hailed author of the beloved ''Harry Potter'' series to a fallen hero who now spends her time [[concern troll|concern trolling]] and defending [[transphobia]] as sacred and untouchable. A reason this especially struck a nerve was because many of the biggest ''Harry Potter'' fans have been [[LGBT]]+ themselves,<ref>Eden Arielle Gordon (June 29, 2023). [https://www.popsugar.com/entertainment/harry-potter-fans-jk-rowling-transphobia-essay-49207267 "For Many Queer Harry Potter Fans, J.K. Rowling's Transphobia Feels Like a Betrayal"]. ''Popsugar''.</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Duggan |first=Jennifer |date=2020-09-15 |title=Who writes Harry Potter fan fiction? Passionate detachment, "zooming out," and fan fiction paratexts on AO3 |url=https://journal.transformativeworks.org/index.php/twc/article/download/1863/2599?inline=1 |journal=Transformative Works and Cultures |language=en |volume=34 |doi=10.3983/twc.2020.1863 |issn=1941-2258}} {{blockquote|This paper suggests that nonbinary and trans fans make up a much a larger proportion of Harry Potter fan fiction–centered communities than previously realized, although precise proportions are impossible to glean from these data. It emphasizes that this fandom may be queerer than previously acknowledged, as no fans in the data set explicitly identified as straight. While in some instances this may be due to fans' default assumption that they will be read as female and straight, we cannot assume this to be the case. As I argue above, there are multiple reasons that nonheteronormative individuals might also be silent (see also Duggan n.d.).}}</ref> and they even once hoped for more LGBT+ representation in the series.<ref>Kim Renfro (February 4, 2018). [https://www.businessinsider.com/fantastic-beasts-jk-rowling-dumbledore-lgbt-backlash-2018-2 "Why devoted 'Harry Potter' fans feel betrayed by J.K. Rowling and the 'Fantastic Beasts' franchise"]. ''Business Insider''.</ref> Archives also suggest that Rowling (along with Scholastic, the publisher for the US edition of ''Harry Potter'') had apparently supported the 2013 "Equality FTW" campaign by the Harry Potter Alliance (now Fandom Forward), which listed "LGBTQ equality" as one of its goals.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20130916002358/https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/equality-ftw-2013 "Equality FTW 2013"]. The Harry Potter Alliance on Indiegogo, via the Wayback Machine. {{blockquote|This year, equality will win. Equality FTW is the Harry Potter Alliance’s annual fundraiser. Your contribution helps us fund another year of campaigns fighting for economic, educational, and LGBTQ equality.}}</ref><ref>(2013). [https://web.archive.org/web/20140210104237/https://thehpalliance.org/harrypotterbook/ "Win a signed JK Rowling Book"]. The Harry Potter Alliance, via the Wayback Machine.</ref><ref>(October 7, 2013). [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3PuTyYVQaGw "HOW TO GET SIGNED JK ROWLING BOOKS"]. Fandom Forward, via YouTube.</ref>

Because her books are about witches and wizards, [[religious fundamentalist]]s like to burn them for promoting alleged [[Satanism]] and actual [[witchcraft]].<ref>(April 1, 2019). [https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-47771706 "Harry Potter books burned by Polish priests alarmed by magic"]. ''BBC News''.</ref><ref>[https://www.forbes.com/2006/11/30/book-burnings-potter-tech-media_cz_ds_books06_1201burn.html "Harry Potter And The Ministry Of Fire"]. ''Forbes''.</ref> Amidst this, Rowling (despite being credited with having encouraged a generation to read and firsthand experience of her work being subjected to censorship by religious extremists) supports [[Moms for Liberty#Book banning|Moms for Liberty-style]] blacklisting of certain [[LGBT]]-themed kids' books.<ref name="LGBTbooks">[[:File:JKRHatesKidsBooks.jpg|Screenshot]] of a retweet by Rowling of a [https://x.com/SEENPublishing/status/1867498548885172616 Twitter thread] by anti-trans lobby group "SEEN in Publishing".</ref> Just don't tell her own publisher about the Polyjuice Potions...

She's "sometimes known as"<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20220815043302/https://twitter.com/jk_rowling</ref> the male writer '''Robert Galbraith'''. This is the pen name under which Rowling writes the [[#Cormoran Strike series|Cormoran Strike]] detective novels for adults.

==''Harry Potter'' series==
[[File:Harry Potter wordmark.svg|thumb|right|165px|The logo]]
{{cquote|''Harry's world says that drinking dead animal blood gives power, a [[Satanism|satanic]] [[human sacrifice]] and Harry's powerful blood brings new life, [[demon]] possession is not spiritually dangerous, and that passing through fire, contacting the dead, and conversing with [[ghost]]s, others in the spirit world, and more, is normal and acceptable.''|||''Harry Potter: Witchcraft Repackaged'', a DVD incapable of making a distinction between fantasy novels and the occult or even getting what is in said novels right.}}
'''''Harry Potter''''', a series of seven (or so) [[fantasy]] novels by J. K. Rowling, relates the adventures of a teenage boy and his two best friends who attend a [[school]] of "[[witchcraft]] and wizardry", learning a whole range of [[magic]]al skills; fighting Dark Magic and [[evil]]; and demonstrates how Alan Rickman got snubbed of another [[Oscars|Oscar]].<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iqyf-kJWwIg Spoilers!]</ref>

The series portrays Good triumphing over Evil. It became a [[Literature|literary]] and critical success; nevertheless, [[fundamentalist]] [[religious]] groups condemn it as a harmful work that will seduce [[children]] into the [[occult]] and witchcraft. In the [[United States]] (the so-called [[American exceptionalism|"great land of liberty"]]), the books became the ''most challenged of the 21<sup>st</sup> century'' (at least, as of 2000–2005).<ref>(September 21, 2006). [https://www.ala.org/news/news/pressreleases2006/september2006/harrypottermostchallenge Harry Potter tops list of most challenged books of 21<sup>st</sup> century], American Library Association</ref> Fortunately for ''Harry Potter'' fans, magic and witchcraft are only a concern if you're [[Salem witch trials|stuck in the 17<sup>th</sup> century]] or living in [[Africa]],<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20110525082650/https://infidels.org/library/modern/richard_petraitis/witch_killers.html "The Witch Killers of Africa (2003)"].</ref> [[Indonesia]], or [[Papua New Guinea]] in the present century.

The response to the books represents an excellent example of modern-day fundamentalism and would-be [[authoritarianism]], with numerous attempts to [[Censorship|ban the books]].

===Commercialisation===
[[File:Montreal Comiccon 2016 - Harry Potter (27634156054).jpg|right|thumb|185px|Expelliarmus!]]
The commercialisation of the ''Harry Potter'' series by capitalist industries, especially by [[Hollywood]] and the [[media]], has been criticised. Scholar Jack Zipes critiqued the mass commercialisation and corporate hegemony behind the ''Harry Potter'' franchise, likening such hegemony to a form of cultural imperialism. In his Adornean analysis of ''Harry Potter''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s global brand, Zipes wrote, "It must conform to the standards of exception set by the mass media and promoted by the culture industry in general. To be a phenomenon means that a person or commodity must conform to the hegemonic groups that determine what makes up a phenomenon".<ref>Zipes, J. (2002). [https://books.google.com/books/about/Sticks_and_Stones.html?id=YMCiKoZSPyoC "Sticks and Stones: The Troublesome Success of Children's Literature from Slovenly Peter to Harry Potter"]. Page 175.</ref>

===Themes===
Scholars subject the ''Harry Potter'' novels to serious [[social]] scrutiny, with studies of the series' [[political]] intricacies performed by columnists, [[professor]]s, and doctoral students alike. As of 2007, the catalog of the Library of [[Congress]] recorded 21 volumes of criticism and interpretation; at least seven master's dissertations, and 17 doctoral theses have been devoted to the ''Harry Potter'' books. Seriously.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20110522122029/https://www.insidehighered.com/views/mclemee/mclemee133 Pottering Around], ''Inside Higher Ed''</ref>

From the concepts of hierarchy and [[Eugenics|purity]] found in the relations between pure-blooded and Muggle-born wizards to the struggle for house-elf freedom, [[equality]] is a central theme of the books. It portrays a [[Deceit|dishonest]], incompetent [[government]] and [[media]]. It paints [[war]] as a great evil in which innocent people die. The school Harry attends, Hogwarts, is [[multicultural]], multiracial, and (seemingly) [[secular]]. Some critics, however, called the books patronising and [[conservative]],<ref>[https://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2000/jun/25/booksforchildrenandteenagers.guardianchildrensfictionprize2000 "Why Harry Potter doesn't cast a spell over me"], ''The Guardian''</ref> or [[sexist]] and [[neoconservative]].<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20110523234615/https://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnists/rod_liddle/article2116237.ece "Hogwarts is a winner because boys will be sexist neocon boys"], ''The Sunday Times''</ref> This is odd since Rowling herself was a [[Labour Party| Labour]] supporter at time of writing (though she later drifted away from the party).

Unrelated controversies include comparisons to some older book series such as the ''Howl's Moving Castle'' and ''Wizard's Hall'' (''The Worst Witch'' is the most commented-on), which have resulted in accusations of [[plagiarism]], or (far worse) being derivative. The works feature frumpy and disaster-prone protagonists, a couple of loyal best-friends (one book-smart and [[rational]], one street-smart and slightly problematic), a blond and rich but cowardly and rather inefficient rival, a scary and seemingly unfair potions-teacher with hidden depths, a childish headmaster with a penchant for candy, and a big bad-guy who desires the destruction of the protagonist after their fateful first encounter. Whether this is more than just a re-hashing of [[TV Tropes|tropes]] is a matter of debate.<ref>{{wpa|Harry Potter influences and analogues}}</ref> Some fans, especially older ones, also believe that Rowling's later additions to the franchise are inferior to the original seven novels, with some outright comparing her work to that of George Lucas on the later ''Star Wars'' films,<ref>Farrow, Max. [https://screenrant.com/jk-rowling-george-lucas-harry-potter-star-wars/ "J.K. Rowling Is Turning Into George Lucas."] ''ScreenRant'', 25 November 2018 (recovered 30 April 2019).</ref> though one could hardly throw a rock within geek culture without running into similar complaints regarding one particular franchise or another.

Rowling is a [[Christian]] herself.<ref name="TIMEPoY07"/> The final book, ''Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows'', contains an epigraph from the [[Gospels]] ({{Bible|Matthew|6|21}}), Harry's parents' gravestones display another Bible quote ({{Bible|1 Corinthians|15|26}}<ref name="TIMEPoY07"/>), and Rowling also has a scene where Harry [[Messiah|sacrifices his own life and is resurrected]] and then proceeds to [[Jesus|save everybody]].<ref group=note>We're kind of over-exaggerating a bit, because it's implied in the final epilogue that he lived a fairly normal life after that.</ref> However, in a 2007 interview Rowling said she "did not set out to convert anyone to Christianity" and the books were praised by people of various religions.<ref name="TIMEPoY07">Nancy Gibbs (December 19, 2007). [https://content.time.com/time/specials/2007/personoftheyear/article/0,28804,1690753_1695388_1695436,00.html "Person of the Year 2007 / Runners-Up / J.K. Rowling"]. ''TIME''.</ref>

==Fundamentalist hysteria==
[[File:Hpevil.jpg|thumb|right|180px|Ghosts? Potions? ''Divination''?! The horror!]]
{{cquote|I go to church myself. I don't take any responsibility for the lunatic fringes of my own religion.|||J. K. Rowling<ref>D. Pulliam (October 17, 2007). [https://www.getreligion.org/getreligion/2007/10/mtv-rowling-answers-the-god-question "MTV: Rowling answers God question"]. ''GetReligion''.</ref>}}
Being a fantasy franchise centered around magic and portraying wizards and witches as heroes, this naturally freaked the living shit out of the world's religious zealots (mainly [[Evangelicals]] and right-wing Catholics) during the late 90s and early 2000s,inspiring a whole slew of deranged [[conspiracy theories]]. You see, Harry Potter (the religious nuts claim) is secretly a sinister plot to brainwash our precious children into the occult and make them worship its titular protagonist as the Antichrist. Most Flocks of religious leaders (plus [[Jack Chick]]) have fulminated against the series.

Note, however, many [[moderate]] and some [[evangelical Christian]]s have spoken in favour of the books. The [[Catholic Church]] has no official position, but its Popes, [[John Paul II]] and [[Benedict XVI]], gave a positive and negative review, respectively, both in 2003 (though the latter was before he became Pope).<ref>(February 3, 2003). [https://news.bbc.co.uk/cbbcnews/hi/world/newsid_2722000/2722445.stm "Pope sticks up for Potter books"]. ''BBC Newsround''.</ref><ref>Elisabeth Rosenthal (July 16, 2005). [https://archive.ph/Ojzmk "Don't count pope among Harry Potter fans"]. ''The New York Times''.</ref> Many of the Church's [[cardinal]]s also opposed the books, though the Vatican's newspaper ''L'Osservatore Romano'' endorsed one of the films.<ref>(July 14, 2009). [https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-vatican-harrypotter-idUKTRE56D5EL20090714/ "Vatican finally gives Harry Potter its blessing"]. ''Reuters''.</ref> It seems that once people make the distinction between fiction and real [[belief]] in magic, they can see past any objections to [[demon]]s and witchcraft to realise what the series supports.

[[Islamic fundamentalism|Islamic fundamentalist]]s have denounced the series. The Islamic preacher [[Sheik Feiz Muhammad]] regarded the books and films as [[Satanism|"Satanic"]] and claimed they were introducing young children to [[pagan]] rituals (like drinking [[goat]] blood) which [[Islam]] forbids. The esteemed Sheik criticised Muslim parents who allow their children to watch the films or read the books, claiming they were being irresponsible.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9JHc6m3Y2ss Harry Potter &mdash; Sheik Feiz Muhammad]</ref>

Furthermore, the drinking of dead animal blood, [[Satanic]] human [[sacrifice]], [[demonic possession]], etc. described in the quote [[#Harry Potter series|at the top of the ''H.P.'' section]], are actions practised by the book's Wilhelm-screaming<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7rVA4zwVmPw Voldemort NYAH NYEAH]</ref><ref group=note>Though, technically, the scream isn't actually the Wilhelm.</ref> ''antagonist'', Lord Voldemort, the [[murder]]er of Harry's parents; the books do not exactly present Voldemort as a morally praiseworthy figure.{{cn|joke}}

As to the claims that the books promote witchcraft by teaching impressionable children to cast spells, well… we hate to break it to you, but the spells described in the books don't work in [[real life]], even if you wave a piece of carved wood in the air.

Satirical news source ''[[The Onion]]'', in its [[Poe's Law|inimitable style]], once ran a spoof of the fundamentalists' claims, saying that children were converting to Satanism because of the books.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20000815214418/https://www.theonion.com/onion3625/harry_potter.html Avada Kedavra, bitches!]</ref> As if to prove their idiocy to anyone yet unconvinced, the fundies took the article as proof that they were right.<ref>[https://www.snopes.com/humor/iftrue/potter.asp Harry Potter and Satanism], Snopes.</ref>

==Secular criticism of ''Harry Potter''==
[[File:Gringotts, Harry Potter Studio Tour (48538215342).jpg|thumb|right|180px|Goblin banker model from the films.]]
====Goblins as an antisemitic trope====
In the ''Harry Potter'' novels, goblins are a short, humanoid race with "swarthy" skin and "dark, slanting eyes." They run Gringotts, the sole banking institution in the wizarding world. They're characterized as shrewd, secretive, and untrustworthy. The films give them hooked noses and pointed ears.

Critics link them to [[antisemitic]] caricatures of the [[Evil Jew]] and conspiracy theories about [[International Jewish conspiracy|Jews secretly controlling the world's financial system]].<ref name="goblins1">Peter Dendle, "Monsters, Creatures, and Pets at Hogwarts: Animal Stewardship in the World of ''Harry Potter'', in ''Critical Perspectives on Harry Potter'' (2008), [https://www.google.com/books/edition/Critical_Perspectives_on_Harry_Potter/yfOTAgAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&pg=PA165 page 165]</ref><ref name="goblins2">Jackie C. Horne, "Harry and the Other: Answering the Race Question in J. K. Rowling's ''Harry Potter'', ''The Lion and the Unicorn'' (2010), 34(1)</ref><ref name="goblins3">Madelyn Travis, ''Jews and Jewishness in British Children's Literature'' (2013), [https://www.google.com/books/edition/Jews_and_Jewishness_in_British_Children/MLWoAgAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&pg=PA5 page 5]</ref><ref name="goblins4">Daniel Levy & Avichai Snir, "[https://academic.oup.com/ooec/article/doi/10.1093/ooec/odac004/6646895 Potterian economics]", ''Oxford Open Economics'', Volume 1 (2022)</ref> In 2001, a reader letter to ''[[The New York Times]]'' called out the paper's review of the first film, charging that it failed to identify the "goblin bankers" as a "thinly veiled representation of Jewish stereotypes."<ref>T. Gossett, "[https://web.archive.org/web/20171121043622/https://www.nytimes.com/2001/11/26/movies/potter/readers-comment-on-harry-potter-and-the-sorcerers-stone.html Readers Comment on 'Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone']," ''The New York Times'', 26 November 2001</ref> Writing in the literary journal ''The Lion and the Unicorn'' in 2010, Jackie C. Horne held that the goblins' features "mark them as physically [[Other|other]]," while their role as bankers distinguishes them as "morally suspect" and a "modern-day embodiment of the stereotype of the Jewish moneylender or perhaps even an Italian [[Mafia]]so."<ref name="goblins2"/> Daniel Levy and Avichai Snir, in the journal ''Oxford Open Economics'', note that the films' goblins, in particular, have been condemned for their "acquiline noses and greedy-looking faces, similar to the cartoons that were used to depict stereotypical bankers and financiers in Europe in the late 19<sup>th</sup> century."<ref name="goblins4"/>

This criticism gained new traction in 2022 after it came up during a discussion on [[Jon Stewart]]'s podcast:<ref>The Problem With Jon Stewart: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DzffpeYnv-w The Problem With Goblins: J. K. Rowling, Harry Potter, & Jews]</ref><ref>IndieWire: [https://www.forbes.com/sites/danidiplacido/2022/01/05/the-harry-potter-anti-semitism-controversy-explained/ Jon Stewart Slams J.K. Rowling for Anti-Semitic Goblins in 'Harry Potter' Series]"</ref><ref>Variety: [https://variety.com/2022/film/news/jon-stewart-slams-jk-rowling-anti-semitic-harry-potter-goblins-1235146760/ Jon Stewart Calls Out J.K. Rowling’s Anti-Semitic Goblins in 'Harry Potter' Franchise]</ref>

{{quotebox|'''Jay Jurden''': The Jews have arrived. What chapter of ''Harry Potter'' is that in? That's when they get to Gringotts, right?<br/>'''Stewart''': Can I tell you something about ''Harry Potter''? … Here's how you know, like, Jews are still where they are. Talking to people, what I say is, "Have you ever seen a ''Harry Potter'' movie?" And people are all like, "I love the ''Harry Potter'' movies!" I'm like, "You ever see the scenes in Gringotts bank?" They're like, "I love the scenes in Gringotts bank!" Like, "Do you know what those folks that run the bank are?" And they're like, "What?" And then, like, "Jews."<br/>'''Jurden''': And then that person says, "No, goblins." And then you go, "Do you hear yourself?"<br/> '''Stewart''': Let me show you this from ''[[The Protocols of the Elders of Zion]]''. I just want to show you a caricature, and they're like, "Oh, look at that! That's from ''Harry Potter''." You're like, "No, that's a caricature of a Jew from an antisemitic piece of literature." J.K. Rowling was like, "Can we get these guys to run our bank?" And you're like, "It's a wizarding world." … The train station has a half a thing and no one can see it. And we can ride dragons and you've got a pet owl. … Who should run the bank? Jews."}}

Stewart later clarified that these remarks were intended as a "lighthearted conversation" and that he was "not accusing J. K. Rowling of being antisemitic."<ref>NBC News: [https://www.nbcnews.com/pop-culture/pop-culture-news/jon-stewart-clarifies-comments-made-depiction-goblins-harry-potter-rcna11013 Jon Stewart clarifies comments he made about depiction of goblins in 'Harry Potter']</ref>

====House-elves and portrayal of slavery ====
One of the most understated parts of the book series is the portrayal of [[slavery]] and [[abolitionism]]. One of the main characters, Hermione Granger, seeks to abolish slavery and is mocked for it. The enslaved group, the house elves, are portrayed as comic relief and themselves show hostility to the only slave who sought freedom.<ref>[https://medium.com/@hellyschtevie/harry-potter-and-the-problematic-slavery-parable-a6343a827d50 Harry Potter and the problematic slavery parable]</ref> Thankfully, this portrayal of slavery is almost completely removed from the films, with only Dobby (appearing only in ''Chamber of Secrets'' — in which he's freed from the Malfoys — and ''Deathly Hallows'' — in which he dies) and Kreacher (where any mentions of Harry owning him are scrapped) making any appearances, likely as a result of the screenwriters noticing "Hey, this part's kinda weird." Though, a page about the pros and cons of slavery made an appearance on the official ''Pottermore'' website in 2017, exploring "both sides of the argument". The page concluded "The trouble with S.P.E.W. [Society for the Promotion of Elfish Welfare] is that Hermione wants it all and wants it now."<ref>(September 20, 2017). [https://web.archive.org/web/20191002104000/https://www.wizardingworld.com/features/to-spew-or-not-to-spew-hermione-granger-and-the-pitfalls-of-activism "To S.P.E.W. or not to S.P.E.W.: Hermione Granger and the pitfalls of activism"]. ''Pottermore''.</ref>

===="Dumbledore is gay" and queer-baiting====
[[File:Albus Dumbledore.jpg|140px|right|thumb|Wingardium Levi-loafers! Dumbledore as depicted by a fan.]]
In 2007, at a fan event a few months after the release of the last ''Harry Potter'' book, Rowling revealed that she "always thought of Dumbledore as [[Homosexuality|gay]]."<ref>Devan Coggan (March 19, 2019). [https://ew.com/movies/2019/03/19/harry-potter-fantastic-beasts-jk-rowling-dumbledore-sexuality/ "J.K. Rowling's long history of discussing—but not depicting—Dumbledore's sexuality"]. ''Entertainment Weekly''.</ref><ref>The Leaky Cauldron: [https://www.the-leaky-cauldron.org/2007/10/20/j-k-rowling-at-carnegie-hall-reveals-dumbledore-is-gay-neville-marries-hannah-abbott-and-scores-more/ J. K. Rowling at Carnegie Hall Reveals Dumbledore is Gay], dated to Oct 20, 2007</ref><ref>BBC News: [https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/7053982.stm JK Rowling outs Dumbledore as gay], dated Oct 20, 2007</ref> The revelation drew praise from fans and the LGBT community at the time, but predictably angered the [[Religious Right]].<ref>The Christian Post: [https://www.christianpost.com/news/conservatives-urge-ban-on-harry-potter-over-witchcraft-homosexuality.html Conservatives Urge Ban on 'Harry Potter' Over Witchcraft, Homosexuality], dated Oct 30, 2007</ref> Many fans later became more critical, viewing it as a cop-out when she could have made it more explicit in the books.<ref>The Daily UW: [https://www.dailyuw.com/arts_and_culture/sex-positions-fishing-for-a-queer-audience/article_c1aff5f7-e463-5d35-af9a-d8be64b147ae.html Sex positions: Fishing for a queer audience]</ref><ref>Esquire: [https://www.esquire.com/entertainment/books/a26858267/j-k-rowling-dumbledore-grindelwald-gay-harry-potter/ J.K. Rowling Wants You To Know How Gay Dumbledore Really Was]</ref> The ''Fantastic Beasts'' prequels in particular drew fire for ambiguously portraying Dumbledore's relationship with Grindelwald.<ref>Insider: [https://www.insider.com/fantastic-beasts-jk-rowling-dumbledore-lgbt-backlash-2018-2 LGBT backlash against Fantastic Beasts], dated to Feb 2, 2018</ref><ref>SBS: [https://www.sbs.com.au/topics/pride/agenda/article/2019/03/19/listen-jk-rowling-its-time-give-us-gay-dumbledore?cid=inbody:matilda-star-mara-wilson-calls-out-jk-rowlings-transphobia Rowling omitting Dumbledore being gay is a slap in the face to her queer fans], dated to Mar 19, 2019</ref><ref>Insider: [https://www.insider.com/fantastic-beasts-sequel-dumbledore-gay-2018-1 Fantastic Beasts director says movie will not address Dumbledore being gay], dated to Jan 31, 2018</ref> It was eventually made unambiguous in ''Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore'' (2022) — fifteen years after the original revelation.<ref>Kertész Dzsenifer (August 18, 2022). [https://qlit.hu/en/homosexuality-in-harry-potter-the-historic-moment/ "Homosexuality in Harry Potter—the Historic Moment"]. ''qLit''.</ref>

Rowling stated in a 2008 interview that, after being made an "utter fool" and "[losing] his moral compass completely" through his love for wizard supremacist Grindelwald, Dumbledore "became quite [[asexuality|asexual]]" and "led a [[celibacy|celibate]] and a bookish life."<ref>MuggleNet, "[https://web.archive.org/web/20080312175647/https://www.mugglenet.com/app/news/full_story/1497 New interview with JK Rowling]," 9 March 2008</ref> Critics have linked this to the "hate the sin, love the sinner" framework of anti-gay conservatives, which accepts gay people so long as they [[ex-gay|renounce their "sinful" desires and never act on them]].<ref>Demisexual and Proud: [https://demiandproud.wordpress.com/2021/01/15/albus-dumbledore-j-k-rowlings-ex-gay/ Albus Dumbledore, J.K. Rowling’s Ex-Gay]</ref> Prof. Catherine Tosenberger wrote in 2008, "Dumbledore also arguably fits into the category of the 'safely contained' homosexual, as he is both elderly (and therefore presumably celibate) and dead."<ref name="tosenberger1">Catherine Tosenberger, [https://muse.jhu.edu/article/237810 "Homosexuality at the Online Hogwarts: Harry Potter Slash Fanfiction"], ''Children's Literature'', volume 36 (2008)</ref> Tosenberger elsewhere wrote: though it might "smack of ageism," it spared "squeamish readers" from having to "confront the threatening specter of a sexually active gay male body."<ref name="tosenberger2">Catherine Tosenberger, [https://muse.jhu.edu/pub/1/article/237891 "'Oh my God, the Fanfiction!': Dumbledore's Outing and the Online Harry Potter Fandom"], ''Children's Literature Association Quarterly'' (2008), 33(2)</ref> Victoria Vestić wrote in 2018 that, because Dumbledore's teenage sister died in the crossfire of his parting duel with Grindelwald, he "does not pursue other homosexual relationships until his death." Thus he's "punished by the narrative for not sacrificing his homosexuality" in service to the [[heteronormative]] family ideal, but offered redemption by "dedicat[ing] his life to the protection of other's children" as Hogwarts' headmaster.<ref name="werewolf3">Victoria Vestić, "[https://repozitorij.ffst.unist.hr/islandora/object/ffst:2249 Harry Potter, Heteronormativity and Pronatalism – the Villain as the Antinatalist]", ''Journal of the International Symposium of Students of English, Croatian and Italian Studies'' (2018)</ref> In 2018, Prof. Thomas Crisp said gay readings of Dumbledore mean the "sole depiction of a gay male in this series is of a sensitive man with a flamboyant sense of style and a penchant for fashion, a man whose love for another man is the great tragedy of his life."<ref>Thomas Crisp, [https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/19361653.2018.1500507 "Beyond Harold and Dumbledore: (Re-)considering Children's Books Depicting Gay Males"], ''Journal of LGBT Youth'' (2018), 15(4)</ref>

Dumbledore/Grindelwald isn't the only time that Rowling has been accused of "[[LGBTQ orientation glossary#Queerbaiting|queer-baiting]]". Early in the fandom's history, some readers saw evidence of subtextual gay romance between Sirius Black and Remus Lupin, citing canonical details like their joint [[Christmas]] gift to Harry in the fifth book.<ref name="tosenberger1"/><ref name="lupin-tonks1">The Paris Review: [https://www.theparisreview.org/blog/2018/12/10/harry-potter-and-the-secret-gay-love-story/ Harry Potter and the Secret Gay Love Story]</ref><ref>Vanity Fair: [https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2016/05/harry-potter-jk-rowling-apologizes-killing-remus-lupin-sirius-black-gay Why J.K. Rowling's Latest Apology Is Even More Meaningful than It Seems]</ref> In 2004, when asked at a book festival if Harry had a godmother, Rowling said his godfather Sirius had been "too busy being a big rebel to get married."<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20060224124458/https://www.jkrowling.com/textonly/en/news_view.cfm?id=80 J K Rowling at the Edinburgh Book Festival], 15 August 2004</ref> However, with the release of the sixth book the following year, Lupin was shoehorned into a heterosexual romance with Nymphadora Tonks.<ref name="tosenberger1"/><ref name="lupin-tonks1"/><ref name="lupin-tonks2">The Print: [https://theprint.in/opinion/pov/jk-rowling-has-always-been-tone-deaf-just-look-at-the-harry-potter-universe/439064/ JK Rowling has always been tone-deaf. Just look at the Harry Potter Universe]</ref><ref name="remus-tonks3">TN2 Magazine: [https://www.tn2magazine.ie/not-so-fantastic-queerbaiting/ Not-So-Fantastic Queerbaiting And Where To Shove Your Bad Racial Politics]"</ref> Some fans saw this as Rowling deliberately shutting down the possibility of canonical queer romance, particularly since Tonks, a pink-haired shapeshifter, has also been interpreted by some as [[genderqueer]] or [[lesbian]].<ref name="lupin-tonks2"/><ref name="remus-tonks3"/> In ''Deathly Hallows'' (2007), Harry visits Sirius Black's teenage bedroom and sees "posters of bikini-clad Muggle girls", seen by fans as another example of Rowling imposing heteronormativity. In 2016, Rowling peevishly denied that Sirius Black was gay in response to a [[Twitter]] inquiry, prompting upset fans to launch the hashtag "#JKRowlingIsOverParty" (this was before the first rumblings of [[#Yer a transphobe, Joanne|her descent into transphobia]]).<ref>[https://imgur.com/a/6PVyl Screenshots] of the original questions and Rowling's reply.</ref><ref>Digital Spy: [https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a807110/jkrowlingisoverparty-starts-over-harry-potter-characters-sexuality/ #JKRowlingIsOverParty kicks off in protest of a Harry Potter character's sexuality and a Wizarding War erupts]</ref><ref>HuffPost: [https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/jk-rowling-condemns-ton-of-abuse-she-faces-after-twitter-thinks-she-revealed-harry-potter-characters-sexuality_uk_57cf1c22e4b0d45ff8700dfd JK Rowling Sirius Black Sexuality Twitter Profile 'Answers' Lead To 'Ton Of Abuse' For Harry Potter Author]</ref> Prof. Tosenberger wrote that Sirius's character arc in ''Order of the Phoenix'' (2003) follows the "trope in early gay-themed YA literature that homosexual characters must be {{w|Bury your gays|lonely, tormented, and then die|."}}<ref name="tosenberger1"/>

''Harry Potter and the Cursed Child'' (2016) renewed queer-baiting and {{w|LGBT erasure}} accusations.<ref name="cursedchild1">Vox: [https://www.vox.com/2016/9/4/12534818/harry-potter-cursed-child-rowling-queerbaiting The Harry Potter universe still can't translate its gay subtext to text. It's a problem.]</ref><ref name="cursedchild2">The Guardian: [https://www.theguardian.com/books/booksblog/2016/aug/16/harry-potter-possible-example-queerbaiting-cursed-child Harry Potter and the Possible Queerbaiting: why fans are mad over a lack of gay romance]</ref><ref name="cursedchild3">Logo: [https://web.archive.org/web/20231211114414/https://www.logotv.com/news/oy6891/harry-potter-queer-lgbtq-characters-jk-rowling Harry Potter and the Relentless Queerbaiting: Why Won't The Magical Closet Be Unlocked]</ref> The play, written by Jack Thorne based on a story outline by Rowling, centers on the friendship of Albus Potter and Scorpius Malfoy (sons of Harry and Draco, respectively).<ref name="cursedchild1"/><ref name="cursedchild2"/> ''[[Vox (website)|Vox]]'' commented that "sexual subtext hovers at the edges of Albus and Scorpius' interactions," with the "poorly written" female characters serving as "shameless props for the giant, flashing '{{w|No homo|NO HOMO|!'}} sign that the play hangs over the two boys' heads"; and that the boys' interest in the girls seemed to have been "added as an afterthought" in "underdeveloped, unconvincing moments."<ref name="cursedchild1"/> A 2018 ''Logo'' review saw Scorpius and Albus as "secret lovers with all of the subtext and none of the follow through."<ref name="cursedchild3"/> The play's script was eventually reworked in 2021 to remove the references to female love interests and add new dialogue suggesting romantic feelings on Albus's part.<ref>Los Angeles Times: [https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/story/2022-07-08/harry-potter-and-the-cursed-child-changes-commentary Commentary: A ‘Harry Potter’ play claimed to be a family affair. After major changes, it finally is]</ref><ref>Pride.com: [https://www.pride.com/theater/2021/12/08/harry-potter-character-even-gayer-cursed-child-revamp This Harry Potter Character Is Even Gayer in Cursed Child Revamp]</ref><ref>The Guardian: [https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2022/may/25/harry-potter-and-the-cursed-child-is-the-shorter-one-part-play-better Harry Potter and the Cursed Child: is the shorter, one-part play better?]</ref>

[[File:Werewolf (Harry Potter).jpg|right|thumb|165px|Model of Lupin's werewolf form used in the films.]]
Rowling explicitly shut down a fan theory that [[dragon]]-keeper and confirmed bachelor Charlie Weasley is gay. In the 2007 documentary ''J.K. Rowling: A Year in the Life'', she was directly asked if Charlie was gay after dropping the [https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/WordOfGod Word of God] that {{w|he never married||,}} and replied, "Um, no, I don't think Charlie's gay. Just more interested in dragons than women."<ref>MuggleNet: [https://www.mugglenet.com/2015/10/asexual-awareness-protect-charlie-weasley-at-all-costs/ Asexual Awareness: Protect Charlie Weasley at All Costs]</ref>

====Werewolves as an AIDS metaphor====
In the ''Prisoner of Azkaban'' (1999), Remus Lupin is introduced as a new Hogwarts professor, proving to be a competent instructor and supportive mentor to Harry. It's eventually revealed that Lupin's mysterious monthly absences are due to [[werewolf|lycanthropy]]. For a time, Lupin keeps his condition secret with the aid of sympathetic headmaster Dumbledore by sequestering himself away from students every full [[moon]]. Ultimately, he forgets to take a special potion and nearly attacks Harry, revealing his condition to the wizarding world. He is forced to resign as a teacher amid angry protests from parents.

In ''Half-Blood Prince'' (2005), Lupin reveals he was bitten as a child by Fenrir Greyback, who he describes as the "most savage werewolf alive today." Greyback, unlike most werewolves who attack in a state of uncontrolled frenzy, knowingly plans and stalks his victims in advance. He "specialises in children," following a philosophy of "bite them young … and raise them away from their parents, raise them to hate normal wizards." Greyback hopes to "bite and to contaminate as many people as possible" to create a werewolf army and "overcome the wizards." In ''Deathly Hallows'' (2007), Lupin volunteers to join Harry on his quest. Harry accuses Lupin, having [[Marriage#Shotgun weddings|hastily-married]] the [[pregnancy|expectant]] Tonks, of abandoning his wife and child-to-be. Lupin calls the marriage a "grave mistake" and worries that he has made Tonks an "outcast." He castigates himself for having "knowingly risked passing on [his] own condition to an innocent child." He says that, even if the child isn't born a werewolf, it will be better off "without a father of whom it must always be ashamed." Tonks and Lupin later reconcile. Their son Teddy is born without lycanthropy, but is orphaned when they die fighting Voldemort.

Rowling first revealed that she'd used lycanthropy as a metaphor for [[HIV/AIDS]] in 2008 while testifying in her lawsuit against ''Harry Potter Lexicon'' creator Steven Vander Ark:<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20080430083516/https://cyberlaw.stanford.edu/system/files/Trial+Transcript+Day+1.txt Transcript of the first day of testimony in ''Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. v. RDR Books'']</ref>

{{quotebox|I know that I've said publicly<ref group=note>The closest Rowling had previously come to disclosing this was calling Lupin's lycanthropy "a metaphor for people's reactions to illness and disability" in the 2000 book ''Conversations with J. K. Rowling''. Given that this book was aimed at children, it's possible Rowling's comment was edited without her knowledge, or it's possible that she simply misremembered her remarks after eight years.</ref> that Remus Lupin was supposed to be on the H.I.V. metaphor. It was someone who had been infected young, who suffered stigma, who had a fear of infecting others, who was terrified he would pass on his condition to his son. And it was a way of examining prejudice, unwarranted prejudice towards a group of people. And also, examining why people might become embittered when they're treated that unfairly.}}

This explanation was also given in a supplementary biography of Lupin written by Rowling and published on the site Pottermore in 2015:<ref>J. K. Rowling, "[https://web.archive.org/web/20191002105532/https://www.wizardingworld.com/writing-by-jk-rowling/remus-lupin Remus Lupin]", Pottermore, 10 August 2015</ref>

{{quotebox|Lupin's condition of lycanthropy (being a werewolf) was a metaphor for those illnesses that carry a stigma, like HIV and AIDS. All kinds of superstitions seem to surround blood-borne conditions, probably due to taboos surrounding blood itself. The wizarding community is as prone to hysteria and prejudice as the Muggle one, and the character of Lupin gave me a chance to examine those attitudes.}}

The AIDS metaphor drew criticism even before its confirmation by Rowling due to the parallels to real homophobic fearmongering.<ref name="werewolf3"/><ref name="werewolf1">Tison Pugh & David L. Wallace, "Heteronormative Heroism and Queering the School Story in J. K. Rowling's Harry Potter Series", ''Children's Literature Association Quarterly'' (2006), 36(3)</ref><ref name="werewolf2">Phillip A. Bernhardt-House, "The Werewolf as Queer, the Queer as Werewolf, and Queer Werewolves", in ''Queering the Non/Human'' (2008)</ref><ref>Souvik Datta, "[https://pintersociety.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/SD-16.pdf Hijacking the Hysteria: Reading Heteronormativity, Homophobia and a narrative of Queerness into J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter novels]", ''Lapis Lazuli: An International Literary Journal'' (2021), 11(1)</ref> In 2006, Tison Pugh and David L. Wallace wrote in the journal ''Children's Literature Association Quarterly'' that if werewolves "serve as a queer figure within the world of the ''Harry Potter'' books, it becomes distressingly apparent that they must then also serve as figures of [[pederasty]] and [[child sexual abuse]]."<ref name="werewolf1"/> They described Fenrir Greyback as "delight[ing] in the pederastic pleasures of preying on children," citing a passage in which he tells Dumbledore "you know how much I like kids."<ref name="werewolf1"/> Gay people – particularly gay men – have been accused of "[[Homosexual agenda#Homosexual recruitment|recruiting]]" young people into [[homosexuality]] through seduction or abuse since the post-[[World War II|War]] era.<ref>Heather Murray, ''Not in This Family: Gays and the Meaning of Kinship in Postwar North America'', [https://books.google.com/books?id=9nzphECbo8AC&pg=PA91 page 91]</ref> Homophobes propagated [[urban legend]]s and [[moral panic]] that HIV was being deliberately spread during the AIDS crisis of the 1980s and 1990s.<ref>William A. Rushing, ''The AIDS Epidemic: Social Dimensions of an Infectious Disease'' (1995), [https://archive.org/details/aidsepidemicsoci0000rush/page/156/ page 157]</ref><ref>Christopher R. Fee, Jeffrey B. Webb, ''American Myths, Legends, and Tall Tales: An Encyclopedia of American Folklore'' (2016), [https://www.google.com/books/edition/American_Myths_Legends_and_Tall_Tales_An/kXnEDAAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1 pages 4-6]</ref><ref>Jeffrey P. Dennis, "'Do You Like Girls Yet?': Heterosexual Presumption, Homophobia, And Pubescence", in ''Perceiving Gender Locally, Globally, and Intersectionally'' (2009), [https://www.google.com/books/edition/Perceiving_Gender_Locally_Globally_and_I/4D0XTvFV9e4C?hl=en&gbpv=1 page 68]</ref> LGBT teachers have long faced public [[Closet|outing]] and [[discrimination|calls for their sacking]] under the notion they are a [[think of the children|threat to children]].<ref>Janna Marie Jackson, ''Unmasking Identities: An Exploration of the Lives of Gay and Lesbian Teachers'' (2007), [https://www.google.com/books/edition/Unmasking_Identities/lUQ2AAAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1 pages 2-4]</ref>

==Yer a transphobe, Joanne==
{{cquote|You fail to recognize that it matters not what someone is born, but what they grow to be!|||Albus Dumbledore, ''Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire'' (2000)<ref>J. K. Rowling (2000). ''Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire'', p. 708. First American edition (Arthur A. Levine Books, an imprint of Scholastic Press). {{isbn|0-439-13959-7}}.</ref>}}
{{cquote|I would say that some of you have not understood the books. The Death Eaters claimed, 'We have been made to live in secret, and now is our time, and any who [[Queerphobia|stand in our way must be destroyed]]. If you disagree with us, [[False equivalency|you must die]].' They demonised and dehumanised those who were not like them. I am fighting what I see as a powerful, insidious, misogynistic movement, that has gained huge purchase in very influential areas of society. I do not see this particular movement as either benign or powerless.|||Rowling telling readers who thought ''Harry Potter'' was a story about finding community and fighting [[bigotry]] that it's actually about how trans people are just like Nazis<ref name="harrison2">Ellie Harrison, "[https://archive.is/Ettzf JK Rowling says she 'absolutely' knew Harry Potter fans would be 'deeply unhappy' over trans views]", The Independent, 14 March 2023</ref>}}
{{cquote|[[Transgender|Trans]] rights are [[human rights]]. J.K. Rowling's attacks upon the transgender community are inconsistent with the fundamental beliefs and values of RFK Human Rights and represent a repudiation of [[Robert F. Kennedy|my father]]'s vision. As well, the [[Universal Declaration of Human Rights]] states in Article 1: "All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights…" Women's rights are not degraded by the recognition of trans rights. On the contrary: A commitment to human rights demands a commitment to combat discrimination in all its forms.|||Kerry Kennedy, RFK Center for Justice and Human Rights<ref name="RFKcenter2020"/>}}
==="Show me one 'transphobic' thing she's said!"===
====TL;DR — "JKR's top hits"====
Long story, but if you want some of the key points…
*Began by oversimplifying views of specific anti-transgender activists to make their extremism less obvious — a kind of "[[motte and bailey]]" or "[[iron man]]" gambit.<ref>Claire Lampen (February 16, 2023). [https://www.thecut.com/2023/02/heres-what-j-k-rowling-has-really-said-about-trans-people.html "Here’s What J.K. Rowling Has Actually Said About Trans People"]. ''The Cut'' (''New York'').</ref><ref>Katy Montgomerie (June 16, 2020). [https://katymontgomerie.medium.com/addressing-the-claims-in-jk-rowlings-justification-for-transphobia-7b6f761e8f8f "Addressing The Claims In JK Rowling's Justification For Transphobia"]. ''Medium''.</ref> An early blog post she made on the matter was cited to block a proposed anti-discrimination law in the United States that would have protected lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans people alike.<ref>Tim Fitzsimons (June 19, 2020). [https://www.nbcnews.com/feature/nbc-out/gop-senator-quotes-j-k-rowling-while-blocking-vote-lgbtq-n1231569 "GOP senator quotes J.K. Rowling while blocking vote on LGBTQ bill"]. ''NBC News''.</ref>
*Strongly implied she would finance [[Posie Parker|Kellie-Jay "Posie Parker" Keen-Minshull]]'s legal bills.<ref name="kj"/> Later said she "never met anyone who doesn't think trans people deserve the same rights and protections as everyone else."<ref name="KJKT1"/> The same month, Parker called for employers, funeral homes, and landlords to discriminate against trans people.<ref name="KJKT2"/>
*Donated £70,000 to a campaign to legally redefine "woman", so it wouldn't include trans women with a Gender Recognition Certificate.<ref>Madeleine Farber (March 7, 2024). [https://www.outfrontmagazine.com/jk-rowling-donates-to-anti-trans-organization/ "JK Rowling Donates to Anti-Trans Organization"]. ''Out Front Magazine''.</ref><ref name="fws2"/> Called them "men with gender recognition certificates".<ref name="GRClabour"/>
*"Liked" a post opposing a proposed ban on involuntary [[conversion therapy]].<ref name="RFKcenter2020">Kerry Kennedy (August 3, 2020). [https://rfkhumanrights.org/our-voices/a-statement-from-kerry-kennedy-president-of-robert-f-kennedy-human-rights/ "A Statement from Kerry Kennedy President of Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights"]. ''Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights''.</ref><ref>Tom Chapman (July 4, 2020). [https://www.cbr.com/jk-rowling-likes-pro-conversion-therapy-tweet/ "JK Rowling Likes Pro-Conversion Therapy Tweet"]. ''CBR''.</ref> Then turned around and claimed trans hormone replacement is like anti-gay conversion therapy;<ref>Darnell Christie (July 6, 2020). [https://www.reuters.com/article/us-trans-rowling-trfn/trans-anger-as-jk-rowling-compares-hormone-treatment-to-gay-conversion-therapy-idUSKBN2472DC/ "Trans anger as J.K. Rowling compares hormone treatment to gay conversion therapy"]. ''Reuters''.</ref> a cursory read finds the opposite is true since anti-gay and anti-trans conversion therapy were, historically, intimately linked.<ref>(February 2021). [https://www.apa.org/about/policy/resolution-gender-identity-change-efforts.pdf "APA Resolution on Gender Identity Change Efforts"]. ''American Psychological Association''. Quote: "In addition to explicit attempts to change individuals’ gender according to cisnormative pressures, GICE has also been a component of sexual orientation change efforts (SOCE). As intense focus on cisnormative conformity is a frequent characteristic of SOCE it is possible that authors in the literature describing sexual orientation change efforts misgendered their participants (Hipp et al., 2019). Moreover, “ex-gay” literature and discourse conceptualize gender diversity as a sin, a mental illness, and harmful, perpetuating cisgenderism and transmisogyny (Robinson & Spivey, 2019)."</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Ashley |first=Florence |date=2020-10-01 |title=Homophobia, conversion therapy, and care models for trans youth: defending the gender-affirmative approach |url=https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/19361653.2019.1665610 |journal=Journal of LGBT Youth |volume=17 |issue=4 |pages=1–23 |doi=10.1080/19361653.2019.1665610 |issn=1936-1653}} For a brief article summarizing this, [https://www.growkudos.com/publications/10.1080%252F19361653.2019.1665610/reader see here]. For a freely readable PDF of the journal article that was uploaded by its author, [https://www.florenceashley.com/uploads/1/2/4/4/124439164/ashley_homophobia_conversion_therapy_and_care_models_for_trans_youth_-_defending_the_gender_affirmative_approach.pdf see here].</ref><ref>Cynthya BrianKate (March 30, 2010). [https://sbpress.com/2010/03/feminine-boy-project/ "The Feminine Boy Project Still Threatens Gender Expression"]. ''Stony Brook Press''.</ref>
*Alienated from the UK's [[Labour Party]] she used to vote for,<ref name="LabourD"/> suggested her followers who planned to spoil their ballots should cast them for the Communist Party of Britain, a minor [[tankie]] party, because it emphasized "[[biological sex]]".<ref name="Spoilt"/><ref name="Spoilt2"/> This despite Labour leader [[Keir Starmer]] agreeing with Rowling on some points (which was criticised<ref>Liam Barrett (June 13, 2023). [https://jacobin.com/2023/06/keir-starmer-trans-rights-labour-party-transphobia-conservatives "Under Starmer, Labour Has Let the Right Control the Debate on Trans Rights"]. ''Jacobin''.</ref><ref>Libby Brooks (July 1, 2024). [https://www.theguardian.com/politics/article/2024/jul/01/campaigners-lament-uk-election-coverage-of-trans-issues "Campaigners lament 'completely off' UK election discussion of trans issues"]. ''The Guardian''.</ref>), but he calls for "respect" of trans people.<ref>David Hughes (April 30, 2024). [https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/rosie-duffield-government-nhs-parliamentary-labour-party-canterbury-b2537001.html "Starmer says transgender issues need to be handled with 'respect and dignity'"]. ''The Independent''.</ref>
*Denied that the Nazis burnt research books about trans topics and targeted trans people.<ref name="JKRStranger"/> She was accused of [[Holocaust denial]].<ref name="JKRForward"/> At the very least, it's considered a form of "Nazi crimes denial".<ref name="JKRStranger"/>
*Her Twitter/X feed generally just turned into a lot of complaining about trans people. Anyone from random criminals to newsreaders<ref name="iw4"/> or football managers<ref name="FootballT"/> became subjects of scorn if they happened to be trans. This led even some people who agree with her to get a bit sick of it; the top example was probably [[Elon Musk]], who wrote: "While I heartily agree … may I suggest also posting interesting and positive content on other matters?"<ref name="MuskPositive"/><ref name="MuskHeartily"/>
*Praised the author {{w|Stephen King}} for retweeting her. Then deleted the praise and blocked him when he said elsewhere that he believes trans women are women.<ref name="SKblock"/>
*Once posted about how she pressured a man in real life to talk with her about crackpot theories concerning transgender people's penises, and how supposedly "a cross-dressing fetish is one of the most common paraphilias in heterosexual men", citing [[Freud]]. She reported back: "I cannot overstate how little he wanted to talk about this … the impression given was that I was depraved to say such things aloud".<ref name="TMI"/>
*Assumed the ''Harry Potter'' film actors {{w|Daniel Radcliffe}} and {{w|Emma Watson}} may apologize for disagreeing with her on trans topics. Rejected the non-existent apologies in advance.<ref>Wesley Stenzel (April 11, 2024). [https://ew.com/jk-rowling-wont-forgive-daniel-radcliffe-emma-watson-trans-support-8630350 "J.K. Rowling says she won't forgive Harry Potter stars Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson for their trans support"]. ''Entertainment Weekly''.</ref>
*Wrote a crime fiction book about an artist "[[cancel culture|cancelled]]" online for transphobia and ultimately murdered. It is over one thousand pages long; some of the pages are just sheets of fake Twitter posts from nonexistent [[social justice]] activists. Rowling insists any similarity to her is coincidence.<ref name="Roundtree"/><ref>Rachel Treisman (August 31, 2022). [https://www.npr.org/2022/08/31/1120299781/jk-rowling-new-book-the-ink-black-heart "J.K. Rowling's new book, about a character accused of transphobia, raises eyebrows"]. ''NPR''.</ref><ref>Kyle Burlingame (August 30, 2022). [https://insidethemagic.net/2022/08/j-k-rowlings-writes-about-young-transphobic-youtuber-kb1/ "J.K. Rowling Writes Massive Book About Young Transphobic YouTuber Getting Murdered"]. ''Inside the Magic''.</ref> The book also casts people with chronic conditions like [[Chronic fatigue syndrome|CFS/ME]] as antagonists for no apparent reason.<ref name="ASpiralDance"/><ref name="CurrentAffairsInk">Nathan J. Robinson (August 31, 2022). [https://www.currentaffairs.org/news/2022/08/j-k-rowlings-new-novel-shows-why-having-an-editor-is-important "J.K. Rowling’s New Novel Shows Why Having an Editor is Important"]. ''Current Affairs''.</ref>

====2017–2019: The mask starts to slip====
The first sign of Rowling's developing transphobia was her "like" of a [[Twitter|tweet]] linking to an October 2017 ''Medium'' blog post framing "sex segregated spaces" and "[[Trans-exclusionary radical feminist#TERF as a slur|smears of TERF]]" as a [[#MeToo]] issue.<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20220127020340/https://twitter.com/TransSalamander/status/922941885160632320</ref> She later confirmed that she began "reading books, blogs and scientific papers" about transgender topics around this time.<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20230330221850/https://twitter.com/jk_rowling/status/1269394077176541189</ref> ''Vice'' proposed a scene in her 2014 novel ''The Silkworm'' was an earlier sign.<ref name="Vice">Vice: [https://www.vice.com/en/article/pkeynz/jk-rowlings-transphobia-wasnt-hard-to-find-she-wrote-a-book-about-it JK Rowling's Transphobia Wasn't Hard to Find, She Wrote a Book About It]</ref> This scene has the hero, [[#Cormoran Strike series|Cormoran Strike]], warn a trans woman that going to [[prison]] "won't be fun for you, Pippa … not [[Gender transition#Surgery and other procedures|pre-op]]."<ref name="Vice"/> This would read as just a terrible joke about [[prison rape]] if it weren't for the weird implication that vaginoplasty would make the experience "fun" — exactly the kind of thought someone might have if their brain was already half-cooked by believing in [[autogynephilia]].<ref group=note>This pseudoscientific hypothesis from the 1980s divides trans women into two categories: "homosexual transsexuals," who supposedly transition to lure straight cis men into relationships, and "autogynephiles," i.e. lesbian and bi trans women who can't be branded self-hating gays and are instead deemed to have a fetishistic interest in imagining themselves as female. Under this batshit framework, some transphobes have [https://www.reddit.com/r/GenderCynical/comments/ir5uev/sexual_assaults_validates_them_as_a_woman_talk/ sincerely claimed] that trans women [[Blaming the victim|derive gratification]] from being sexually assaulted, either as sex with a man (for "homosexual transsexuals") or as a validation of their womanhood (for "autogynephiles"). Basically, in the warped perspective that seemingly informed Rowling's tasteless joke, Strike assumes Pippa would prefer vaginal rape over anal rape as a fulfillment of her "autogynephilic" fantasy of experiencing sexual violence as a woman. Rowling confirmed she has indeed swallowed [[Ray Blanchard|Blanchard's]] crap with a 2024 tweet attacking a famous trans woman for "[[#2024: Going full Graham Linehan|cosplaying a misogynistic male fantasy]]."</ref>

In March 2018, Rowling liked a post declaring: "Men in dresses get [[Feminist glossary#Brocialist|brocialist]] solidarity I never had. That's misogyny!"<ref name="indy100">Indy100: [https://www.indy100.com/article/jk-rowling-tweet-transphobic-men-dresses-harry-potter-8268111 JK Rowling has a 'clumsy and middle-aged moment' by liking a 'transphobic' tweet]</ref> Rowling's representative issued an apology claiming she had a "clumsy and middle-aged moment", accidentally liking the post by "holding her phone incorrectly."<ref name="indy100"/> However, that September, she liked another post by Janice Turner promoting her ''[[The Times|Times]]'' op-ed on trans prisoners;<ref name="phaylen">Phaylen Fairchild: [https://phaylen.medium.com/oops-she-did-it-again-transphobic-j-k-rowling-no-fox-belongs-in-a-henhouse-b3cdf0e81dd8 Oops! She Did It Again, Transphobic J.K. Rowling: "No Fox Belongs In a Henhouse."]</ref> it had the tagline, "No fox has a right to live in a henhouse, even if he identifies as a hen."<ref name="phaylen"/> Trans author Owl Fisher sarcastically replied, "Did you have another 'middle-aged' moment and accidentally like a clearly transphobic article, @jk_rowling?"<ref name="phaylen"/> Rowling ignored Fisher but liked a subsequent post by Turner rebuking "the [[Thought Police|thought police]] [who] patrol a woman author's every 'like' for wrongthink."<ref name="phaylen"/>

In June 2019 — Pride month, no less — Rowling was revealed to be following nearly a dozen transphobic Twitter accounts.<ref name="pinknews">PinkNews: [https://archive.is/jp3E2 JK Rowling under fire for following a 'proud transphobe' on Twitter]</ref><ref name="femestella">Femestella: [https://www.femestella.com/jk-rowling-transphobic/ J.K. Rowling Has Been Following Anti-Trans Activists and We Need an Explanation]</ref> Twitter user @Persenche looked through the nearly 670 people Rowling was following at the time and concluded that 11 of them were anti-trans activists (including [[Julie Bindel]] and the notoriously vicious {{w|Magdalen Berns}}).<ref name="femestella"/> Rowling's representative told ''PinkNews'' "J.K. Rowling won't be commenting", and she "follows a wide range of people she finds interesting or thought-provoking."<ref name="pinknews"/>

On December 19, 2019, Rowling put out a tweet supporting [[Maya Forstater]], an anti-trans activist who had recently launched a wrongful dismissal suit against her former employer.<ref name="vox">Vox: [https://www.vox.com/culture/2019/12/19/21029852/jk-rowling-terf-transphobia-history-timeline J.K. Rowling’s latest tweet seems like transphobic BS. Her fans are heartbroken]</ref><ref>[https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-50858919 Maya Forstater: Woman loses tribunal over transgender tweets], BBC, December 19, 2019</ref> Rowling characterised Forstater's case as a woman being forced out of her job simply for "[[motte and bailey|stating that sex is real]]."<ref name="vox"/> The reality is, Forstater was working on a contract that her employer didn't renew when it expired.<ref name="nbcnews">NBC News: [https://www.nbcnews.com/think/opinion/j-k-rowling-s-maya-forstater-tweets-support-hostile-work-ncna1105201 J.K. Rowling's Maya Forstater tweets support hostile work environments, not free speech]</ref><ref name="advocate">The Advocate: [https://www.advocate.com/commentary/2020/1/06/time-has-not-made-jk-rowlings-actions-any-less-terrible The JK Rowling Scandal Is Anti-Trans Bigotry Masquerading as Science]</ref> Forstater's co-workers also went to management because they found that her frequent espousal of anti-trans views (at one point she blasted out 150 transphobic tweets in a single week) was creating a hostile work environment.<ref name="nbcnews"/><ref name="advocate"/>

Rowling's full-throated support of Forstater drew stronger backlash than any of her previous slip-ups. It's commonly thought of as the moment that she officially "came out" as a TERF. Nonetheless, some held out naive hope at the time that Rowling was simply misinformed, and sought to educate her rather than condemn her. GLAAD offered to "facilitate an off-the-record discussion" between Rowling and "members of the trans community", but she refused.<ref>Variety: [https://variety.com/2019/biz/news/glaad-j-k-rowling-anti-trans-researcher-1203448964/ GLAAD: J.K. Rowling’s Support of Anti-Trans Researcher ‘Puts Trans People at Risk’]</ref>. Ultimately, Rowling's inability to listen to critics and reflect on her own problematic behavior and beliefs would a few months later result an unprecedented backlash that most likely forever damaged not only Rowling's public image, but entire the ''Harry Potter'' franchise as a whole.

====2020–2021: TERF manifesto and Twitter punditry====
In May 2020, Rowling released a children's [[fairy tales|fairytale]], ''The Ickabog'', as a free online distraction from the [[COVID-19 pandemic]].<ref>CBC News: [https://www.cbc.ca/news/entertainment/rowling-ickabog-free-1.5584704 J.K. Rowling unveils new kids tale The Ickabog as free online serial]</ref> She also began liking more "hideously transphobic" posts around the same time.<ref>PinkNews: [https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2020/05/18/jk-rowling-transphobic-transgender-twitter-tweets-alex-drummond/ We guess JK Rowling has had another 'middle-aged moment', because she's been caught liking hideously transphobic tweets again]</ref><ref>LGBTQ Nation: [https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2020/05/harry-potter-author-j-k-rowling-continues-support-extreme-anti-transgender-tweets/ "Harry Potter" author J.K. Rowling continues support for extreme anti-transgender rhetoric]</ref><ref>PopBuzz: [https://www.popbuzz.com/life/lgbtq/jk-rowling-transphobic-twitter-harry-potter/ JK Rowling slammed for liking transphobic tweets on Twitter]</ref> On May 29, she [[SLAPP suit|threatened legal action]] against Canadian trans politician Nicola Spurling, over a post suggesting the author's bigotry means she "can no longer be trusted around children."<ref name="spurling">Tri-City News: [https://www.tricitynews.com/news/j-k-rowling-threatens-legal-action-against-coquitlam-transgender-activist-over-tweets-1.24143892 J.K. Rowling threatens legal action against Coquitlam transgender activist over tweets]</ref> The very same day, Rowling may have unintentionally proven Spurling's point when she accidentally copied a vulgar quote from ''[[Feminist Current]]'' into a reply to a 9-year-old fan, later apologizing for the "un-Ickaboggish message" but not for the transphobia.<ref>HuffPost: [https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/jk-rowling-transgender-tweet-delete_uk_5ed130c1c5b6658234cf888d JK Rowling Speaks Out Over 'Accidental' Tweet About Transgender Woman]"</ref><ref>The Mary Sue: [https://www.themarysue.com/jk-rowling-latest-twitter-transphobia/ J.K. Rowling Accidentally Tweeted Transphobic Content From Her Messages]</ref><ref>PinkNews: [https://www.thepinknews.com/2020/05/29/jk-rowling-terf-tweet-transgender-apology/ JK Rowling apologises after accidentally tweeting 'f**k up some TERFs' while responding to a 9-year-old's drawing]</ref><ref>The Daily Dot: [https://www.dailydot.com/unclick/jk-rowling-ickabog-fanart-transphobic-tweet/ J.K. Rowling deleted a tweet that included transphobic commentary with a child’s fanart]</ref> This was followed by Rowling mocking the phrase "people who menstruate" on June 6.<ref>Vulture: [https://www.vulture.com/2020/06/j-k-rowling-shares-transphobic-views-on-twitter.html J.K. Rowling Somehow Decides Now’s a Good Time to Double Down on Her Transphobia]</ref> The next day saw her endorse [[biological determinism]] in yet another Twitter tirade: "[[Iron man|If sex isn't real]], [[not even wrong|there's no same-sex attraction]]. If sex isn't real, the lived reality of [[TERF glossary#Erasing women|women globally is erased]]. [[Friend argument|I know and love trans people]], but erasing the concept of sex removes the ability of many to meaningfully discuss their lives. [[I'm not prejudiced, but...|It isn't hate to speak the truth]]."<ref>Insider: [https://www.insider.com/jk-rowling-is-terf-tweets-same-sex-attraction-feminists-lesbians-2020-6 JK Rowling claims trans activism hurts women and lesbians], dated to Jun 7, 2020</ref><ref>[https://twitter.com/jk_rowling/status/1269389298664701952 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.], JK Rowling, Twitter, 6 June 2020; [https://archive.ph/OxRrk archived].</ref>

In response to the online shitstorm brewing over this, Rowling published a long TERF manifesto on her website on June 10, 2020.<ref name="terfmanifesto">J.K. Rowling: [https://web.archive.org/web/20200610162001/https://www.jkrowling.com/opinions/j-k-rowling-writes-about-her-reasons-for-speaking-out-on-sex-and-gender-issues/ J.K. Rowling Writes about Her Reasons for Speaking out on Sex and Gender Issues]</ref> {{w|Stephen King}} liked a post by Rowling quoting [[Andrea Dworkin]], prompting Rowling to thank him and praise his work.<ref name="StephenKing1">The Independent: [https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/books/news/jk-rowling-stephen-king-trans-women-row-delete-tweet-a9590536.html JK Rowling deletes tweet praising Stephen King after he supports trans women]</ref><ref name="StephenKing2">Newsweek: [https://www.newsweek.com/jk-rowling-deletes-stephen-king-tweet-trans-women-support-twitter-1514051 J.K. Rowling Deletes Stephen King Praise After He Supports Trans Women]</ref><ref name="StephenKing3">Consequence of Sound: [https://consequenceofsound.net/2020/06/j-k-rowling-stephen-king-trans-women/ J.K. Rowling Blocks Stephen King After He Tweets Support of Trans Women]</ref><ref group=note>Dworkin was an [https://www.bostonreview.net/articles/john-stoltenberg-andrew-dworkin-was-trans-ally/ early trans-''inclusive'' radical feminist], advocating a right to state-funded "sex-change operation[s]" in her 1974 book ''Woman Hating'', albeit as an "emergency measure" on the path to her weird prescription for the societal [[abolition of gender]]. The quote Rowling tweeted is from her 1987 book ''Intercourse'': "Men often react to women's words – speaking and writing – as if they were acts of violence; sometimes men react to women's words with violence." The [https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/7395345-men-often-react-to-women-s-words-speaking-and-writing-as-if-they full passage] makes it clear that Dworkin was discussing how patriarchy harms and oppresses women. Rowling dropped the quote toward the end of a [https://web.archive.org/web/20200630135808/https://twitter.com/jk_rowling/status/1277263814552100866 nine-part Twitter screed] gloating over her extraction of an apology from [[Labour Party|Labour]] MP {{w|Lloyd Russell-Moyle||.}} Russell-Moyle upset Rowling by accusing her of "using" her sexual assault survivor status "as justification for discriminating against [trans people]" in a [https://web.archive.org/web/20200628075545/https://tribunemag.co.uk/2020/06/labour-must-stand-with-trans-people-against-a-new-section-28 June 2020 ''Tribune'' piece] criticising [[Conservative Party|Tory]] plans to scrap GRA reform. It's possible that Stephen King only saw the tweet with the Dworkin quote or was unaware of the rampant transphobia in the UK. {{w|Mark Hamill}} has walked back liking Rowling tweets he seemingly understood as general feminist statements. In 2019, he [https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/jk-rowling-transphobic-tweet-mark-hamill-maya-fortstater-terf-a9254446.html apologised] for not catching the "transphobic connotation" in the [[#2017–2019: The mask starts to slip|#IStandWithMaya tweet]], and in 2023 he [https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/news/mark-hamill-jk-rowling-trans-women-b2269504.html apologised] for liking a tweet in which Rowling replied to trans newsreader {{w|India Willoughby||'s}} declaration of being "more of a woman" than her with "citation needed."</ref> However, after King publicly stated "trans women are women", Rowling deleted her praise and blocked him.<ref name="StephenKing1"/><ref name="StephenKing2"/><ref name="StephenKing3"/> King later stated that Rowling had "canceled" and "kinda blocked" him for supporting trans women.<ref>Forbes: [https://www.forbes.com/sites/dawnstaceyennis/2021/05/24/jk-rowling-canceled-stephen-king-for-supporting-transgender-women/ J.K. Rowling 'Canceled' Stephen King For Supporting Transgender Women]</ref><ref name="SKblock">The Independent: [https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/books/news/stephen-king-jk-rowling-trans-row-b1850212.html Stephen King says JK Rowling 'cancelled' him over trans row]</ref> On July 7, 2020, ''Harper's Magazine'' published an {{w|A Letter on Justice and Open Debate|open letter}} signed by Rowling and 100 other public figures,<ref name="harpers">[https://harpers.org/a-letter-on-justice-and-open-debate/ A Letter on Justice and Open Debate]</ref> decrying a "[[cancel culture|vogue for public shaming and ostracism]]" supposedly threatening the "free exchange of information and ideas."<ref name="harpers"/> It was a response to ''[[New York Times]]'' editor James Bennet resigning after printing a controversial [[Tom Cotton]] op-ed calling for the military to suppress [[Black Lives Matter]] protests.<ref>[https://thenewdaily.com.au/news/2020/07/09/jk-rowling-letter-backlash/ ‘Whiny BS’: letter signed by JK Rowling, Margaret Atwood slammed as out of touch], ''The New Daily'', July 7, 2020</ref><ref>HuffPost: [https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/cancel-culture-harpers-jk-rowling-scam_n_5f0887b4c5b67a80bc06c95e Don't Fall For The 'Cancel Culture' Scam]</ref> Around this time, Rowling lambasted trans writer {{w|Jennifer Finney Boylan}} for withdrawing initial support for the ''Harper's'' letter,<ref>Newsweek: [https://www.newsweek.com/author-jennifer-finney-boylan-recants-cancel-cultureletter-jk-rowling-1516235 Trans Author Jennifer Finney Boylan Recants 'Cancel Culture' Letter Signed by J.K. Rowling]</ref><ref group="note">Boylan [https://web.archive.org/web/20200708000345/twitter.com/JennyBoylan/status/1280646004136697863 explained] that, at the time she endorsed the ''Harper's'' letter, she believed it to be a "well meaning, if vague, message against internet shaming," and was only aware that it had been signed by [[The Handmaid's Tale|Margaret Atwood]], [[Noam Chomsky]], and Gloria Steinem. Rowling's [https://web.archive.org/web/20200727113315/https://twitter.com/jk_rowling/status/1280834668552769536 bonkers response] to the retraction pointed out that Boylan was "still following" her and demanded that she "publicly repent of [her] association with [[TERF glossary#Goody_.5Bname.5D|Goody]] Rowling before unfollowing and volunteer to operate the ducking stool next time." Rowling notably did not attack cisgender historian {{w|Kerri Greenidge}} for [https://www.thewrap.com/some-public-figures-now-regret-signing-harpers-open-letter-against-cancel-culture/ withdrawing her signature] (which was allegedly added by a colleague without her consent).</ref> and threatened to sue UK teen-oriented news site ''The Day'' for reporting on the controversy surrounding her anti-trans remarks.<ref name="white"/>

In August 2020, {{w|Kerry Kennedy}} denounced Rowling's "deeply troubling transphobic tweets and statements," leading Rowling to return an award given by the RFK Center for her charity work in 2019.<ref>The Associated Press: [https://apnews.com/article/entertainment-lifestyle-europe-58c2513e756215577fd4764516740a8b JK Rowling returns award from group linked to Kennedy family]</ref><ref>Reuters: [https://www.reuters.com/article/variety-idUSL4N2FU4C4 J.K. Rowling Returns Kennedy Family Award Following Kerry Kennedy Remarks]</ref><ref>Entertainment Weekly: [https://ew.com/books/j-k-rowling-returning-human-rights-award-over-trans-views/ J.K. Rowling returning human rights award to group that now condemns her trans views]</ref> Now fully content with being a complete [[asshole]], Rowling shilled for a TERF store called Wild {{w|Womyn}} Workshop in September, posting a selfie of herself in a shirt proclaiming "[[European witch-hunts|this witch doesn't burn]]."<ref name="wildwomyn1"> Rachel E. Greenspan (Sep 23, 2020). [https://www.insider.com/jk-rowling-terf-online-store-selling-anti-trans-merch-2020-9 "JK Rowling promoted a store selling anti-trans merch saying 'transwomen are men' and 'f--- your pronouns'"]. ''Insider''.</ref><ref name="wildwomyn2">Allie Gregory (Sep 23, 2020). [https://exclaim.ca/film/article/j_k_rowling_promotes_proudly_transphobic_online_store "J.K. Rowling Promotes Proudly Transphobic Online Store"]. ''Exclaim!''</ref> The shop sells a variety of products featuring such lovely slogans as "sorry about your dick bro," "f*ck your pronouns," "transwomen are men," and "transmen are my sisters."<ref name="wildwomyn1"/><ref name="wildwomyn2"/><ref>@DreamsRestless. (September 22, 2020). [https://web.archive.org/web/20201116094816/https://twitter.com/DreamsRestless/status/1308484156129714177 "JK Rowling is taking the next step in making her hatred of trans people her whole identity by promoting a store with an entire section dedicated to transphobia."] ''Twitter''. Archived November 16, 2020.</ref>
[[File:AIArtofJKR1.jpg|right|thumb|250px|Her Lady of the Two Foreheads. [[Artificial intelligence|AI]]-generated fanart of Rowling by a TERF, depicting her in the style of a religious icon.]]

In November 2021, Rowling claimed to have been "[[doxxing|doxxed]]" after three protestors shared a photo of themselves holding signs with trans-rights slogans outside the gate of her Edinburgh mansion.<ref name="them-24">James Factora, [https://www.them.us/story/jk-rowling-doxxing-protests J.K. Rowling, Whose Mansion Is on Wikipedia, Decries "Doxxing"]. them.us, 24 November 2021.</ref> However, this property was already known to the public as a listed building featured on tourist sites,<ref>Global News: [https://globalnews.ca/news/8394003/j-k-rowling-doxxing-home-address-trans-protest/ J.K. Rowling slams trans rights activists for 'doxxing' her during protest]</ref><ref>Stravaiging Around Scotland: [https://www.stravaiging.com/history/castle/the-whitehouse/ Whitehouse - Castle in Edinburgh]</ref> and has been featured on ''Harry Potter''-themed fan tours of Edinburgh without comment from Rowling.<ref>YouTube: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-QHHG06wCA HARRY POTTER IN EDINBURGH SCOTLAND, GREYFRIAR GRAVEYARD, ELEPHANT HOUSE, J.K. ROWLING'S HOUSE]</ref> The mansion also ends up in the news whenever Rowling pisses off her neighbours. In 2012, she earned their ire by building two 40-foot-high, "Hogwarts-style" treehouses in her garden.<ref>The Telegraph: [https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/picturegalleries/celebritynews/9506111/JK-Rowling-wins-permission-to-build-magical-treehouses-in-garden.html JK Rowling wins permission to build magical treehouses in garden]</ref><ref>The Guardian: [https://www.theguardian.com/books/2012/aug/29/jk-rowling-hogwarts-tree-houses JK Rowling wins permission to build £250,000 Hogwarts-style tree houses]</ref> She created "traffic chaos" by closing down the road multiple times between 2015 to 2024 to allow her 30-foot-tall hedges to be trimmed.<ref>The Guardian: [https://www.theguardian.com/books/2015/jul/23/jk-rowling-hedge-trimming-blamed-traffic-chaos-edinburgh-home JK Rowling hedge-trimming blamed for traffic 'chaos' around Edinburgh home]</ref><ref>Edinburgh Evening News: [https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/people/traffic-halted-to-let-work-crew-tackle-jk-rowlings-massive-leylandii-hedge-3013329 Traffic halted to let work crew tackle JK Rowling's massive Leylandii hedge]</ref><ref>Deadline: [https://www.deadlinenews.co.uk/2022/07/13/j-k-rowling-closes-road-outside-her-2-2m-home-to-have-hedge-trimmed/ Scots author J.K Rowling closes road outside of £2.2 million 17th century home to trim back massive hedge]</ref><ref>EdinburghLive: [https://www.edinburghlive.co.uk/news/edinburgh-news/jk-rowling-breaks-silence-over-28514398 JK Rowling breaks silence over backlash for trimming hedge outside Edinburgh home]</ref> The Edinburgh Council warned her that the overgrown hedges were blocking streetlights in 2019.<ref>Bart Dickson (May 18, 2019). [https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/jk-rowling-ordered-council-cut-16163103 "JK Rowling ordered to cut huge 30ft trees surrounding Edinburgh mansion"]. ''The Daily Record''.</ref> Rowling also owns a country estate called {{w|Killiechassie||,}} a centuries-old castle with its own [[Wikipedia]] article. She seems to expect total privacy and anonymity despite buying and living in famous landmarks.

====2022–2023: Throwing a literal transphobia party====
On March 12, 2022, Rowling tweeted<ref>Twitter: [https://web.archive.org/web/20220512185348/https://twitter.com/jk_rowling/status/1502679601335705603 Big love to you xxx], dated to Mar 12, 2022</ref> "Big love to you xxx" to [[Caroline Farrow]], a [[homophobic]] [[CitizenGo]] activist who once harassed a trans woman so intensely that a High Court judge granted an injunction against her, ordering her to stop the harassment.<ref>PinkNews: [https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2019/05/03/anti-lgbt-pundit-caroline-farrow-injunction-abusive-tweets/ Anti-LGBT pundit Caroline Farrow hit with injunction over ‘abusive tweets’], dated to May 3, 2019</ref> Farrow once expressed outrage over "deviant" [[Homosexuality#In nature|gay penguins]],<ref name=penguins>PinkNews: [https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2019/07/03/children-not-emotionally-ready-deviant-gay-penguins-journalist/ Children not ’emotionally ready’ for ‘deviant’ gay penguins, says journalist], dated to Jul 3, 2019</ref> and accused Disneyland of engaging in "LGBT indoctrination" of children.<ref>Twitter: [https://web.archive.org/web/20220427053200/https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FQ-2ASQWUAEjHFn?format=jpg&name=medium Image]</ref> It's unknown whether Rowling was aware of this, but she never retracted her support or apologized after Farrow's views were widely reported. Farrow is also a "verified" [[Kiwi Farms]] user; police received a complaint of her activity on the site in 2022.<ref>David Gilbert (October 6, 2022). [https://www.vice.com/en/article/7k87vq/caroline-farrow-arrested-kiwi-farms "J.K. Rowling Ally Arrested for Allegedly Doxing a Trans Activist"]. VICE News.</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Fahs |first=Breanne |date=Winter 2024 |title=The Urgent Need for Radical Feminism Today |url=https://signsjournal.org/the-urgent-need-for-radical-feminism-today/ |journal=Signs: Journal of Women in Culture and Society |volume=49 |issue=2 |pages=479–497 |doi=10.1086/726640 |issn=0097-9740}}</ref>

On March 18, the South Wales Police's LGBT+ Network set up a kiosk with information about their efforts to combat anti-LGBT crimes and attitudes. The kiosk was set up near Bute Park, where the [[bisexual]] Dr. Gary Jenkins was beaten, robbed, subjected to homophobic abuse, and [[murder]]ed in July of 2021. Prosecutor Dafydd Enoch said that the crime was motivated by "greed, homophobia, and a straightforward liking for violence"; and that it was "[[torture]], pure and simple". When anti-LGBT Twitter users began mocking the kiosk as "[[virtue signalling]]", the police responded with: "Good evening, supporting our communities is not virtual signalling and we make no apologies for doing so." On March 21, Rowling added to the pile-on with: "Virtual signalling. Like virtue signalling, but for people who aren't really arsed. #VirtualSignalling".<ref>Twitter: [https://web.archive.org/web/20220823060152/https://twitter.com/jk_rowling/status/1505903152989720582 Virtual signalling. Like virtue signalling, but for people who aren’t really arsed. #VirtualSignalling], dated to Mar 21, 2022</ref> Real classy Joanne.

She opposed reform of gender recognition legislation in Scotland aiming to make the process "less traumatic and inhumane for trans people" (according to Scotland's First Minister), because it would remove some of the obstacles to legal gender changes.<ref name=indiewire2022>[https://www.indiewire.com/2022/03/jk-rowling-transphobia-international-womens-day-rant-1234705640/ J.K. Rowling Doubles Down on Transphobia in International Women’s Day Twitter Rant], Indiewire, 8 March 2022</ref> Speculating that politically correct zealots would rename International Women's Day, she wrote: "Apparently, under a Labour government, today will become We Who Must Not Be Named Day".<ref name=indiewire2022/>
In April 2022, she attended a lunch with other prominent TERFs at the River Cafe in Hammersmith, London. Other guests included Rosie Duffield, [[Helen Joyce]], [[Julie Bindel]], [[Kathleen Stock]], [[Maya Forstater]], and [[LGB Alliance]] co-founders.<ref>[https://www.theweek.co.uk/news/society/956404/inside-jk-rowlings-gender-wars-lunch Inside J.K. Rowling’s ‘gender wars’ lunch], ''The Week'', 12 April 2022</ref> Joyce, author of ''Trans: When Ideology Meets Reality'', has referred to trans people as "damaged", saying "every one of those people is someone who needs special accommodation in a sane world where we re-acknowledge the truth of sex"; she called for immediate action "reducing or keeping down the number of people who transition".<ref>[https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2022/06/03/helen-joyce-transgender-lgbtq/ ‘Gender critical’ author Helen Joyce says she wants to ‘reduce’ number of trans people: ‘Chilling’], Pink News, 3 June 2022</ref><ref>Dawn Ennis (3 June 2022). [https://www.thedailybeast.com/happy-pride-month-trans-people-are-just-trying-to-survive-it "Happy Pride Month? Trans People Are Just Trying to Survive It"]. ''The Daily Beast''.</ref> Duffield repeatedly called trans women "male-bodied people",<ref>[https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2021/11/18/labour-mp-rosie-duffield-bbc-politics/ Labour MP Rosie Duffield confronted after repeatedly calling trans women ‘male-bodied’ on the BBC], Pink News, 18 Nov 2021</ref> and said they should be banned from "refuges, women's prisons, single-sex wards and school toilets".<ref>[https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2021/09/11/rosie-duffield-anti-trans-gender-critical/ Labour MP Rosie Duffield explains ‘gender critical’ views in anti-trans tirade], Pink News, 11 September 2021</ref>

On April 22, Rowling marked Lesbian Visibility Week (LVW) by "saluting the resilience and courage" of her friend [[Allison Bailey]].<ref name="LVW1">PinkNews: [https://www.thepinknews.com/2022/04/26/jk-rowling-linda-riley-lesbian-visibility-week-allison-bailey/ JK Rowling blasted as 'perfect example of how not to be an ally' by Lesbian Visibility Week founder]</ref> This lead LVW founder Linda Riley to say she never intended the observance to be a "vehicle to stir up more hate within our community."<ref name="LVW1"/> Rowling replied with a mocking post, featuring a photo of what she deemed a "white, bearded, [[TERF glossary#Stonewall Law|Stonewall]]-approved lesbian."<ref name="LVW1"/> The photo was of Alex Drummond, a [[Wales|Welsh]] psychotherapist and author<ref>The Guardian: [https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2011/aug/05/weekender-alex-drummond-psychotherapist Weekender: Alex Drummond, psychotherapist, 47]</ref> who released two LGBT-interest books in 2011-2012.<ref>WorldCat: [https://search.worldcat.org/title/731045350 Queering the tranny: new perspectives on male transvestism and transsexualism]</ref><ref>WorldCat: [https://search.worldcat.org/title/820104595 Grrl Alex: a personal journey to a transgender identity]</ref> She gave a series of interviews in 2015 explaining why she kept her beard.<ref>BuzzFeed News: [https://www.buzzfeed.com/patrickstrudwick/this-transgender-woman-has-a-full-beard-and-she-couldnt-be-h This Trans Woman Kept Her Beard And Couldn't Be Happier]</ref><ref>Wales Online: [https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/there-no-legal-bars-woman-10297113 'There are no legal bars to a woman having a beard' Alex Drummond wants to broaden how people think about gender]</ref><ref>HuffPost: [https://www.huffpost.com/entry/meet-the-trans-woman-queering-gender-with-her-full-beard_n_55affb34e4b0a9b948538d24 This Incredible Trans Woman Is Challenging The Way We Think About Gender]</ref> From all appearances, she's done little to earn anyone's umbrage, except exist as a bearded trans woman. Rowling lambasted so-called "[[mansplaining|beardsplainers]]" in an unrelated tweet,<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20220831064808/https://twitter.com/jk_rowling/status/1510706840379797511</ref> in response to which Michael Deacon penned a ''[[The Telegraph|Telegraph]]'' piece bemoaning how "[[woke]] men are ruining beards".<ref>The Telegraph: [https://web.archive.org/web/20230115084856/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/columnists/2022/04/05/jk-rowling-right-woke-men-ruining-beards-rest-us/ JK Rowling is right. Woke men are ruining beards for the rest of us]</ref>

In May 2022, Rowling began sharing material from [[Reduxx]], a far-right anti-trans blog.<ref>[https://www.thepinknews.com/2022/05/31/jk-rowling-trans-prison-trans-reduxx-edna-mahan/ JK Rowling slammed for ‘demonising’ trans inmates at prison where women raped by guards], ''ThePinkNews''</ref>

In July, singer {{w|Macy Gray}} walked back and apologized for transphobic comments made in a [[Piers Morgan]] interview soon after talking with members of the LGBTQ community<ref>https://www.vanityfair.com/style/2022/07/macy-gray-apologizes-anti-trans-comments-misunderstood-today-show-hoda-kotb-piers-morgan</ref>, leading conservative anti-trans pundit [[Matt Walsh]] to tweet that women who "publicly renounce the definition of 'woman' for fear of mean comments from trans activists deserve all the scorn they get."<ref name="Walsh">Advocate: [https://www.advocate.com/news/2022/7/11/jk-rowling-and-matt-walsh-blasted-online-over-shared-transphobia JK Rowling and Matt Walsh Bond Over Transphobia, Get Blasted Online]</ref><ref name="Walsh2">PinkNews: [https://www.thepinknews.com/2022/07/11/jk-rowling-matt-walsh/ JK Rowling criticised for praising ‘dangerous’ anti-trans film by far-right bigot Matt Walsh]</ref> Rowling replied, claiming TERFs have received serious threats, and telling him "If you don't yet understand what happens to women who stand up on this issue, back off."<ref name="Walsh"/><ref name="Walsh2"/> In the following exchange, Rowling criticised Walsh for "[[Stopped clock|shouting 'coward' at individual women]]" like Gray, but praised his propaganda film ''{{w|What Is a Woman?}}'' for "exposing the incoherence of gender identity theory."<ref name="Walsh"/><ref name="Walsh2"/> In September, Rowling liked a shockingly insensitive tweet from radio presenter {{w|Julia Hartley-Brewer}} stating: "At least the [[Taliban]] know what a woman is," in response to someone explaining he had been compared to the Taliban for "supporting trans people's existence in society."<ref>Twitter: [https://web.archive.org/web/20230902171336/https://twitter.com/Isi_baehr/status/1697942834446303672 J.K. Rowling said you DO gotta hand it to the Taliban], dated to September 2, 2023</ref><ref> Twitter: [https://web.archive.org/web/20230901184926/https://twitter.com/JuliaHB1/status/1696628290973270143 At least the Taliban know what a woman is], dated to August 29, 2023</ref>

On July 11, 2022, Canadian author Will Johnson (@LiteraryGoon) tweeted a picture of his children at Rowling, stating that he planned to teach his "minions" to "stick to their principles even when it's unpopular."<ref name="ShaunFriends">[[Shaun]] on [[YouTube]]: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ou_xvXJJk7k JK Rowling's New Friends] (relevant part begins at 20:20)</ref><ref name="Blast1">The Blast: [https://theblast.com/275422/j-k-rowling-under-fire-for-giving-fan-a-positive-reply/ J.K. Rowling Under Fire For… Giving Fan A Positive Reply?]</ref> Rowling replied telling Johnson that he had "beautiful minions!"<ref name="ShaunFriends"/><ref name="Blast1"/> Johnson published a tweet in 2021 threatening to murder trans-rights supporters in graphic detail.<ref name="ShaunFriends"/><ref name="Blast1"/>

In October, TV host {{w|Graham Norton}} gave an interview at a literary festival, and was asked about [[cancel culture]].<ref name="Norton1">Them: [https://www.them.us/story/graham-norton-twitter-jk-rowling Graham Norton Seemingly Driven Off Twitter For Suggesting We Listen to Trans People]</ref><ref name="Norton2">The Independent: [https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/news/graham-norton-jk-rowling-twitter-deleted-b2204432.html Graham Norton deletes Twitter after comments on JK Rowling and 'cancel culture' go viral]</ref><ref name="Norton3">PinkNews: [https://www.thepinknews.com/2022/10/17/graham-norton-twitter-trans-rights-jk-rowling/ Graham Norton 'hounded off Twitter' for suggesting we listen to trans people]</ref> He said cancel culture would be more accurately called "accountability."<ref name="Norton1"/><ref name="Norton2"/><ref name="Norton3"/> When asked specifically if this applied to the backlash against Rowling's transphobia, he gave a measured comment that the media should "[[Argument_from_authority#Why_you_should_defer_to_authority_.28correct_uses.29|talk to trans people, talk to the parents of trans kids, talk to doctors, talk to psychiatrists]]" rather than amplifying [[celebrity]] opinions.<ref name="Norton2"/><ref name="Norton3"/> Musician {{w|Billy Bragg}} approved of Norton's interview.<ref name="Norton1"/> Rowling quoted-tweeted Bragg with a rant excoriating an alleged "spate of bearded men stepping confidently onto their soapboxes to define what a woman is and [[Straw man|throw their support behind rape and death threats]] to those who dare disagree."<ref name="Norton1"/><ref name="Norton3"/> Norton deleted his Twitter account a few days later after a barrage of hate from anti-trans activists.<ref name="Norton1"/><ref name="Norton2"/><ref name="Norton3"/> By now, people noticed Rowling's bizarre fixation on beards, leading her to tweet that she "like[s] beards" except "when they're attached to [[misogyny|misogynists]]."<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20231023114409/https://twitter.com/jk_rowling/status/1580611061698334720</ref> In Rowling's view, a reasonable plea to listen to trans people and experts represented misogyny.

In October 2022, it was revealed that {{w|Jacob Breslow||,}} a trustee for UK trans kids charity {{w|Mermaids (charity)|Mermaids}}, gave a presentation at a conference for "[[pedophilia|paedophile]] support group" {{w|B4U-ACT}} in 2011.<ref name="breslow1">{{Cite news |last=Kelleher |first=Patrick |date=October 4, 2022|title=Mermaids says trustee who quit over paedophile group links 'should never have been appointed' |work=PinkNews |url=https://www.thepinknews.com/2022/10/04/jacob-breslow-mermaids-trustee-paedophile-support-group}}</ref><ref name="breslow2">{{Cite news |last=Wakefield |first=Lily |date=October 6, 2022|title=Mermaids says trustee who quit over paedophile group links 'should never have been appointed' |work=PinkNews |url=https://www.thepinknews.com/2022/10/06/mermaids-jacob-breslow-investigation/}}</ref> Breslow promptly resigned and Mermaids issued an apology.<ref name="breslow2"/><ref name="breslow1"/> Rowling blasted Mermaids for "appoint[ing] a paedophilia apologist" and committing a "catastrophic [[TERF glossary#Safeguarding|safeguarding]] failure."<ref>https://x.com/jk_rowling/status/1577357679609135125</ref><ref>https://x.com/jk_rowling/status/1577357679609135125</ref> Despite these protestations, Rowling [[Hypocrisy|followed]] {{w|James Cantor}} on Twitter back in 2020.<ref name="cantor1">https://web.archive.org/web/20210609061117/https://twitter.com/2damntrans/status/1289929592996691976</ref> Cantor is an American crackpot sexologist with an extensive history of pedophilia-related research and advocacy.<ref>[https://transdatalibrary.org/person/james-cantor/ "James Cantor"]. ''Trans Data Library''.</ref> Cantor's belief is "preventative treatment for pedophila" will help "people manage their sexual interests" before they offend.<ref name="cantor9">{{Cite news |last=Love |first=Shayla |date=August 24, 2020|title=Pedophilia Is a Mental Health Issue. It's Still Not Treated as One |work=Vice |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/y3zk55/pedophilia-is-a-mental-health-issue-its-still-not-treated-as-one}}</ref> This is a legitimate, though controversial, area of clinical research.<ref name="cantor9"/> However, Cantor has gone much further than most sexologists might, saying "ethical principles require us to add P [pedophilia] to [[LGBTQ|GLBT]]."<ref name="cantor1"/><ref>James Cantor (December 8, 2018). [https://web.archive.org/web/20190107193748/https://twitter.com/JamesCantorPhD/status/1071499969910198274 "Speaking as a gay men, I believe we SHOULD include the P. To do otherwise is to betray the principles that give us our rights."] ''Twitter'', via the Wayback Machine.</ref><ref>Vesper Henry (October 28, 2022). [https://www.mediamatters.org/gays-against-groomers/florida-expert-formerly-slated-testify-favor-trans-health-care-ban-once 'Expert' formerly slated to testify in favor of Florida ban on trans health care once called to include a 'P' for pedophiles in LGBTQ]. ''Media Matters for America''.</ref> He volunteered for the advisory council of Prostasia, a so-called "child safety" group that "has campaigned against bans on sex dolls resembling children and has hosted support groups for 'minor attracted people' open to adults alongside people as young as 13."<ref>Ari Drennen (June 27, 2024). [https://www.mediamatters.org/gays-against-groomers/florida-expert-formerly-slated-testify-favor-trans-health-care-ban-once "New York Times quotes psychologist linked to extremist groups to fearmonger about gender-affirming care"]. ''Media Matters for America''.</ref> The [[Southern Poverty Law Center|SPLC]] identified him as one of an "old guard" of [[transmedicalism|anti-trans shrinks]] from the {{w|Centre for Addiction and Mental Health|CAMH}} in [[Fun:Ontario|Toronto]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Foundations of the Contemporary Anti-LGBTQ+ Pseudoscience Network |url=https://www.splcenter.org/captain/foundations |work=Southern Poverty Law Center|date=December 12, 2023}}</ref> Since 2018, he has moonlighted as a paid "expert" in pushes to ban [[gender transition|gender-affirming care]] in several U.S. states,<ref name="cantor5">{{Cite news |last=Kam |first=Dara |date=January 24, 2023 |title=Florida runs up a $1.3 million tab in the Medicaid transgender case |work=WUSF |url=https://www.wusf.org/courts-law/2023-01-24/florida-runs-up-a-1-3-million-tab-in-the-medicaid-transgender-case}}</ref><ref name="cantor6">{{Cite news |last=Hiltzik |first=Michael |date=June 3, 2022 |title=Column: Florida’s DeSantis launches new attack on his state’s transgender citizens |work=The Los Angeles Times |url=https://www.latimes.com/business/story/2022-06-03/column-desantis-launches-new-attack-on-florida-transgender-citizens}}</ref><ref name="cantor7">{{Cite news |last=Goldenstein |first=Taylor |date=July 9, 2022 |title=Texas judge blocks two CPS investigations of transgender health care for kids |work=Houston Chronicle |url=https://www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/texas/article/Texas-judge-blocks-two-CPS-investigations-of-17293783.php}}</ref> despite stating under oath that he has no clinical experience with trans youth.<ref name="cantor8">{{Cite news |last=McLamore |first=Quinnehtukqut |date=January 23, 2023 |title=Disarming transphobia |work=Aeon |url=https://aeon.co/essays/the-real-reason-why-theres-a-global-rise-in-trans-youth}}</ref> Unlike Mermaids with Breslow, Rowling has never issued any statement about why she followed Cantor.

On November 21, 2022, the day after five people were murdered in a [[mass shooting]] at a gay bar in [[Colorado]], Rowling liked a tweet by [[Libs of TikTok]], which mocked another Twitter user for criticizing [[Kanye West]] amidst [[Ye#The many shades of bigotry|his antisemitism and white supremacy controversy]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Kelleher |first=Patrick |date=November 23, 2022 |title=JK Rowling 'likes' tweet by far-right, anti-LGBTQ+ Libs of TikTok |work=PinkNews |url=https://www.thepinknews.com/2022/11/23/jk-rowling-libs-of-tik-tok-twitter/}}</ref><ref>[https://archive.today/MrzlN Archived "likes" page of J.K. Rowling], showing the Libs of TikTok tweet</ref><ref>Twitter: [https://web.archive.org/web/20221122192422/https://twitter.com/trans_safety/status/1594835928656363521 Archived screenshot]</ref> Libs of TikTok's well-known, relentless anti-LGBT fearmongering was credited with setting off violent threats against children's hospitals and [[drag]] events.<ref>Washington Post: [https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2022/09/02/lgbtq-threats-hospitals-libs-of-tiktok/ Twitter account Libs of TikTok blamed for harassment of children’s hospitals], dated to Sept 2, 2022</ref><ref>Them: [https://www.them.us/story/libs-of-tik-tok-twitter-facebook-instagram-explained-childrens-hospitals-grooming How Libs of TikTok Became an Anti-LGBTQ+ Hate Machine], dated Sept 30, 2022</ref> On May 29, 2023, she expressed support<ref name="kj">Twitter: [https://web.archive.org/web/20230530171526/https://twitter.com/jk_rowling/status/1663267564443631616 But as I've already told her, she knows where I am.], dated to May 29, 2023</ref> for [[Posie Parker|Kellie-Jay "Posie Parker" Keen-Minshull]] and implied she would finance her legal bills. Parker gained notoriety for organizing an anti-transgender event that attracted support from [[neo-Nazis]].<ref>The Guardian: [https://web.archive.org/web/20230325110008/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/mar/25/anti-trans-activist-posie-parker-ends-new-zealand-tour-after-violent-protests-erupt Anti-trans activist Posie Parker ends New Zealand tour after violent protests erupt], dated to Mar 25, 2023</ref><ref>The Guardian: [https://web.archive.org/web/20230319031635/https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/mar/19/daniel-andrews-says-nazis-arent-welcome-as-victorian-government-considers-further-action-following-salutes Daniel Andrews says Nazis ‘aren’t welcome’ as Victorian government considers ‘further action’ following salutes], dated to Mar 18, 2023</ref> She also openly wished death on innocent trans people,<ref>Twitter: [https://web.archive.org/web/20230530212230/https://twitter.com/shaun_vids/status/1656294297208082432 Image]</ref> called for sterilization of trans men,<ref>https://twitter.com/trans_safety/status/1493233608663908352</ref> and admitted to lying about being a lesbian<ref>Twitter: [https://web.archive.org/web/20240710175714/https://video.twimg.com/ext_tw_video/1666337174625591301/pu/vid/720x720/2AtMXtPr7PC51wWN.mp4?tag=12 Video], dated to Jun 7, 2023. [https://web.archive.org/web/20230608031418/https://twitter.com/ICanSeeForever1/status/1666337280955502593 (From archived tweet)].</ref> to dishonestly bolster her political argument against a gay man. Rowling has also taken it upon herself to speak for lesbians and gay people in general despite not being a lesbian.

On June 16, Rowling liked a post from [[Three Percenters]] movement leader Erik Rohde proclaiming, "we stand with you and III% is {{sic}} proudly members of House Gryffindor".<ref name="Rodhe1">Twitter: [https://web.archive.org/web/20230616122553/https://twitter.com/KatyMontgomerie/status/1669680559524552706 JK Rowling liking tweets from a "Three Percenter" leader. The "Three Percenters" are a far right militia that are considered a terrorist group in Canada], dated to Jun 16, 2023</ref><ref name="Rodhe2">Twitter: [https://web.archive.org/web/20230902173238/https://twitter.com/ErikIsland3/status/1669113631630589953 Just wanted to say we stand with you and III% is proudly members of House Gryffindor 🧙‍♂️], dated to June 14, 2023</ref> Rodhe's post was in reply to an earlier one by himself declaring "Fu<k [[Antifascist Action|ANTIFA]]" in reference to a counter-rally planned for June 17 against an anti-trans protest in [[Washington State]].<ref name="Rodhe1"/><ref name="Rodhe2"/><ref>Lynnwood Today: [https://lynnwoodtoday.com/heated-protest-over-transgender-rights-draws-hundreds-to-lynnwood/ Heated protest over transgender rights draws hundreds to Lynnwood]</ref> The Three Percenters are a far-right [[militia]] recognised as an extremist group by the [[Southern Poverty Law Center]].<ref name="SPLC">SPLC: [https://www.splcenter.org/fighting-hate/extremist-files/group/three-percenters Three Percenters]</ref> The movement was officially deemed a terrorist group by the [[Canada|Canadian]] government in 2021.<ref>CBC: [https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/terrorist-list-three-percenters-1.6079984 Three Percenters, neo-Nazi group added to Canada's terrorist list]</ref> Symptomatic of her radicalization, Rowling supported a supposed "Black Women's Caucus Statement Against [[Gender ideology|Gender Ideology]]" from [[Women's Declaration International]] – an anti-trans hate group whose leaders are all white.<ref>[https://twitter.com/jk_rowling/status/1649464902166126602 Tweet by J.K. Rowling]</ref>

On October 15, 2023, Rowling was a surprise guest on a panel at a [[FiLiA]] conference in Glasgow, stating she could "take the hit" as someone who will "always be able to feed [her] family."<ref name="FiLiA1">PinkNews: [https://www.thepinknews.com/2023/10/17/lgbtq-groups-protest-gender-critical-conference-hosting-jk-rowling-as-a-speaker/ LGBTQ+ groups protest gender critical conference hosting JK Rowling as a speaker]</ref><ref name="FiLiA2">The National: [https://archive.ph/gWebn JK Rowling speaks at FiLiA feminist conference labelled 'transphobic']</ref><ref name="FiLiA3">The Times: [https://archive.ph/vHLJu JK Rowling makes surprise appearance at feminist conference in Glasgow]</ref> The appearance is believed to be Rowling's first time speaking publicly on trans issues and was reportedly not publicised beforehand.<ref name="FiLiA2"/><ref name="FiLiA3"/> Two days later, she tweeted a photo (which was at that point more than five years old<ref>Nick Duffy (July 11, 2018). [https://www.thepinknews.com/2018/07/11/trans-women-are-women-london-landmarks/ "'Trans women are women' projected onto London landmark after Pride hijack controversy"]. ''PinkNews''.</ref>) of the text "Repeat after us: trans women are women" projected on a government building, commenting "No."<ref name="Prison1">Entertainment Weekly: [https://ew.com/books/j-k-rowling-would-do-prison-time-for-transgender-views/ J.K. Rowling says she would 'happily' do prison time for controversial transgender views]</ref> This prompted a series of batshit tweets in which she [[persecution complex|fantasised about being sent to prison]] for [[misgendering]] trans people, declaring that she'd "happily do two years" over "compelled speech and forced denial of the reality and importance of sex."<ref name="Prison1"/><ref name="Prison2">PinkNews: [https://www.thepinknews.com/2023/10/19/jk-rowling-correct-pronouns-trans-jail/ JK Rowling would prefer two years in jail over using a trans person’s correct pronouns]</ref><ref name="Prison3">Out Magazine: [https://www.out.com/celebs/j-k-rowling#rebelltitem1 J.K. Rowling Says She'd Rather Go to Prison Than Correctly Gender a Trans Person]</ref> To no one's surprise, there was no arrest.

On November 3, ''The Australian'' ran a story about how the state of South Australia had implemented a policy of using preferred pronouns in court.<ref>The Australian: [https://archive.is/jQvrl South Australia court calls for use of preferred gender pronouns]</ref> Rowling fired off a tweet declaring it "state-sanctioned abuse" to ask a woman to refer to "her male rapist or violent assaulter as 'she' in court."<ref name="ITM2023">Inside the Magic: [https://insidethemagic.net/2023/11/jk-rowling-trans-women-rapists-tweet-jc1/ J.K. Rowling Equates Trans Women to Rapists]</ref><ref group=note>Such policies apply to ''all'' court proceedings rather than solely to cases involving sexual assault. They aren't designed to protect the feelings of rapists, but to ensure that [[due process]] isn't jeopardized by systemic bias or unfair treatment, and thus reduce the chances of guilty parties being freed on legal technicalities. British TERFs seem unwilling to accept that not all jurisdictions {{w|Rape of males#United Kingdom|legally define "rape"}} as non-consensual penile penetration (thus precluding AFAB offenders) like the UK.</ref> A Twitter user pointed out the [[fallacy]] of "treating trans women like predators" when they are "statistically far more likely to be [sexual assault] victims."<ref name="ITM2023"/> A 2015 U.S. study found that nearly half of surveyed trans people reported having experienced sexual violence.<ref>National Center for Transgender Equality: [https://transequality.org/sites/default/files/docs/usts/USTS-Full-Report-Dec17.pdf The Report of the 2015 Transgender Equality Survey]</ref> Surveys in [[Canada]] and [[Australia]] have also found trans people to be at increased risk compared to cis people.<ref>The Sydney Morning Herald: [https://www.smh.com.au/national/what-s-in-your-pants-gender-diverse-people-exposed-to-high-rates-of-sexual-violence-20190917-p52s3f.html 'What's in your pants?': Gender diverse people exposed to high rates of sexual violence]</ref><ref>Statistics Canada: [https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/85-002-x/2020001/article/00009-eng.htm Experiences of violent victimization and unwanted sexual behaviours among gay, lesbian, bisexual and other sexual minority people, and the transgender population, in Canada, 2018]</ref> Despite this evidence, Rowling smeared the Twitter user as a "rapists' rights activist," accusing them, unironically, of ignoring facts that "contradict [their] fallacious argument."<ref name="ITM2023"/> Courts SA released a statement calling Rowling's claims "completely unfounded."<ref>1news: [https://www.1news.co.nz/2023/11/07/jk-rowling-chided-for-unfounded-claim-on-south-australia-courts/ J.K. Rowling chided for 'unfounded claim' on South Australia courts]</ref>

====2024–2025: Going full Graham Linehan====

On February 2, 2024, Rowling broke a period of Twitter inactivity to join the [[Moms for Liberty#Book banning|anti-LGBT book-banning crusade]], decrying the Glasgow Women's Library for displaying an indie comic about trans lesbians.<ref name="gwl1">https://twitter.com/jk_rowling/status/1753395762514251883</ref><ref name="gwl2">https://twitter.com/jk_rowling/status/1753418692463862204</ref> Initially, she characterised the zine as a "delightful penis-centred work" intended to "[[TERF glossary#Lesbian erasure|shame and coerce lesbians out of same-sex orientation]],"<ref name="gwl1"/> but shortly after said it "centres the desires of straight men."<ref name="gwl2"/> On Valentine's Day, Rowling tarred Jonathan Liew, lead ''[[Guardian]]'' sports writer, as a "'progressive' misogynist" for a piece defending {{w|Parkrun||,}} a non-competitive fun run, against gender-critical fury over its lack of sex segregation.<ref>The Telegraph: [https://web.archive.org/web/20240214195939/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/02/14/jk-rowling-labels-guardian-writer-progressive-misogynist/ JK Rowling labels Guardian journalist 'progressive misogynist' over Parkrun trans row]</ref> It was also noted around this time that Rowling had liked a series of November 2023 tweets mocking and misgendering [[heavy metal|metal]] guitarist Katy Montgomerie for discussing her experiences with [[domestic violence]].<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20240209163616/https://twitter.com/WistfulOtter/status/1755366943073112184</ref>

On February 16, 2024, Rowling donated £70,000 to a [[crowdfunding|crowdfund]] by {{w|For Women Scotland||}} (an anti-trans group founded by Magdalen Berns)<ref name="fws1">The Times: [https://archive.is/yAOS2 JK Rowling donates £70k for legal challenge on defining a woman]</ref><ref name="fws2">Pink News: [https://www.thepinknews.com/2024/02/19/jk-rowling-for-women-scotland-donation-legal-definition-woman/ JK Rowling reportedly donates £70,000 to group's Supreme Court appeal over 'woman' definition]</ref>, as part of their plan to launch a Supreme Court challenge to legally enshrine a definition of "'sex' … referring to [[biological sex|biology]]."<ref name="fws1"/><ref name="fws2"/> The case will ostensibly be an appeal of a 2022 Scottish ruling concerning a law requiring that public boards in Scotland be made up of 50% women.<ref name="fws1"/><ref name="fws2"/><ref name="fws3">The Telegraph: [https://archive.is/eIEz2GC JK Rowling donates £70k to challenge ruling that men can become women]</ref> This decision, much to the consternation of UK transphobes, held that trans women legally count as women.<ref name="fws1"/><ref name="fws2"/><ref name="fws3"/> TERFs have made no secret of the fact they're following the [[anti-abortion]] playbook of mounting successive regional legal challenges in the hope of eventually winning a landmark national ruling like ''[[Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization|Dobbs]]''. Daniel Sanderson of ''[[The Telegraph]]'' crowed that FWS are seeking an "'historic' Supreme Court ruling stating that men cannot become women."<ref name="fws3"/> Commentators noted the challenge could lead to a rollback of existing legal recognition and protections for trans people in the UK if successful.<ref>[https://archive.is/yhDHo Tweet by Thomas Willett]</ref><ref>[https://archive.is/HmRJh Tweet by India Willoughby]</ref>

As [[TERF_glossary#Ultra_.2F_non-ultra|TERFs squabbled over pronouns]], and UK prime minister [[Rishi Sunak]] faced widespread backlash for his transphobia, Rowling zeroed in on trans women in the [[prison]] system. This began with a February 20 broadside accusing trans-rights supporters of using incarcerated cis women as "validation tools or emotional support props for trans-identified male sex offenders."<ref name="prison1">https://web.archive.org/web/20240223004741/https://twitter.com/jk_rowling/status/1759940576340770987</ref> In this four-pagagraph tweet, Rowling claimed that "activists" are "knowingly forcing [cis women prisoners] to live in fear of, and, in some proven cases, to suffer abuse."<ref name="prison1"/> Rowling held that housing cis women with trans women constitutes "cruel and unusual punishment" due to potential sexual violence. Meanwhile, research consistently finds that ''trans women'' are at greater risk in prison.<ref name="prison2">CNN: [https://www.cnn.com/2021/06/23/us/trans-women-incarceration/index.html Trans women are still incarcerated with men and it's putting their lives at risk]</ref> A 2007 study found 59% of trans inmates in [[California]] were victims of sexual assault while incarcerated in contrast to 4.4% of the general prison population.<ref>Valerie Jenness ''et al.'', [https://bpb-us-e2.wpmucdn.com/sites.uci.edu/dist/0/1149/files/2013/06/Jenness-et-al._PREA-Report.pdf Violence in California Correctional Facilities: An Empirical Examination of Sexual Assault] (2007)</ref> In 2016, an [[Australia]]n trans woman revealed that, while serving time for auto theft in a men's prison, she was raped over 2000 times.<ref>News.com.au: [https://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/real-life/news-life/a-transgender-woman-talks-about-life-in-a-male-prison/news-story/a6da09f95a36857eeee95f16028b06eb A transgender woman talks about life in a male prison]</ref>

Rowling quickly betrayed that her outrage was born more of a desire to [[Cherry picking|cherry pick]] crime statistics to prove that [[biological determinism|AMAB people are inherently violent while AFAB people are not]]. On February 26, ''Sky News'' published a story about the conviction of Scarlet Blake, a trans woman, for murdering a man years earlier.<ref>Sky News: [https://news.sky.com/story/scarlet-blake-who-had-obsession-with-death-jailed-for-life-for-murdering-man-13081049 Cat killer Scarlet Blake who had 'obsession with death' jailed for life for murdering man]</ref> In response, Rowling said: "I'm so sick of this shit. This is not a woman. These are [[No True Scotsman|#NotOurCrimes]]."<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20240301044254/https://twitter.com/jk_rowling/status/1762187612352020860#m</ref> She re-tweeted an open letter from Louise Tickle condemning the ''Guardian'' for not initially reporting Blake's trans status.<ref name="tickle1">[https://archive.is/mA90J Archived tweet by J. K. Rowling]</ref> Tickle insisted this editorial choice "falsif[ied] the public record" and caused the "wrong perception that women are suddenly more aggressive."<ref name="tickle1"/>

On March 3, Rowling argued bans on "men" in "women's spaces" allow alleged interlopers to be "challenged" for "breaking a rule decent men respect."<ref name="iw1">https://web.archive.org/web/20240304214247/https://twitter.com/jk_rowling/status/1764388015118442533</ref> Twitter @OwenJonesStan replied with a .gif of trans newsreader {{w|India Willoughby||,}} asking, "So you are saying this lady should use the men's locker room then?!"<ref name="iw3">[https://twitter.com/OwenJonesStan/status/1764398980698394784#m Archived tweet by @OwenJonesStan]</ref><ref name="iw4">The Independent: [https://web.archive.org/web/20240304204520/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/books/news/jk-rowling-twitter-india-willoughby-trans-b2506793.html JK Rowling deliberately misgenders trans activist India Willoughby]</ref><ref name="iw5">Erin in the Morning: [https://www.erininthemorning.com/p/jk-rowling-transphobia-rowling-calls JK Rowling Transphobia: Rowling Calls Trans Woman Journalist "A Man…Cosplaying]</ref> Rowling responded the next day with a [[ad hominem|blatantly transphobic attack]] on Willoughby, calling her a "man revelling in his misogynistic performance of what he thinks 'woman' means: narcissistic, shallow and exhibitionist."<ref name="iw4"/><ref name="iw5"/><ref name="iw6">[https://archive.is/lQH5B Archived tweet by J. K. Rowling]</ref> She then accused Willoughby of "cosplaying a misogynistic male fantasy of what a woman is."<ref name="iw4"/><ref name="iw5"/><ref name="iw7">[https://archive.is/VHfGE Archived tweet by J. K. Rowling]</ref> These comments were probably the first time Rowling unambiguously [[Misgendering|misgendered]] a trans public figure. Byline TV (a branch of ''Byline Times'') released an exclusive interview with Willoughby on March 6.<ref name="iw8">https://twitter.com/BylineTV/status/1765484416275472570</ref><ref name="iw9">Variety: [https://variety.com/2024/film/global/jk-rowling-police-report-india-willoughby-alleged-transphobia-1235933347/ Broadcaster Says She Reported J.K. Rowling to the Police Over Alleged Transphobia as ‘Harry Potter’ Author Threatens Harassment Claim]</ref><ref name="iw10">Entertainment Weekly: [https://ew.com/jk-rowling-reported-to-police-transphobia-uk-india-willoughby-8605704 J.K. Rowling reported to police for alleged transphobia by broadcaster]</ref> The interviewer, Caolan Robertson, formerly worked for [[white nationalist]] [[Tommy Robinson]], but has since disavowed his association with the extreme right.<ref>Pink News: [https://www.thepinknews.com/2021/04/18/caolan-robertson-gay-former-extremist-far-right-cult-homophobia-tommy-robinson/ Gay former extremist Caolan Robertson says leaving the far-right was like escaping 'a cult']</ref> In the interview, Willoughby stated she received "putrid" abuse on social media in the wake Rowling's outburst, revealing that she reported the author to the police.<ref name="iw8"/><ref name="iw9"/><ref name="iw10"/> Byline TV's Twitter account suggested this report "could lead to Rowling's arrest."<ref name="iw8"/> Transphobes launched a fresh wave of attacks. Robertson clarified that he'd extended an interview invitation to Rowling.<ref>https://twitter.com/BylineTV/status/1765529551117971581</ref><ref name="iw11">Mediate: [https://www.mediaite.com/uk/bylinetv-producer-apologises-for-explicit-outburst-at-jk-rowling/ BylineTV Producer Apologises For Explicit Outburst At JK Rowling]</ref> Rowling responded by accusing Robertson of "call[ing] India 'him' twice" in the video.<ref>https://twitter.com/jk_rowling/status/1765685200174862555</ref><ref group=note>Robertson used "them" twice after using "her." This is clear in both the subtitles and the audio.</ref> This lead to a tit-for-tat culminating in Robertson calling Rowling a "[[cunt]]."<ref name="iw11"/> Robertson offered a grovelling apology to Rowling for his "unforgivable and inexcusable" language on March 8.<ref name="iw11"/> Rowling accepted this "spontaneously made" apology and asked "any supporters of mine giving Caolan grief to please stop now."<ref name="iw11"/> (She predictably hasn't told her flying monkeys to lay off Willoughby and every other trans person she's targeted.) Northumbria Police stated they would not be pursuing Willoughby's complaint since it "did not meet the criminal threshold."<ref>The Independent: [https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/books/news/jk-rowling-india-willoughby-police-trans-b2509754.html India Willoughby's JK Rowling complaint did not meet criminal threshold, police say]</ref> According to Willoughby, UK [[hate crime]] law only covers [[hate speech|speech]] targeting people on the basis of race or religion, but Rowling's tweets were recorded as a "non-crime hate incident."<ref>https://twitter.com/IndiaWilloughby/status/1766214992364269598</ref>

On 13 March 2024, Rowling [[Holocaust denial|denied that the Nazis persecuted trans people]], saying the idea is "[[delusion|a fever dream]]".<ref name="JKRForward">Mira Fox (March 13, 2024). [https://forward.com/culture/592580/j-k-rowling-holocaust-denial-trans/ "It wasn't just the goblins — is J.K. Rowling doing Holocaust denial now?"]. ''The Forward''.</ref><ref>Trudy Ring (March 15, 2024). [https://www.advocate.com/transgender/jk-rowling-nazis-persecuted-transgender "Yes, J.K. Rowling, the Nazis persecuted trans people, burned books"]. ''The Advocate''.</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Reed |first1=Erin|title=JK Rowling Holocaust Denialism: Author Pushes Claims That Trans People Were Not A Target|url=https://www.erininthemorning.com/p/jk-rowling-holocaust-denialism-author |work=www.erininthemorning.com|date=2024-03-13}}</ref> She cited Malcolm Clark, an [[LGB Alliance]] co-founder who isn't a historian.<ref>{{cite web |last1=O'Connor |first1=Roisin |title=Trans comedian Jen Ives verbally abused at LGB Alliance conference in new video |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/comedy/news/jen-ives-lgb-alliance-video-b2042053.html |work=The Independent|date=23 March 2022 |quote=LGB Alliance founder Malcolm Clark also shared…}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=McKenna |first1=Kevin |title=Scots gay pioneer: ‘It’s depressing that a lot of our good work is being trashed’ |url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/politics/23641723.gay-pioneer-its-depressing-lot-good-work-trashed/ |work=The Herald|date=8 July 2023 |quote=Mr Clark is … a key figure in the LGB Alliance}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Rowling |first1=J.K. |title=J.K. Rowling on X: "Thread on the persistent claims about trans peopl… |quote=Thread on the persistent claims about trans people and the Nazis 👇 |url=https://archive.today/2024.03.19-052441/https://twitter.com/jk_rowling/status/1767928717538644460 |work=Twitter|date=13 March 2024}}</ref> Clark's thread said transgender people weren't a "key target" of the Nazis',<ref>{{cite web |last1=Clark |first1=Malcolm |title=Malcolm Clark on Twitter: "1./ Trans Healthcare and the Nazis. The LG… |url=https://archive.today/2024.07.10-232430/https://x.com/TwisterFilm/status/1662967081191497728 |work=Twitter|date=28 May 2023|quote=The LGBTQ+ lobby likes to claim trans people were a key target of the Nazis. They weren't.}}</ref> then conflated trans surgery with [[Eugenics#Nazi_Germany|Nazi eugenics]]<ref>{{cite web |last1=Clark |first1=Malcolm |title=Malcolm Clark on Twitter: "21./ The sad truth is trans healthcare's f… |url=https://archive.today/2024.03.13-222128/https://twitter.com/TwisterFilm/status/1662967146245242880 |work=Twitter|date=28 May 2023 |quote=The sad truth is trans healthcare's founder and first surgeon championed eugenics. Together they invented a new way to sterilise patients, involving fake genitals created surgically. Two years after inventing the vaginoplasty Gohrbandt was busy sterilising the disabled.}}</ref> and [[Nazi human experimentation|concentration camp experiments]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Clark |first1=Malcolm |title=Malcolm Clark on X: "12./ Up to 15000 gay men were sent to concentrat… |url=https://archive.today/2024.03.13-221631/https://twitter.com/TwisterFilm/status/1662967125512781826 |work=Twitter|date=29 May 2023 |quote=Only ten years after he conducted the first 'sex change surgery' Gohrbandt helped design experiments at Dachau which have become a byword for immoral medical experimentation.}}</ref> Contrary to Clark's claims, however, the Nazis did specifically persecute transgender people.<ref name="JKRStranger">Vivian McCall (March 20, 2024). [https://www.thestranger.com/queer/2024/03/20/79436234/yes-jk-rowling-the-nazis-did-persecute-trans-people "Yes, JK Rowling, the Nazis Did Persecute Trans People"]. ''The Stranger''. (Article was [https://history.washington.edu/news/2024/03/21/yes-jk-rowling-nazis-did-persecute-trans-people featured by the Department of History at the University of Washington], the institution of the interviewed expert.)</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Marhoefer |first1=Laurie |title=Transgender Life and Persecution under the Nazi State: Gutachten on the Vollbrecht Case |journal={{w|Central European History}} |date=December 2023 |volume=56 |issue=4 |pages=595–601 |doi=10.1017/S0008938923000468}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Nunn |first1=Zavier |title=Trans Liminality and the Nazi State |journal={{w|Past & Present (journal)|Past & Present}} |date=24 July 2023 |volume=260 |issue=1 |pages=123–157 |doi=10.1093/pastj/gtac018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Marie-Luise Vollbrecht verliert Streit um Meinungsäußerung |url=https://www.spiegel.de/panorama/bildung/marie-luise-vollbrecht-verliert-streit-um-meinungsaeusserung-a-fabb1812-5a5c-4b52-8982-590f5b0e6f2f |work=Der Spiegel|date=11 November 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Schillace |first1=Brandy |title=The Forgotten History of the World's First Trans Clinic |url=https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-forgotten-history-of-the-worlds-first-trans-clinic/ |work=Scientific American|date=1 August 2021}}</ref><ref name="Smithson"/>{{efn|Quite similar statements to Clark's were also made by social conservative pundit Matt Walsh in June 2023 shortly after Clark's May 2023 thread that Rowling boosted about a year after — and they remain just as malformed whoever said it (see: [[Matt Walsh#"Inventing" transgender people|Matt Walsh § "Inventing" transgender people]]).}} According to the {{w|Museum of Jewish Heritage||,}} the Nazis "brutally targeted the trans community, deporting many trans people to concentration camps and wiping out vibrant community structures."<ref>(2022). [https://mjhnyc.org/events/transgender-experiences-in-weimar-and-nazi-germany/ "Transgender Experiences in Weimar and Nazi Germany"]. ''Museum of Jewish Heritage''.</ref> Laurie Marhoefer, a historian specializing in this, said: "The author of a 1938 book on 'the problem of transvestitism'{{efn|In Germany during this period, "transvestite" could refer to either cross-dressers or people who aimed to change their sex.<ref>Katie Sutton. [https://www.jstor.org/stable/23269669 "We Too Deserve a Place in the Sun": The Politics of Transvestite Identity in Weimar Germany]. ''German Studies Review''. Vol. 35, No. 2 (May 2012), pp. 335-354. The Johns Hopkins University Press.</ref>}} wrote that before [[Adolf Hitler|Hitler]] was in power, there was not much that could be done about transgender people, but that now, in [[Nazi Germany]], they could be put in concentration camps or subjected to forced [[castration]]. That was good, he believed, because the 'asocial mindset' of trans people and their supposedly frequent 'criminal activity … justifies draconian measures by the state.'"<ref name="Smithson">{{cite web |title=New Research Reveals How the Nazis Targeted Transgender People |url=https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/new-research-reveals-how-the-nazis-targeted-transgender-people-180982931/ |work=Smithsonian Magazine|date=21 September 2023}}</ref> After a Jewish person, Rivkah Brown, called "a Holocaust denier" in response, Rowling threatened Brown with legal action, saying "I'd be delighted to meet you in court, Rivkah, to discuss holocaust denial."<ref>{{cite web |last1=Rowling |first1=J.K. |title=J.K. Rowling on X: "This, from @rivkahbrown, a journalist who wrote a… |url=https://twitter.com/jk_rowling/status/1768214270288736308 |work=Twitter|date=14 March 2024 |quote=I'd be delighted to meet you in court, Rivkah, to discuss holocaust denial.}}</ref> This forced Brown to issue an apology on April 15.<ref name="britthayes">{{cite web |last1=Hayes |first1=Britt |title=J.K. Rowling's Legal Threat to Journalists for Calling Out Holocaust Denial Backfires |url=https://www.themarysue.com/j-k-rowling-holocaust-denial-nazi-transphobic/ |work=The Mary Sue|date=15 April 2024}}</ref> Rowling has previously threatened legal action over commentary on her transphobia, including against Canadian politician Nicola Spurling (2020),<ref name="spurling"/> UK youth news site ''The Day'' (2020),<ref name="white">{{cite web |last1=White |first1=Adam |title=JK Rowling receives apology from children's site after legal threats over trans claims |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/books/news/jk-rowling-trans-people-row-apology-transphobia-the-day-harry-potter-a9635346.html |work=The Independent|date=23 July 2020}}</ref> and Irish actor JJ Welles (2023).<ref>{{cite web |last1=Perry |first1=Sophie |title=JJ Welles: Actor apologises for calling JK Rowling a 'Nazi' |url=https://www.thepinknews.com/2023/02/14/jj-welles-jk-rowling-apology-nazi/|work=PinkNews|date=14 February 2023}}</ref> UK libel law enables [[SLAPP suit|SLAPP lawsuits]] to a much greater extent than other countries.<ref>{{cite web |title=UK vows to stop the super-rich using courts to silence critics |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-60773942 |work=BBC News|date=17 March 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Elgot |first1=Jessica |title=UK to clamp down on libel ‘lawfare’ by the rich in English courts |url=https://www.theguardian.com/law/2022/mar/17/libel-lawfare-english-courts-slapps |work=The Guardian|date=17 March 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Croft |first1=Jane |title=Calls for reform of England’s libel laws to prevent abuse by wealthy litigants |url=https://www.ft.com/content/ae8512d3-663e-4039-ba3e-6de4f8ca5120 |work=Financial Times|date=2022-03-15}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Harrington |first1=Kayla |title=India Willoughby Explains the Troubling Reason J.K. Rowling Is 'Beyond Criticism' in British Media |url=https://www.themarysue.com/india-willoughby-explains-j-k-rowling-is-above-criticism-in-british-media/ |work=The Mary Sue|date=23 February 2023}}</ref> News of the legal threat against Brown lead "[[Streisand effect|JK Rowling is a Holocaust [Denier]]]" to trend on Twitter.<ref name="britthayes"/><ref>{{cite web |last1=Fox|first1=Mira |last2=|first2=|title=J.K. Rowling didn’t want to be called a Holocaust denier. That backfired.|url=https://forward.com/culture/603271/jk-rowling-holocaust-streisand-effect/ |work=The Forward|date=16 April 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Vaishnavi |first1=Arya |last2=|first2=|title=Why is JK Rowling being called a ‘Holocaust Denier’? Here's why it is trending on X |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/us-news/why-is-jk-rowling-being-called-a-holocaust-denier-heres-why-it-is-trending-on-x-101713265815428.html |work=Hindustan Times|date=16 April 2024}}</ref>

On 1 April, Rowling listed several trans public figures (including Willoughby) alongside violent sexual offenders, in what [[MSNBC]] reporter Clarissa-Jan Lim deemed "an apparent attempt to draw a connection between trans people and sexual perversion".<ref>{{cite web |last1=Lavietes |first1=Matt |title=J.K. Rowling will not be arrested for comments about transgender women, police say |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/nbc-out/out-news/jk-rowling-will-not-arrested-comments-transgender-women-police-say-rcna146065 |work=NBC News|date=2 April 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Lim |first1=Clarissa-Jan |title=J.K. Rowling challenged Scotland’s new hate crime law by attacking trans women |url=https://www.msnbc.com/top-stories/latest/jk-rowling-scotland-hate-crime-laws-transphobic-rcna146183 |work=MSNBC|date=3 April 2024}}</ref> Rowling sarcastically called the listed individuals women throughout the thread, but then declared they "[[misgendering|aren't women at all, but men]], every last one of them" in an April Fool's gotcha the very end.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Ferrigine |first1=Gabriella |title="Arrest me!": J.K. Rowling posts anti-trans rant, responding to Scottish hate crime law |url=https://www.salon.com/2024/04/01/arrest-me-jk-rowling-posts-anti-trans-rant-responding-to-scottish-hate-law/|work=Salon|date=1 April 2024}}</ref> Rowling intentionally posted this the day a new hate crime law came into effect in Scotland.<ref>{{cite web |last1=McDonald |first1=Andrew |title=JK Rowling, Joe Rogan and Elon Musk are fuming over Scotland’s hate crime law. Here’s why. |url=https://www.politico.eu/article/scotlands-controversial-hate-crime-law-triggered-jk-rowling-joe-rogan-elon-musk/ |work=Politico|date=4 April 2024}}</ref> Critics of this law fear it might [[chilling effect|chill]] [[free speech]] and criminalise the expression of TERFish views.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Sandle |first1=Paul |title=J.K. Rowling will not face action under Scottish hate crime laws, police say |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/uk-government-backs-jk-rowling-scottish-hate-crime-law-challenge-2024-04-02/|work=Reuters|date=2024-04-02}}</ref> In true [[edgelord]] fashion, Rowling, who was holidaying "out of the country" at the time, said "I look forward to being arrested when I return to the birthplace of the Scottish Enlightenment."<ref>{{cite web |last1=Cook |first1=James |last2=Hastie |first2=Paul |title=JK Rowling in ‘arrest me’ challenge over Scottish hate crime law |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c51j64lk2l8o |work=BBC News|date=1 April 2024}}</ref> The police clarified her comments were not criminal and no action would be taken.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Brooks |first1=Libby |title=JK Rowling will not be arrested under new Scottish hate law, say police |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2024/apr/02/jk-rowling-will-not-be-arrested-under-new-scottish-hate-law-say-police |work=The Guardian|date=2 April 2024}}</ref>

On May 1, the transphobic [[troll]] account "Dr. Dame Katy Elise" posted a beach photo of {{w|Sam Smith||,}} calling them a "time line{{sic}} cleanser" and a "[[fatphobia|hunk of a man]]."<ref>https://twitter.com/damekatydenise_/status/1785391631874629834</ref> Rowling replied mockingly scolding "Dame Katy" for misgendering the [[non-binary]] singer.<ref>https://twitter.com/jk_rowling/status/1785392647688830991</ref> She then bantered with "Dame Katy" about the latter's pretend charity "Chairs 4 Trans." This was a running joke between Rowling and "Dame Katy" since October 2022.<ref>https://twitter.com/jk_rowling/status/1597614753660436482</ref> The "Dame Katy" account has posted some truly horrific things, such as a January 2024 tweet imagining openly gay, pro-[[Palestine]] journalist [[Owen Jones]] as the star of a fake [[porn]] film titled "[[Racism|Oreo Delights]]: [[Homophobia|Twink Boy]] vs Chocolate Soldiers 2 - [[Islamophobia|Allah's Revenge]]."<ref>https://twitter.com/damekatydenise_/status/1748667323584590094</ref>

On May 4 2024, [[Elon Musk]] told Rowling: "While I heartily agree with your points regarding sex/gender, may I suggest also posting interesting and positive content on other matters?"<ref name="MuskPositive">Beatrice Nolan (May 6, 2024). [https://www.businessinsider.com/elon-musk-jk-rowling-x-positive-interesting-content-trans-issues-2024-5 "Elon Musk gives some advice to J.K. Rowling, suggesting she post 'interesting and positive content' on X"]. ''Business Insider''.</ref><ref name="MuskHeartily">{{cite news |last=Yen |first=Amanda |date=May 4, 2024 |title=J.K. Rowling Is So Transphobic Even Elon Musk Wants Her to Shut Up | work= The Daily Beast| url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/jk-rowling-is-so-transphobic-even-elon-musk-wants-her-to-shut-up}}</ref> (Musk reportedly became interested in buying Twitter after right-wing ''[[The Onion|Onion]]'' knock-off ''[[The Babylon Bee]]'' was suspended for transphobia in 2022.<ref>{{cite news |last=McHale |first=Patrick |date=April 5, 2022 |title=Elon Musk Opined About Buying Twitter After Babylon Bee Ban | work= Bloomberg| url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-04-05/elon-musk-opined-about-buying-twitter-after-babylon-bee-ban}}</ref>)

Not keen to take Musk's advice, on 11 May, in response to a tweet praising Lucy Clark for becoming the first transgender manager in the top five divisions of English women's football, Rowling posted: "When I was young all the football managers were straight, white, middle-aged blokes, so it's fantastic to see how much things have changed."<ref>https://twitter.com/jk_rowling/status/1789275573123964985</ref> On 12 May, Rowling doubled-down several times. When ''[[The Daily Mail]]'' reported Rowling had compared Clark to a "straight, white, middle-aged bloke", Rowling responded by tweeting: "I didn’t compare him to one. He IS one."<ref>https://twitter.com/jk_rowling/status/1789590944976650436</ref> In response to criticism that she had been publicly bullying Clark and "punching down", she said: "You're right. No demographic is more vulnerable and oppressed than large, tattooed crossdressers who get plum jobs in women's sport. I don't know how I can have been so cruel."<ref>https://twitter.com/jk_rowling/status/1789623779791982817</ref> and "Calling a man a man is not 'bullying' or 'punching down.' Crossdressing straight men are currently one of the most pandered-to demographics in existence, and women are under no obligation to applaud the people caricaturing us."<ref>https://twitter.com/jk_rowling/status/1789641182164688934</ref> She continued to compare being transgender to being "transracial", saying "Does this apply to any other demographic, Landon? Do I get to be black if I like Motown and fancy myself in cornrows? What if I claim the authentic me has always been black and that you're being racist to me? Would that be OK, or would you find it ludicrous and deeply offensive?"<ref>https://twitter.com/jk_rowling/status/1789681522544455976</ref> Clark said she had a "day of hate-fuelled transphobia" after Rowling's comments.<ref name="FootballT">{{cite web |last1=Chudy |first1=Emily |title=JK Rowling denies bullying trans football manager she called a 'bloke' |url=https://www.thepinknews.com/2024/05/13/jk-rowling-trans-football-manager-lucy-clark/ |website=PinkNews|date=13 May 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Johnson|first1=Simon|title=JK Rowling calls trans football manager ‘straight, white, middle-aged bloke’|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/05/12/jk-rowling-bully-transgender-womens-football-sutton-united/ |website=The Daily Telegraph|date=12 May 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Barrett |first1=Sarah |title=Famous, Wealthy Author Spends Weekend Bullying a Trans Woman She's Never Met |url=https://www.themarysue.com/famous-wealthy-author-spends-weekend-bullying-a-trans-woman-shes-never-met/|website=The Mary Sue|date=13 May 2024}}</ref> On 13 May, Rowling dug out a video of Clark being interviewed on transphobia from 2019, and commented: "Publicity-hungry men who declare themselves lesbians, go on TV to tell female athletes they 'need to be careful' about what they say, advocate for males' inclusion in women's sport and send women abuse for standing up for their rights aren't 'quietly getting on with their life.'"<ref>https://twitter.com/jk_rowling/status/1790004839595774458</ref> Rowling continued to describe Clark's advice (again, from several years prior) to not tweet transphobic statements if you don't want to be called a transphobe: "Big Tommy DeVito vibes. 'Be a shame if anything happened to those nice Twitter accounts of yours, ladies. Just be careful, is all I'm saying. Count this as a friendly bit of advice.'"<ref>https://twitter.com/jk_rowling/status/1790017915103637761</ref>

On 17 May, Rowling tried to downplay her hate by claiming, "I've never met anyone who doesn't think trans people deserve the same rights and protections as everyone else. Militant trans activism doesn't want trans people to have the same rights, though. It wants women's and girls' rights and protections dismantled for the benefit of men."<ref name="KJKT1">[https://x.com/jk_rowling/status/1791500385405878667 Twitter], dated to May 17, 2024</ref> However, recall that she previously expressed support for Kellie-Jay "Posie Parker" Keen-Minshull,<ref name="kj"/> and implied she would finance Keen's legal bills. Keen has explicitly called for employers, funeral homes, and landlords to discriminate against transgender people,<ref name="KJKT2">(May 25, 2024). [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u8JdfRhpjoQ "Kellie-Jay Keen calls for employers and landlords to be able to discriminate against trans people."] ''YouTube''. [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/u8JdfRhpjoQ (Archived)].</ref><ref>[https://x.com/LGBwiththeT/status/1793346401897779511 Twitter], dated to May 22, 2024</ref> a violation of equal rights and opportunities.

In the lead-up to the [[2024 United Kingdom general election|UK general election]] in late June, Rowling wrote a ''[[News UK#The Times|Times]]'' op-ed on her "struggle to vote" [[Labour Party|Labour]], accusing the party of being "dismissive and often offensive" to anti-trans feminists.<ref name="LabourD">Caroline Frost (June 22, 2024). [https://deadline.com/2024/06/j-k-rowling-will-struggle-to-vote-for-labour-party-uk-election-after-treatment-of-female-mps-1235980951/ "J.K. Rowling 'Will Struggle To Vote For Labour Party In UK Election After Its Treatment Of Female MPs'"]. ''Deadline''.</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Rowling |first=JK |date=June 21, 2024 |title=JK Rowling: Labour has dismissed women like me. I’ll struggle to vote for it|url=https://t.co/Lxr1jxH9ix |work=[[News UK#The Times|Times]] |language= |issn=}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Rowling |first=JK |date=June 21, 2024 |title=JK Rowling: Labour has dismissed women like me. I’ll struggle to vote for it|url=https://t.co/Lxr1jxH9ix |work=[[News UK#The Times|The Times]] |language= |issn=}}</ref> The next day she learned that the {{w|Communist Party of Britain||}} had made a statement "recognising the nature of biological sex".<ref name="Spoilt">J. K. Rowling (June 22, 2024). [https://x.com/jk_rowling/status/1804592902167019897 "If you were going to spoil your ballot paper, why not check this list to see whether there's a candidate in your constituency: communistparty.org.uk"]. ''Twitter''. [https://archive.ph/gpRVh (Archived)].</ref><ref name="Spoilt2">Mrinalini Dhyani (June 24, 2024). [https://theprint.in/world/jk-rowling-the-biological-definition-of-sex-author-backs-communist-party-over-trans-rights-stance/2144017/ "JK Rowling & the biological definition of sex: Author backs Communist Party over trans rights stance"]. ''ThePrint''.</ref> She suggested people who "were going to spoil [their] ballot" vote for the [[Stalinism|Stalinist]] party instead.<ref name="Spoilt" /><ref name="Spoilt2" /> To rhetorically indict Labour, she referred to legally transitioned trans women as "men with {{w|Gender recognition certificate|gender recognition certificates|"}} (GRCs), attacking Labour MP Bridget Phillipson for supporting such trans women's right to "access women-only spaces".<ref name="GRClabour">J. K. Rowling (June 29, 2024). [https://archive.ph/DKlQs "Confused about what will happen to women-only spaces under Labour? No need! Here's their clear and unambiguous position: Rachel Reeves MP: Labour will protect women-only spaces based on biological sex. Bridget Phillipson MP: men with gender recognition certificates can access women-only spaces."] ''Twitter'', via archive.today. [https://x.com/jk_rowling/status/1807041155407794376 (Original post)].</ref> Then she branded ''Doctor Who'' actor {{w|David Tennant}} the "Gender [[Taliban]]" for calling out Tory MP {{w|Kemi Badenoch}} while accepting an award for his pro-LGBT advocacy.<ref>Jake Kanter (June 28, 2024). [https://deadline.com/2024/06/jk-rowling-david-tennant-gender-taliban-trans-harry-potter-1235985749/ "J.K. Rowling Blasts 'Gender Taliban' David Tennant After ‘Harry Potter’ Actor Said 'Whinging' Trans Critics Are On 'Wrong Side Of History'"]. ''Deadline''.</ref><ref>Zack Sharf (June 28, 2024). [https://variety.com/2024/film/news/jk-rowling-david-tennant-trans-critics-attack-1236056497/ "J.K. Rowling Criticizes David Tennant and the ‘Gender Taliban’ After Actor Slammed Trans Critics as ‘F—ers’ Who ‘Are on the Wrong Side of History’"]. ''Variety''.</ref> And then she confessed to making her "lefty straight man" friend "incredibly uncomfortable" with seemingly uninvited talk of "penised 'lesbians'" and sexual kinks.<ref name="TMI">J. K. Rowling (July 1, 2024). [https://archive.ph/LJcwp "I’ve heard straight men talk about trans women as though they’re fallen men to whom sympathy ought to be automatically extended, but there’s deeper stuff going on, too. I asked a lefty straight man I know (this is irl) whether he was aware how many penised ‘lesbians’ are involved in the push to access female spaces. The subject made him incredibly uncomfortable. He simply didn’t want to hear it. I then asked him whether he knew what his straight male friends wanted from women in the bedroom, kink/sex wise. Horrified look: ‘no, of course I bloody don’t.’"] ''Twitter'', via archive.today. [https://x.com/jk_rowling/status/1807771297025286220 (Original link)].</ref>

For the 2024 Summer Olympics, Rowling insulted female athletes, including {{w|Imane Khelif}} from [[Algeria]],<ref name="DLImane">Melanie Goodfellow (August 2, 2024). [https://deadline.com/2024/08/international-olympics-committee-witch-hunt-boxing-gender-row-1236029886/ "International Olympics Committee Decries 'Witch Hunt' As Boxing Gender Row Continues: 'This Is A Minefield'"]. ''Deadline''.</ref> who Rowling called a "bullying cheat".<ref name="BullyingCheat">J. K. Rowling (August 1, 2024). [https://archive.ph/qGYe6 "Watch this (whole thread), then explain why you’re OK with a man beating a woman in public for your entertainment. This isn’t sport. From the bullying cheat in red all the way up to the organisers who allowed this to happen, this is men revelling in their power over women."] ''Twitter'', via archive.today.</ref> She responded to {{w|Lin Yu-ting}} from [[Taiwan]] with: "What will it take to end this insanity?".<ref name="TIMELin"/> She falsely suggested Khelif and Lin were male.<ref>Emma Guinness (August 2, 2024). [https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/olympic-boxing-row-khelif-carini-antitrans-jk-rowling-b2590083.html "Liz Truss, Musk and JK Rowling weigh in on Olympic boxing controversy to spread false anti-trans rhetoric"]. ''The Independent''.</ref><ref name="TIMELin"/><ref>Emma Guinness (August 2, 2024). [https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/imane-khelif-olympics-boxer-trans-debate-gender-carini-b2590229.html "Inside the tough childhood of Olympic boxer Imane Khelif as she faces groundless accusations of being male"]. ''The Independent''.</ref> This led to an international backlash against Rowling,<ref name="MEEOlympic">[https://www.middleeasteye.net/trending/algeria-boxer-imane-khelif-falsely-described-man-sparking-solidarity-social-media "'Pure bigotry': Social media users defend Algerian boxer Imane Khelif against online abuse"]. ''Middle East Eye''.</ref><ref name="MWNOlympic">Firdaous Naim (August 2, 2024). [https://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2024/08/364303/olympics-2024-campaign-defends-algerian-boxer-imane-khelif-against-transgender-claims "Olympics 2024: Campaign Defends Algerian Boxer Imane Khelif Against Transgender Claims"]. ''Morocco World News''.</ref> particularly in Algeria<ref name="SportBibleOlympic"/> and Taiwan,<ref name="TIMELin"/><ref name="TTPLin"/> including from government officials and general citizenry, many of whom pointed out the athletes were [[assigned female at birth]].<ref name="TIMELin">Koh Ewe (August 2, 2024). [https://time.com/7006869/taiwan-olympics-boxer-lin-yu-ting-gender-controversy-jk-rowling/ "Taiwan Turns Against J.K. Rowling for Stirring Olympic Boxing Gender Controversy"]. ''TIME''.</ref><ref name="TTPLin">Shelley Shan (August 2, 2024). [https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2024/08/02/2003821665 "Officials urge support for Olympic boxer Lin"]. ''The Taipei Times''.</ref><ref name="SportBibleOlympic">Jack Kenmare (August 2, 2024). [https://www.sportbible.com/boxing/imane-khelif-angela-carini-boxing-olympics-paris-2024-713389-20240802 "Algerian Olympic Committee issues new statement on Imane Khelif following gender eligibility controversy"]. ''SPORTBible''.</ref> Khelif and Lin were accused of being [[intersex]],<ref name="TIMELin"/><ref name="DLImane"/> but this claim was doubtful<ref name="IOCReut">Karolos Grohmann (August 5, 2024). [https://www.reuters.com/sports/olympics/iba-gender-tests-two-boxers-were-flawed-illegitimate-says-ioc-2024-08-04/ "IBA gender tests on two boxers were flawed and illegitimate, says IOC"]. ''Reuters''.</ref><ref name="WaPoOlympics">Les Carpenter (August 1, 2024). [https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/olympics/2024/08/01/imane-khelif-algerian-boxer-gender-paris-olympics/ "Olympic woman boxer who faced gender-eligibility claim wins, igniting outcry"]. ''The Washington Post''. Quote: "The IOC, which is overseeing the boxing competition in Paris, does not test for gender, and there never has been evidence that either Khelif or Lin had XY chromosomes or elevated levels of testosterone. They have competed for years, including at the Tokyo Olympics and several world championships."</ref> and initially came from a disreputable Russian-run sports body, with ties to [[organized crime]] and the [[Internet Research Agency|Kremlin]], that contradicted its own claims and only began accusing Khelif of being intersex after she won against a previously-undefeated Russian athlete.<ref name="Beacham">Greg Beacham (August 3, 2024). [https://apnews.com/article/olympics-2024-khelif-russia-boxing-b53b1edda21139d14a572bd35ca440e6 "Banned governing body that’s fueling outcry on Olympic boxers has Russian ties and troubled history"]. ''The Associated Press''.</ref><ref name="GregTIME">Sean Gregory (August 5, 2024). [https://time.com/7008028/iba-boxing-gender-controversy-paris-olympics/ "The IBA Held a Press Conference About Boxing’s Gender Controversy. It Was a Chaotic Mess"]. ''TIME''.</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Carpenter |first=Les |date=2024-08-05 |title=Russian boxing chief fuels Olympic turmoil in bizarre news conference |url=https://archive.ph/mz8UB |work=Washington Post |language=en-US |issn=0190-8286}}</ref> In November, the [[BBC]] named Zambian soccer star Barbra Banda its Women's Footballer of the Year, which Rowling likened to "spit[ting] directly in women's faces."<ref>{{Cite news |last=Rude |first=Mey |date=November 28, 2024 |title=J.K. Rowling attacks another Black cis female athlete with anti-trans hate|url=https://www.out.com/gay-athletes/jk-rowling-transphobic-speech-barbra-banda |work=Out |language= |issn=}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Riedel |first=Samantha |date=November 27, 2024 |title=Soccer Star Barbra Banda Attacked By Transphobes After Winning BBC Women's Footballer of the Year|url=https://www.them.us/story/barbra-banda-jk-rowling-gender-attack-bbc-footballer-of-the-year |work=Them |language= |issn=}}</ref>

In December, Rowling reached new levels of science [[denialism]] by tweeting "there are no trans kids," arguing that gender-affirming care has caused "more harm than [[lobotomy|lobotomies]] and [[confabulation|false memory syndrome]] combined."<ref name="jkr-transkids">[https://ghostarchive.org/archive/LbfLn Archived tweet thread by J. K. Rowling]</ref><ref name="reed-advocate1">{{Cite news |last=Reed |first=Erin |date=December 30, 2024 |title=J.K. Rowling falsely claims 'there are no trans kids'|url=https://www.advocate.com/jk-rowling-says-no-transgender-kids |work=The Advocate |language= |issn=}}</ref> This ignores decades of research documenting the existence of trans children and youth.<ref name="reed-advocate1" /> Rowling also claimed that kids are being convinced they're trans by "[[Abigail Shrier#Irreversible Damage|watching TikTok videos of surgeons]]" telling them that "bodies can be modified like Lego."<ref name="jkr-transkids" /><ref name="reed-advocate1" /> When asked whether she was concerned about teens undergoing cosmetic surgery, Rowling stated these procedures would only "become relevant to the discussion" if they caused "{{wpl|pronatalism|infertility}}, the [[pedophilia|loss of the ability to orgasm]] and a [[appeal to nature|lifetime's reliance on powerful hormones]]."<ref name="jkr-transkids" />

===Tarnishing legacy as a beloved author===
====Anti-trans personality cult====
[[File:JKRLadiesLunch.jpg|right|thumb|250px|Guests at a [[TERF glossary#.23JKRLadiesLunch|#JKRLadiesLunch]] wearing cut-out masks of J. K.'s face.]]
A bizarre [[personality cult]] has emerged in TERFdom since Rowling joined its ranks, a highly ironic development considering how accusing the trans community as being a "cult" has become a popular canard in TERF rhetoric. The phrase "[[TERF glossary#I Love J.K. Rowling|I Love J. K. Rowling]]" became one of the most recognisable transphobic [[dog whistle]]s.<ref name="independent">"[https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/books/news/jk-rowling-transphobia-poster-edinburgh-station-posie-parker-transgender-a9645481.html I love JK Rowling’ poster taken down at Edinburgh railway station due to ‘political nature’]", ''The Independent''</ref><ref>"[https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/i-love-j-k-rowling-sign-makes-brief-controversial-appearance-in-vancouver-1.5722244 I Love J.K. Rowling sign makes brief, controversial appearance in Vancouver]", ''CBC News''</ref> Anti-trans activist [[Kellie-Jay Keen-Minshull]] has infamously plastered the slogan on billboards and merchandise.<ref name="independent"/> Rowling has claimed that 90% of her fans agree with her transphobia but are "[[Silent Majority|afraid to speak up]]" due to "[[cancel culture|fear for their jobs]] and [[persecution complex|even for their personal safety]]."<ref>[https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2020/12/j-k-rowling-says-90-fans-agree-transphobia-theyre-afraid-say-publicly/ J.K. Rowling says 90% of her fans agree with her transphobia but they’re afraid to say so publicly], ''LGBTQ Nation''.</ref>

One prominent example of this personality cult is the mythical status Rowling's [[#2017–2019: The mask starts to slip|IStandWithMaya tweet]] attained in so-called gender-critical circles. Disgraced screenwriter-turned-professional-transphobe [[Graham Linehan]] proclaimed the tweet's anniversary of December 19 to be "Gender Critical Coming Out Day" in 2021.<ref>PinkNews: [https://www.thepinknews.com/2021/11/12/gender-critical-coming-out-day-trans-graham-linehan-mumsnet/ A planned 'gender critical coming out day' sparks searing backlash: 'It's despicable in every way']</ref><ref>PinkNews: [https://www.thepinknews.com/2021/11/11/gender-critical-coming-out-day-trans-graham-linehan/ Graham Linehan and anti-trans activists plan pathetic, pitiful Christmas campaign for TERFs]</ref><ref>LGBTQ Nation: [https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2021/11/new-holiday-honors-day-j-k-rowling-came-opponent-trans-rights/ New 'holiday' honors day J.K. Rowling “came out” as an opponent of trans rights]</ref> By 2022, the hateful holiday had come to be known as "TERFmas," and Rowling personally wished a follower "Merry Terfmas."<ref>PinkNews: [https://www.thepinknews.com/2022/12/19/what-does-merry-terfmas-mean-jk-rowling-trans/ What does ‘Merry Terfmas’ mean? Anti-trans activists’ pitiful Christmas campaign, explained]</ref><ref>The Advocate: [https://www.advocate.com/transgender/2022/12/19/jk-rowling-lambasted-merry-terfmas-tweet J.K. Rowling Lambasted for 'Merry Terfmas' Tweet]</ref> In 2020, transphobes began circulating a [[conspiracy theory]] that [[Twitter]] was stealing likes from the hallowed tweet, supposedly as part of a sinister trans-activist plot to artificially lower the like count.<ref name="Gemma">Gemma Stone: [https://medium.com/@notCursedE/likes-are-being-removed-from-jk-rowling-s-transphobic-tweet-1fc81e961cd8 'Likes' are being removed from JK Rowling's transphobic tweet]</ref> The conspiracy theory originated in Twitter failing to display a red heart on older tweets as a result of a glitch or deliberate process.<ref name="Gemma"/><ref name="Christa">https://web.archive.org/web/20210303034844/https://twitter.com/christapeterso/status/1366958322151088130</ref> [[Allison Bailey]] warned [[Jack Dorsey]] in November 2020 that he would inevitably need to "defend twitter against accusations of rampant manipulation of data" due to the supposed missing likes.<ref name="Gemma"/> {{w|Rosie Duffield}} declared in March 2021 that she was "putting [her] 'like' on record as it won't stick despite originally liking ages ago - sinister much…?"<ref name="Gemma"/><ref>PinkNews: [https://www.thepinknews.com/2021/03/08/rosie-duffield-trans-rights-bbc-politics-live-zing-tsjeng-labour-mp/ Rosie Duffield thinks it 'deeply frightening' that 'you have to write womxn with an x']</ref> At one point there was even a Twitter account (@RelikeReminder) that posted daily reminders to relike Rowling's tweet.<ref name="Christa"/>

TERFs in the UK began holding so-called [[TERF glossary#.23JKRLadiesLunch|#JKRLadiesLunchs]] in 2022. These events were inspired by Rowling inviting nearly every prominent TERF in the UK to a "boozy" lunch at a posh [[London]] restaurant that April.<ref name="salon">Salon: [https://www.salon.com/2022/04/12/jk-rowling-terf-lunch-transgender-rights/ J.K. Rowling organizes boozy TERF lunch amidst protest and march for transgender rights]</ref><ref name="pinknews2">PinkNews: [https://www.thepinknews.com/2022/04/11/jk-rowling-lunch-get-the-l-out-anti-trans-rosie-duffield/ JK Rowling enjoys boozy lunch with anti-trans lobby while thousands march for trans equality]</ref> The luncheon took place as thousands marched on Downing Street against a plan to exclude trans people from a proposed ban on [[conversion therapy]].<ref name="salon"/><ref name="pinknews2"/> TERFs predictably decided that critics were merely upset over women gathering and having fun rather than at a rich transphobe throwing a party celebrating transphobia while trans people were literally fighting for their rights. On April 16, 2022, a [[Wales|Welsh]] TERF group shared a photo of their lunch date, commenting, "Only fair we had drinks & lunch! Oops do women need permission for that @jk_rowling?"<ref name="lunch">https://web.archive.org/web/20220721190313/https://twitter.com/jk_rowling/status/1515423379838455808</ref> Rowling replied, "It's ok, I'll get your permit postdated for you. I've got a contact in the Women's Lunch Permissions Office."<ref name="lunch"/>

This isn't the only time that Rowling has directly encouraged the obsessive fawning of transphobic fans. In April 2022, an anonymous Scottish TERF claimed she had quit a book club after its members "roundly attacked and smeared" Rowling, tweeting that she'd founded her own club called JKR's Barmy Book Army.<ref name="telegraph">The Telegraph: [https://web.archive.org/web/20220424175250/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2022/04/24/jk-rowling-promises-visit-gender-critical-book-club-set-name/ JK Rowling promises to visit 'gender critical' book club set up in her name]</ref><ref name="scottishdaily">Scottish Daily Express: [https://web.archive.org/web/20220613033221/https://www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk/news/uk-news/jk-rowling-hang-out-feminist-26782157 JK Rowling to hang out with feminist Scottish book club named in her honour]</ref> Rowling caught wind of this and vowed to personally attend a meeting of the club.<ref name="telegraph"/><ref name="scottishdaily"/> She made good on her promise in June.<ref>Daily Record: [https://web.archive.org/web/20220612125535/https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/jk-rowling-drops-scottish-book-27211588 JK Rowling drops into Scots book club after promise to organiser who backed gender views]</ref>

====Reaction of ''Harry Potter'' cast====
Many actors who appeared in the original ''Harry Potter'' films have spoken out in support of trans rights since Rowling's transphobic awakening.<ref>PinkNews: "[https://www.thepinknews.com/2023/02/10/harry-potter-cast-trans-rights-jk-rowling/ Here's everything the Harry Potter cast have said about JK Rowling and trans rights]</ref><ref>US Weekly: [https://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-news/pictures/harry-potter-cast-how-stars-feel-about-j-k-rowling-controversy/ What the 'Harry Potter' Cast Has Said About Where They Stand With J.K. Rowling Amid Controversy]"</ref> This has included the series' three main stars: Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson,{{efn|This doesn't come as a surprise as Watson has been an outspoken activist.}} and Rupert Grint.<ref>The Guardian: [https://www.theguardian.com/film/2020/jun/08/daniel-radcliffe-jk-rowling-transgender-tweets 'Trans women are women': Daniel Radcliffe speaks out after JK Rowling tweets]</ref><ref>Entertainment Weekly: [https://ew.com/celebrity/emma-watson-speaks-out-trans-rights-jk-rowling-comments/ Emma Watson speaks out for trans rights after J.K. Rowling's controversial comments]</ref><ref>BuzzFeed: [https://www.buzzfeed.com/stephenlaconte/rupert-grint-jk-rowling-anti-trans-tweets-response-daniel Rupert Grint Just Responded To J.K. Rowling's Anti-Trans Statements]</ref> Eddie Redmayne and Katherine Waterston, stars of the spin-off franchise ''Fantastic Beasts'', have denounced Rowling's remarks.<ref>Variety: [https://variety.com/2020/film/news/eddie-redmayne-jk-rowling-anti-trans-tweets-harry-potter-fantastic-beasts-1234630226/ Eddie Redmayne Criticizes J.K. Rowling’s Anti-Trans Tweets]"</ref><ref>Vanity Fair: [https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2021/07/katherine-waterston-on-why-its-important-to-denounce-jk-rowlings-transphobic-comments Katherine Waterston on Why It's "Important" to Denounce J.K. Rowling's Transphobic Comments]</ref> ''Potter'' alumni who have defended Rowling include nearly every major villain (except the aforementioned David Tennant, who played Barty Crouch Jr. in the fourth movie) and tedious anti-"woke" crank [[John Cleese]].<ref>Vulture: [https://www.vulture.com/2020/11/john-cleese-transphobic-twitter-drama-explained.html John Cleese Supports J.K. Rowling, Mocks Trans Rights on Twitter]</ref><ref>The Hollywood Reporter: [https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/harry-potter-ralph-fiennes-defends-jk-rowling-1235248133/ Ralph Fiennes Says Abuse Directed at J.K. Rowling Over Trans Controversy Is "Disgusting"]</ref><ref>Vanity Fair: [https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2022/11/helena-bonham-carter-goes-to-bat-for-jk-rowling-and-johnny-depp Helena Bonham Carter Goes to Bat for J.K. Rowling and Johnny Depp]</ref><ref>Yahoo!Life: [https://style.yahoo.com/harry-potter-tom-felton-supports-jk-rowling-084543708.html Harry Potter's Tom Felton praises JK Rowling for "bringing joy to generations"]</ref>

[[File:DanielRadcliffe.jpg|right|thumb|165px|Daniel Radcliffe is an adult now. He doesn't have to obey Momma Rowling.]]
Transphobes have taken aim at cast members for criticising Rowling and affirming their support of trans people. [[Helen Joyce]] tweeted in 2020 that it "must hurt being insulted and betrayed by two young people [Radcliffe and Watson] whose careers she made."<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20220408043144/https://twitter.com/setoacnna/status/1271180048184283136</ref> In late 2021, [[Piers Morgan]] lambasted the stars as "ungrateful little twerps" more interested in "pathetic [[virtue-signalling]]" than defending the right of the "woman who made them all rich and famous" to her views.<ref>The Mirror: [https://web.archive.org/web/20211230044930/https://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/piers-morgan-hits-out-ungrateful-25813575 Piers Morgan hits out at 'ungrateful' Harry Potter stars for not supporting JK Rowling]</ref> Judith Woods branded Radcliffe "the world's most ungrateful man" in the ''[[Telegraph]]'' after he reaffirmed his support of LGBT rights in a November 2022 interview.<ref name="telegraph2">The Telegraph: [https://web.archive.org/web/20221103121839/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2022/11/02/daniel-radcliffe-surely-worlds-ungrateful-man/ Daniel Radcliffe is surely the world’s most ungrateful man]</ref><ref name="lgbtqnation">LGBTQ Nation: [https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2022/11/internet-mocks-anti-trans-columnist-said-daniel-radcliffe-ungrateful-jk-rowling/ Internet mocks anti-trans columnist who said Daniel Radcliffe has been 'ungrateful' to JK Rowling]</ref> Woods accused Radcliffe of being a "33-year-old man child" (but also a "petulant pup") seeking to "once again … cancel his creator."<ref name="telegraph2"/><ref name="lgbtqnation"/> Graham Linehan labelled Radcliffe an "ungrateful, traitorous, talentless misogynist" in an April 2023 tweet.<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20230404110620/https://twitter.com/Glinner/status/1643155114776051713</ref> In early 2023, [[transvestigation|transvestigators]] spun the conspiracy theory that Radcliffe's [[biological determinism|slightly-taller]] cis girlfriend Erin Darke must be trans, despite the couple having just announced they were expecting their first child.<ref>Them: [https://www.them.us/story/daniel-radcliffe-girlfriend-transvestigators Transphobes Believe That Daniel Radcliffe's Pregnant Cis Girlfriend Is Trans]</ref><ref>PinkNews: [https://www.thepinknews.com/2023/04/09/daniel-radcliffe-erin-darke-transphobia/ Transphobes share conspiracy theory about Daniel Radcliffe's pregnant girlfriend]</ref> Watson set off a wave of abusive online comments by making a mildly trans-supportive quip at the BAFTAs in early 2022.<ref name="mail">Daily Mail: [https://web.archive.org/web/20220314123928/https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10610553/Woke-brat-Emma-Watson-blasted-witches-BAFTAs-barb-JK-Rowling.html 'Woke brat' Emma Watson is blasted for her 'ALL the witches' BAFTAs barb at JK Rowling - the woman who 'plucked her from obscurity' - and 'being so desperate to please trans fans, she s**t on ALL women']</ref> Trolls variously accused her of being an "ungrateful woke brat" and of "biting the hand that feeds [her]."<ref name="mail"/> In April 2024, after the release of a heavily [[Cherry picking|cherry-picked]] [[Cass Review|anti-trans government report]] in the UK, a self-described "FarRightHooligan" on Twitter suggested that "Dan and Emma" would soon issue a "very public apology" to Rowling.<ref name="apologies1">{{cite news |last=Hibberd |first=James |date=April 11, 2024 |title=J.K. Rowling Says She Won't Forgive Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson for Trans Stance | work= The Hollywood Reporter | url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/jk-rowling-daniel-radcliffe-emma-watson-harry-potter-transgender-1235871903/}}</ref><ref name="apologies2">{{cite news |last=Juneau |first=Jen |date=April 11, 2024 |title=J.K. Rowling Hits Out at Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson Over Their Trans Rights Support: They Can 'Save Their Apologies' | work = People | url=https://people.com/jk-rowling-wont-forgive-daniel-radcliffe-emma-watson-for-trans-rights-comments-8630039}}</ref><ref name="apologies3">{{cite news |last=Guinness |first=Emma |date=April 11, 2024 |title=JK Rowling and the row over trans rights: Timeline of author's fall out with Daniel Radcliffe and Emma Watson | work = The Independent | url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/news/jk-rowling-transphobia-daniel-radcliffe-emma-watson-rupert-grint-b2527530.html}}</ref> Rowling replied stating the actors could "[[narcissism|save their apologies]]."<ref name="apologies1"/><ref name="apologies2"/><ref name="apologies3"/> Radcliffe broke his silence in an ''Atlantic'' interview later that month, stating that he has "had no direct contact" with Rowling in years and finds her anti-trans activism "really sad," as it contradicts the "deeply empathic" side he saw in their past interactions and in her writing.<ref name="apologies4">{{cite news |last=Heath |first=Chris |date=April 30, 2024 |title=How Daniel Radcliffe Outran Harry Potter | work= The Atlantic | url=https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2024/06/daniel-radcliffe-merrily-we-roll-along-jk-rowling/678219/}}</ref>

The [[framing]] of the actors' denunciation of Rowling's transphobia as "betrayal" and "ungratefulness" has drawn sharp criticism. Cartoonist Barry Deutsch wondered how playing Rowling's characters could possibly mean "ow[ing] her undying fealty to the extent of never disagreeing with her in public."<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20230701024007/https://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:bSw-67DPlRkJ:https://twitter.com/barrydeutsch/status/1630818804292014080 Internet Archive copy of a Google Cache copy of a tweet]. Thanks, [[Elon Musk|Elon]]!</ref> [[LibDem]] councillor Matt Severn similarly observed that a "contract signed by an 11 year old" does not impose a "legal duty of lifelong fealty and/or silence."<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20220718053652/https://twitter.com/Matt_Severn/status/1540638993179721733</ref> Twitter user @HimeOnion opined that transphobes were "literally pulling the 'I made you!' bullcrap abusive parents do."<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20230701024524/https://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:KRiNXpEYaBMJ:https://twitter.com/LilySimpson1312/status/1588187074464997377 Another Internet Archive copy of a Google Cache copy of a Twitter thread].</ref>

It's been speculated that Katherine Waterston had her role reduced from the female lead of the first two ''Fantastic Beasts'' films to a glorified cameo in the third in retaliation for calling out Rowling's transphobia.<ref>The Daily Dot: [https://www.dailydot.com/unclick/katherine-waterston-fantastic-beasts-dumbledore-tina-trans-rights/ Why did Katherine Waterston's Tina Goldstein vanish from the 'Fantastic Beasts' franchise?]</ref><ref>Radio Times: [https://www.radiotimes.com/movies/katherine-waterston-fantastic-beasts-3-explained/ Is Katherine Waterston in the new Fantastic Beasts film?]</ref> Antonia Kinlay won a discrimination suit in 2021 after being dropped from the television adaptation of Rowling's ''[[#Cormoran Strike|Strike]]'' series due to her pregnancy.<ref>BBC News: [https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-58100574 Strike actress wins £11k payout in pregnancy discrimination case]</ref> One wonders if Rowling ''actually'' opposes forcing women out of their jobs or simply wants her [[#2017–2019: The mask starts to slip|TERF friends]] to be able to say whatever they please without consequence.

====Forgetting that fans used to like her ====
In the third episode of ''The Witch Trials of JK Rowling'', a "[[balance fallacy|fair and balanced]]" podcast produced in early 2023 by ex-[[Westboro Baptist Church]] member {{w|Megan Phelps-Roper}} for {{w|The Free Press (media company)|The Free Press|,}} Rowling recounted an incident circa 2000 (she stated she was still writing ''Goblet of Fire'' at the time) when she visited a fan-run chatroom using a "random name."<ref name="harrison1">Ellie Harrison, "[https://archive.is/srTLY JK Rowling says she was bullied off a Harry Potter forum she joined under a pseudonym]", The Independent, 28 February 2023</ref><ref name="rains1">Kian Rains, "[https://archive.is/YjvNs JK Rowling: author claims she was ‘bullied’ out of a Harry Potter chatroom after joining anonymously]", Edinburgh Evening News, 2 March 2023</ref> As retold by Rowling in the podcast, she expressed a "very bland" ''Potter''-related opinion in the chat and was "clearly an idiot who [didn't] know anything," but nonetheless "got rounded on by users who told me in no uncertain terms to get out."<ref name="harrison1"/><ref name="rains1"/>

Rowling claimed this was an example of [[cyberbullying]] and "[[authoritarian]] behaviour":

{{quotebox|And I was thinking, I’ve written three and a half books where bullying is such a theme from the very first page, where bullying – and authoritarian behaviour – is held to be one of the worst of human ills, and look what just happened, from these people who call themselves such fans of this franchise.}}

This account of her first bumbling encounter with the online fandom of her books [[Historical revisionism|differs starkly]] from ones given in the past. In March 2004, she posted an update to her official site announcing that "a few weeks ago I did something I've never done before and took a stroll into a ''Harry Potter'' chat room: specifically, MuggleNet's chat room."<ref name="jkrsite1">"[https://web.archive.org/web/20060316213154/https://www.jkrowling.com/textonly/en/news_view.cfm?id=63 Mugglenet Chatroom Uninterested in JKR's Theories]", J.K.Rowling Official Site</ref> She jokingly lamented that "nobody was remotely interested in my theories about what's going to happen in book seven," and that, after failing to "impart any gems of wisdom," she moved on to a discussion of {{w|SpongeBob SquarePants|''SpongeBob SquarePants''|.}}<ref name="jkrsite1"/> This spawned a rumour that she had used the handle Squidward in the MuggleNet chatroom, causing fans on the site to adopt this username in jest for some time afterward.<ref name="jkrsite2">"[https://web.archive.org/web/20060316212931/https://www.jkrowling.com/textonly/en/rumours_view.cfm?id=20 JKR is deadly serious when she forbids people to call Voldemort 'Voldy']", J.K.Rowling Official Site</ref>

Rowling similarly spoke of this incident as a funny story in a 2005 interview with Melissa Anelli and Emerson Spartz of the fansite The Leaky Cauldron:<ref>"[https://www.accio-quote.org/articles/2005/0705-tlc_mugglenet-anelli-2.htm The Leaky Cauldron and MuggleNet interview Joanne Kathleen Rowling: Part Two]", 16 July 2005</ref>

{{quotebox|ES: How much time do you go on the fan sites?

JKR: It really varies. When my site is quiet, it is genuinely because I'm working really hard or I'm busy with the kids or something. When I update a few times in a row, I've obviously been on the net. So the FAQs and that kind of stuff is just compiled by hard copy post that I get here and fan sites. I go looking to see what people want answered. It's fantastic, it's sometimes frustrating, but I do want to make clear, I do not post in comments, because I know that's been cropping up. You've both been really responsible about that, but that slightly worries me. I did go in the MuggleNet chatroom, it was hysterical. That was the first time I ever Googled Harry Potter. I was just falling into these things and Leaky — actually Leaky I already knew about, but I discovered MuggleNet that first-ever afternoon and I went in the chatroom, and it was so funny. I was treated with outright contempt. [Laughter.] It was funny, I can't tell you.

ES: I’d like to apologize for, uh -

JKR: No, no no no, not in a horrible way, but, "Yeah, yeah, shut up, you're not a regular, you don't know a thing." You can imagine!}}

==Promoting pseudoscience and ableism==
===Cross-sex blood transfusions===
On March 27, 2023, Rowling tweeted the false claim that it was "recently discovered" that "transfusions of blood from the opposite sex had poorer outcomes, including fatalities."<ref name="iflscience">IFL Science: [https://www.iflscience.com/when-you-get-a-blood-transfusion-does-it-matter-what-sex-the-donor-is-68212 When You Get A Blood Transfusion, Does It Matter What Sex The Donor Is?]</ref><ref name="MarySue">The Mary Sue: [https://www.themarysue.com/jk-rowling-cross-gender-blood-transfusions/ Please Do Not Let J. K. Rowling Convince You Blood Is Gendered]</ref><ref>Gizmodo: [https://gizmodo.com/donated-blood-is-safe-donor-sex-large-trial-1850332742 Donated Blood Is Safe No Matter a Person's Sex, Large Trial Find]</ref> Scientists pointed out that the single study cited by Rowling (Alshalani ''et al.'' 2022) had a small [[sample size]] and only found increased mortality in transfusions from AFAB patients to AMAB patients.<ref name="iflscience"/> It has also been noted that the study's conclusions fail to account for the [[confounding factor]] of male-assigned people generally having poorer ICU outcomes than female-assigned ones.<ref name="iflscience"/><ref name="WoodMorton">Henry Wood & Suzy Morton, [https://ashpublications.org/bloodadvances/article/6/23/6076/486588/Is-donor-recipient-sex-associated-with-transfusion Is donor-recipient sex associated with transfusion-related outcomes in critically ill patients?], ''Blood Advances'' (2022) 6(23)</ref> The two largest studies have both found no link between donor sex and recipient survival.<ref name="WoodMorton"/><ref>Nareg Roubinian ''et al.'', [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7029395/ Association of donor age, body mass index, hemoglobin, and smoking status with in-hospital mortality and length of stay among red blood cell transfused recipients], ''Transfusion'' (2019) 59(11)</ref><ref>Gustaf Edgren ''et al.'', [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5540056/ Association of Donor Age and Sex With Survival of Patients Receiving Transfusions], ''JAMA Internal Medicine'' (2017) 177(6)</ref> However, another large study showed a small increase of mortality in transfusions to AMAB patients from AFAB donors with a history of [[pregnancy]], but none in transfusions to AMAB patients from never-pregnant AFAB donors.<ref>{{cite journal|author=Camila Caram-Deelder|url=
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29049654/|title=Association of Blood Transfusion From Female Donors With and Without a History of Pregnancy With Mortality Among Male and Female Transfusion Recipients|work=JAMA|year=2017|volume=318|issue=15}}</ref> It has been posited that this may be due to antibodies created through adverse autoimmune responses sometimes triggered by pregnancy.<ref name="MarySue"/> The [[NHS]] disallows whole-blood transfusions from those who have been pregnant to newborn babies.<ref name="MarySue"/>

In short: most evidence suggests that AFAB blood recipients aren't put at greater risk by receiving blood from AMAB donors, but mother-of-three Rowling's blood could ''kill'' a trans woman recipient according to one study. As a resident of the [[Bovine spongiform encephalopathy|"mad cow"]]-stricken UK between 1980 and 1996, she would be deferred as a blood donor in [[Canada]] and several European countries,<ref>{{cite web|work=CBC News|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/canadian-blood-services-ban-on-those-who-lived-in-britain-not-fair-says-albertan-1.2783375|title=Canadian Blood Services ban on those who lived in Britain not fair, says Albertan}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|work=TheLocal.se|url=https://archive.is/BYsZ4#selection-1483.0-1483.57|title=FACT CHECK: Are Brits banned from giving blood in Sweden?}}</ref> and would've been deferred in [[Australia]], [[Israel]], and the [[United States]] until recently.<ref>{{cite web|work=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-07-25/end-to-two-decades-long-mad-cow-ban-allows-for-more-blood-donors/101265116|title=End of 22-year 'mad cow' ban means more people can donate blood in Australia from today}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|work=The Times of Israel|url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/former-uk-residents-no-longer-banned-from-giving-blood-in-israel/|title=Former UK residents no longer banned from giving blood in Israel}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|work=ABC4 News|url=https://www.abc4.com/news/local-news/blood-donation-ban-lifted-on-people-who-spent-time-in-europe-during-80s-and-90s/|title=Blood donation ban lifted on people who spent time in Europe during 80s and 90s}}</ref> This isn't to say that British mums-of-three shouldn't donate blood (it saves lives!). It's just that [[cognitive bias]]es tend to heighten the perception of [[risk]] related to [[Other]]s while diminishing the perception of risk concerning oneself.

Rowling's fearmongering over cross-sex transfusions is reminiscent of past [[moral panic]]s. In 1960, the [[white supremacist]] publication ''The American Nationalist'' raged over the "thousands of critically ill [white] patients" supposedly "made sicker, or even killed" by "[[Black brute|tainted Negro blood transfusions]]," an "evil practice" it said was tolerated in the "[[reverse racism|sweet name of racial 'equality' and 'democracy']]."<ref>{{cite book|author=Susan E. Lederer|title=Flesh and Blood: Organ Transplantation and Blood Transfusion in 20th-Century America|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6Q4TDAAAQBAJ&pg=PA129&lpg=PA129|page=129}}</ref> At the height of the [[HIV/AIDS]] crisis and ensuing {{w|tainted blood scandal}} in the 1980s, newspapers in the UK regularly carried lurid stories about the "Gay Plague", "Gay Menace", and "Gay Killer Bug".<ref>{{cite web|author=Raphaela van Oers|url=https://escholarship.mcgill.ca/concern/theses/fx719s51z|title=Stigma, prejudice, and sympathy: British Press coverage of HIV/AIDS in the 1980s}}</ref> Rowling's alarmist claims about "trans blood" are unsurprising in light of her widely-criticised [[#Werewolves as an AIDS metaphor|use of lycanthropy as a AIDS metaphor]] in the ''Potter'' series.

===Link between autism and gender variance===
In her 2020 TERF manifesto, Rowing claimed that there has been a "huge explosion in young women wishing to transition", and that "[[autism|autistic]] girls are hugely overrepresented in their numbers."<ref>Insider: [https://www.insider.com/jk-rowling-says-explosion-of-young-women-have-transitioned-detransitioned-2020-6 J.K. Rowling said there's been an 'explosion' of young women transitioning and de-transitioning. There's no evidence that's true.]</ref><ref name="terfmanifesto"/> Research has shown an increase in transmasculine people seeking gender-affirming care since the early 2000s.<ref>Madison Aitken, [https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/jsm.12817 Evidence for an Altered Sex Ratio in Clinic-Referred Adolescents with Gender Dysphoria]", ''The Journal of Sexual Medicine'' (2015) 11(3)</ref><ref>Matthew C. Leinung & Jalaja Joseph, [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7906237/ Changing Demographics in Transgender Individuals Seeking Hormonal Therapy: Are Trans Women More Common Than Trans Men?]", ''Transgender Health'' (2020) 5(4)</ref><ref>Ian T. Nolan, Christopher J. Kuhner, & Geolani W. Dym, [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6626314/ Demographic and temporal trends in transgender identities and gender confirming surgery], ''Transnational Andrology and Urology'' (2019) 8(3)</ref> Studies have also found that trans and gender-variant people are more likely to be autistic.<ref>John F. Strang ''et al.'', [https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10508-014-0285-3 Increased Gender Variance in Autism Spectrum Disorders and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder], ''Archives of Sexual Behavior'' 43 (2014)</ref><ref>Varun Warrier ''et al.'', [https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32770077/ Elevated rates of autism, other neurodevelopmental and psychiatric diagnoses, and autistic traits in transgender and gender-diverse individuals], ''Nature Communications'' (2020) 11(1)</ref>{{efn|Although for the record, autism is also associated with more non-heterosexuality.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Bertelli |first1=Marco O. |title=Autism Spectrum Disorder |date=2022 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4mtvEAAAQBAJ&pg=PA391 |pages=391 |editor-last=Bertelli |editor-first=Marco O. |place=Cham |publisher=Springer International Publishing |doi=10.1007/978-3-319-95720-3_16 |isbn=978-3-319-95720-3 |quote=Persons with [autism spectrum disorder] and/or other neurodevelopmental problems are more likely than the general population to have transgender identity, non-heterosexual sexual orientation, and other gender non-conformities.|last2=Azeem |first2=Muhammad Waqar |last3=Underwood |first3=Lisa |last4=Scattoni |first4=Maria Luisa |last5=Persico |first5=Antonio M. |last6=Ricciardello |first6=Arianna |last7=Sappok |first7=Tanja |last8=Bergmann |first8=Thomas |last9=Keller |first9=Roberto |editor2-last=Deb |editor2-first=Shoumitro (Shoumi) |editor3-last=Munir |editor3-first=Kerim |editor4-last=Hassiotis |editor4-first=Angela}}</ref><ref name="LancetCommission">{{oa}} {{Cite journal |last1=Lord |first1=Catherine |last2=Charman |first2=Tony |last3=Havdahl |first3=Alexandra |last4=Carbone |first4=Paul |last5=Anagnostou |first5=Evdokia |last6=Boyd |first6=Brian |last7=Carr |first7=Themba |last8=de Vries |first8=Petrus J |last9=Dissanayake |first9=Cheryl |last10=Divan |first10=Gauri |last11=Freitag |first11=Christine M |display-authors=10 |date=January 2022 |title=The Lancet Commission on the future of care and clinical research in autism |url=https://fhi.brage.unit.no/fhi-xmlui/bitstream/handle/11250/2975811/Lancet+Commission.pdf?sequence=1 |journal=The Lancet |volume=399 |issue=10321 |pages=299 |doi=10.1016/s0140-6736(21)01541-5 |pmid=34883054 |hdl=11250/2975811 |s2cid=244917920 |issn=0140-6736 |quote=Gender non-conformity, or gender variance, including transgender identity and non-heterosexual sexual orientation, is more common in autistic individuals (and those with other neurodevelopmental conditions) than in the general population. This difference might be part of a different concept of self, less reliance on or reference to social norms, or part of a neurodiverse lived experience of (and outlook on) the world. |via=[[Norwegian Institute of Public Health]]}}</ref><ref name="PediatricsLGBTAutism"> {{oa}} {{Cite journal |last1=Graham Holmes |first1=Laura |last2=Ames |first2=Jennifer L. |last3=Massolo |first3=Maria L. |last4=Nunez |first4=Denise M. |last5=Croen |first5=Lisa A. |date=2022-04-01 |title=Improving the Sexual and Reproductive Health and Health Care of Autistic People |url=https://publications.aap.org/pediatrics/article/149/Supplement%204/e2020049437J/185641/Improving-the-Sexual-and-Reproductive-Health-and |journal=Pediatrics |publisher=American Academy of Pediatrics |volume=149 |issue=Supplement 4 |pages=e2020049437J |doi=10.1542/peds.2020-049437J |pmid=35363286 |issn=0031-4005 |quote=A substantial proportion of autistic adolescents and adults are LGBTQIA+. Autistic people are more likely to be transgender or gender nonconforming compared with non-autistic people, and findings from a recent autism registry study suggest that among autistic people able to self-report on a survey, up to 18% of men and 43% of women may be sexual minorities. |doi-access=free}}</ref> Considering J.K. Rowling claims to advocate for gay people, this line of logic is perhaps reckless in that regard. Imagine how it could be argued by homophobes in much the same way that gay autistic people were supposedly confused or tricked by gay activists.}} The problem is that Rowling has taken evidence-supported claims and [[confirmation bias|twisted them to fit the preconceived conclusion]] that [[Abigail Shrier#Irreversible Damage|vulnerable "girls" are being hoodwinked]] into thinking they're boys by [[Littman 2018 ROGD study|social pressure]] or [[gender ideology|Big Gender]].<ref name="Juno">Cripple Media: [https://cripplemedia.com/jk-rowling-autism-and-getting-to-pick-your-gender/ JK Rowling, Autism, and Getting to 'Pick Your Gender']</ref> Evan Urquhart of ''Salon'' has linked the upward trend in transmasculine transitions to increased public awareness, as the few media reports of "successfully transitioned trans people" in past decades were "almost universally trans women, not trans men."<ref name="Salon">Salon: [https://slate.com/human-interest/2017/09/trans-youth-clinics-are-seeing-more-trans-boys-than-before-why.html Why Are Trans Youth Clinics Seeing an Uptick in Trans Boys?]</ref> He has also pointed to the early history of gender-related therapy primarily seeking to "[[conversion therapy|cure homosexuality]] and effeminacy in boys" due to to the greater social stigma attached to gender non-conformity in male-assigned children.<ref name="Salon"/> Meanwhile, various explanations have been proposed for the increased prevalence of gender variance in autistics, including prenatal hormone exposure, fixation on special interests, and rejection of social norms.<ref>Spectrum News: [https://www.spectrumnews.org/features/deep-dive/living-between-genders/ Living between genders]</ref><ref name="Atlantic">The Atlantic: [https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2016/11/the-link-between-autism-and-trans-identity/507509/ The Link Between Autism and Trans Identity]</ref> Bryony White of ''The Atlantic'' has cautioned against [[Correlation does not imply causation|conflating correlation with causation]] by presuming that the "need to transition is a ''result'' of [autistic trans youth's] autism."<ref name="Atlantic"/>

Autistic self-advocates have highlighted how objections to autistic youth transitioning are rooted in [[ableism|ableist]] attitudes and ideas.<ref>The Age of Autism: [https://the-art-of-autism.com/an-autistics-response-to-j-k-rowlings-transphobic-tweets/ An Autistic's Response To J.K. Rowling's Transphobic Tweets]</ref><ref>Thinking Persons Guide to Autism: [https://thinkingautismguide.com/2020/06/autistic-trans-and-betrayed-by-jk-rowling.html Autistic, Trans, and Betrayed By J.K. Rowling]</ref><ref name="Juno"/> A writer for disability-rights blog ''Cripple Media'' cited it as an example of autistics being "talked over, [[gaslighting|gaslit]], and denied [their] right to self-determine," a product of the belief that they are "children who need to be looked after at all times, not adults and adolescences{{sic}} who get to make choices about [their] own lives."<ref name="Juno"/> Rowling implicitly endorsed such thinking by approvingly tweeting [[concern trolling|an anonymous TERF's fear]] that defining gender by "an internal sense of identity" would make it impossible to ascertain in people with "certain mental handicaps or learning disabilities" or those "unable to develop language skills or … communicate at all".<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20220313092936/https://twitter.com/jk_rowling/status/1502688881782702086</ref> She did it more explicitly with a April 2022 praising David Bell for his "deep concern at high numbers of autistic children … presenting at gender clinics."<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20220709074622/https://twitter.com/jk_rowling/status/1510254904174067716</ref> The supposed impressionability of autistic people figures in the plot of two ''[[#Cormoran Strike|Cormoran Strike]]'' books.<ref name="Hendley">Alicia Hendley: [https://aliciahendley.medium.com/jk-rowling-the-ink-black-heart-and-the-problem-of-misplaced-authority-5cf6a2ab5210 JK Rowling, The Ink Black Heart, and the problem of misplaced authority]</ref><ref name="Gibbs">https://web.archive.org/web/20220901085758/https://twitter.com/sara_rose_g/status/1565261159846055937</ref><ref name="RunningGrave">Maggie Baska (September 28, 2023). [https://www.thepinknews.com/2023/09/28/jk-rowling-cormoran-strike-the-running-grave-review-lgbtq-trans/ "We asked a non-binary person to review the new JK Rowling book. They had a lot to say"]. ''PinkNews''.</ref> In ''The Ink Black Heart'', a "profoundly autistic" teen girl is lured into joining a [[terrorist|terrorist]] group after being "convinced she'd found real friends online," while in ''The Running Grave'' a man tries to free his adult autistic son from a [[Scientology]]-like [[cult]] that serves as a [[TERF glossary#Trans_cult|thinly-veiled anti-trans metaphor]].<ref name="Hendley"/><ref name="Gibbs"/><ref name="RunningGrave"/> Ableism and transphobia don't just contribute to social stigma, but can adversely impact health, freedom, and equality. Autistic trans people have reported having their access to gender-affirming care blocked or delayed by clinicians.<ref name="Atlantic"/> Several U.S. states restricted or banned gender-affirming care for people with autism, [[ADHD]], and other psychological conditions in 2023.<ref>The 19th: [https://19thnews.org/2023/05/trans-laws-autistic-youth-mental-health/ Anti-trans laws are targeting autistic youth and those with mental health conditions]</ref> A man in the UK sued the NHS to try to prevent his 21-year-old autistic daughter from undergoing gender-confirmation surgery in June 2023.<ref>The Telegraph: [https://archive.is/hzduJ 'Heartbroken' father sues NHS to stop autistic son's sex change]</ref>

On June 22, 2023, Rowling shared a tweet by far-right activist [[Christopher Rufo|Christopher F. Rufo]] making the pseudoscientific claim that puberty blockers "shut down a child's [[brain|hypothalamus]]."<ref>Twitter: https://web.archive.org/web/20230626120101/https://twitter.com/BadWritingTakes/status/1673007258844667904</ref> The tweet linked to Rufo's interview of an anonymous doctor in the [[Manhattan Institute]] quarterly ''City Journal'', who claimed that this imaginary side effect means "shut[ting] down what makes us human" since the hypothalamus contains a "[[Gnosticism|divine spark]]," and is the "system" that allows people to "[[argument from beauty|stand in awe of the beauty of a sunset]]" and be moved by [[music]].<ref>City Journal: [https://www.city-journal.org/article/transgender-ideology-and-the-corruption-of-medicine Thrown to the Wolves]</ref> Rowling uncritically tweeted this metaphysical horseshit despite railing against [[gender identity]] as an "[[falsifiability|unfalsifiable]] concept" involving "[[soul|unprovable essences]]" on June 21.<ref>Yahoo! Life: [https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/cisgender-meaning-elon-musk-jk-rowling-132431448.html 'Cisgender' meaning as Elon Musk brands term a ‘slur’ and JK Rowling voices her view]</ref> The nonsense Rowling picked up from Rufo may have emerged from a conflation of the amygdala theory of autism with more recent research linking autism to structural variations in the hypothalamus.<ref>Spectrum News: "[https://www.spectrumnews.org/news/molecular-mechanisms-autism-linked-to-small-hypothalamus Molecular mechanisms: Autism linked to small hypothalamus]"</ref><ref name="Rizzo">Elisabetta Angela Rizzo and Tina Röck, "[https://journals.openedition.org/phenomenology/298 Autistics as empathic subjects: Phenomenology and Intense World Theory]", ''Phenomenology and Mind'' (2021) 21</ref> The amygdala theory posits that there is "an abnormality in [the] autistic amygdala" that is correlated with a "diminished ability for social interaction, [and] intersubjective capacity and empathy."<ref name="Rizzo"/> This theory is tied to the Baron-Cohenian model (no, not Borat, but his uncle {{w|Simon Baron-Cohen|Simon}}) of autism as an innate inability to recognize that other people have their own thoughts and feelings (a concept known as "{{w|theory of mind||"}}).<ref name="Rizzo"/> As such, it is regarded by many autistic people as outdated, or rejected in favor of alternate models.<ref name="Rizzo"/> In short, Rowling has signed up for [[vaccine hysteria]] round two, except this time puberty blockers are the jab supposedly making kids autistic and suggesting they literally take away their souls as well.

===Stigmatisation of disability and mental health===
In July 2020, Rowling liked a tweet by the [[transmedicalism|transmedicalist]] @Manaxium characterising [[hormone replacement therapy]] as "the new [[Antidepressant|antidepressants]]", something @Manaxium saw as emblematic of the "pure laziness" of people who "would rather medicate than put in the time and effort to heal people's mind.{{sic}}"<ref name="SophieXY44">https://web.archive.org/web/20200704212716/https://twitter.com/TrinerScot/status/1279501444496986113</ref><ref name="Global">Global News: [https://globalnews.ca/news/7142429/j-k-rowling-tweets-hormone-conversion-therapy-backlash/ J.K. Rowling under fire for describing hormone therapy as 'conversion therapy for young gay people']</ref><ref name="NBCNews2">NBC News: [https://www.nbcnews.com/feature/nbc-out/j-k-rowling-warns-against-new-kind-conversion-therapy-n1232958 J.K. Rowling calls gender transitioning 'a new kind of conversion therapy']</ref> This prompted another Twitter user to wonder if anyone had foreseen Rowling one day "pivoting to supporting those who call people who take mental health medication 'lazy'."<ref name="SophieXY44"/><ref name="Global"/><ref name="NBCNews2"/> Rowling quoted-tweeted this user with an 11-part response accusing them of "[lying] about what I believe about mental health medication" and "misrepresent[ing] the views of a [[one of the good ones|trans woman for whom I feel nothing but admiration and solidarity]]."<ref name="Global"/><ref name="NBCNews2"/><ref name="LongThread">https://web.archive.org/web/20220604183102/https://twitter.com/jk_rowling/status/1279755418621878272</ref> Rowling underscored her own "mental health challenges, which include OCD, depression and anxiety," stating that she had "taken anti-depressants in the past" and found them helpful.<ref name="LongThread"/> She claimed that, like the "many health professionals" she couldn't name, she was merely concerned that struggling youngsters were "being shunted towards hormones and surgery" by Big Trans.<ref name="Global"/><ref name="NBCNews2"/><ref name="LongThread"/>

On March 6, 2022, [[genderqueer]] trans-inclusive [[feminist]] writer {{w|Laurie Penny}} posted a Twitter thread revealing they had suffered a breakdown after "twelve years of relentless trolling."<ref name="Penny">https://web.archive.org/web/20220307220123/https://twitter.com/BadWritingTakes/status/1500954723968499716</ref> In this thread, Penny mentioned that they had been diagnosed with [[PTSD|CPTSD]] and highlighted nasty reviews of their recent book by ''The Times'', ''[[The Observer]]'', and ''[[The Critic]]''.<ref name="Penny"/> The following day, [[Julie Bindel]], author of the ''Critic'' piece, put out a tweet claiming that Penny was alleging the reviews "caused her complex PTSD."<ref name="Penny"/> Shortly thereafter, Bindel mockingly tweeted that she had "[[self-diagnosis|diagnosed [herself]]] with Complex PTSD" after a man "opened a packet of Cheesy Wotsits" on the train, prompting a reply of "[[thoughts and prayers]], Julie" from Rowling.<ref name="Penny"/><ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20220819041708/https://twitter.com/bindelj/status/1500799081190498304</ref><ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20220307143059/https://twitter.com/jk_rowling/status/1500841347015663619</ref> In response, Penny reminded Bindel that she knew "full well that these reviews didn't *cause* the CPTSD [they] experience," as they had personally disclosed the sources of their trauma to Bindel "back when [the pair] were trying to build bridges."<ref name="Penny"/> Penny's reply to Rowling was gentler, pointing out that it was their "mental health history" Bindel was mocking in the tweet "along with everyone else who has experienced CPTSD," and hoping that the author didn't think it was acceptable to "shame" people in this manner.<ref name="Penny"/>

Rowling came under fire for her portrayal of chronic illness and the [[disabled]] community in her 2022 Cormoran Strike novel ''The Ink Black Heart''.<ref name="ASpiralDance">A Spiral Dance: [https://www.aspiraldance.com/the-online-spoonie-community-is-valid-and-important/ The Online Spoonie Community is Valid and Important]</ref><ref name="Gretchen">Gretchen Felker-Martin: [https://www.patreon.com/posts/in-flesh-ink-72203043 In the Flesh - The Ink Black Heart]</ref><ref name="Lucien">The Once and Future Cripple: [https://www.theonceandfuturecripple.com/en/rowlings-new-book-is-ableist-and-so-was-harry-potter/ Rowling’s new book is ableist and so was Harry Potter]</ref><ref name="Hendley"/><ref name="CurrentAffairsInk"/> The book features a description of the [[Tumblr]] bio of "disabled artist" character Kea Niven: "CF – [[fibromyalgia]] - POTs – allodynia – I need more {{w|spoon theory|spoons|."}}<ref name="ASpiralDance"/> ''A Spiral Dance'', a disability-focused blog, held that Rowling "couldn't even get the details of chronic illnesses correct," citing her incorrect rendering of "{{w|POTS||"}} and use of the non-standard acronym "CF" to mean [[chronic fatigue syndrome]].<ref name="ASpiralDance"/> Author Gretchen Felker-Martin wrote that Rowling is "deeply mean-spirited when it comes to anyone non-normative, especially the fat and the disabled," finding ''The Ink Black Heart'' to be "particularly savage" in its "[[ableism|bottomless contempt]] for 'spoonies' and other disabled communities."<ref name="Gretchen"/> She contrasted the sympathetic portrayal of "brusque, manly Strike, whose disability is the result of a war wound" with the portrayal of chronically-ill characters as "[[faking disability|malingerers, abusers, and emotional manipulators]]."<ref name="Gretchen"/> Kristina Lucien of the blog ''The Once and Future Cripple'' echoed this view, commenting that it is "made clear to the readers that [Kea] is the wrong kind of disabled" as "she claims her identity openly," in comparison to amputee Strike trying to minimise his disability by declining to use a cane despite his pain.<ref name="Lucien"/> Psychologist Alicia Hendley declared the book to be "threaded throughout" with "dismissal and lazy stereotyping" of people with invisible illnesses.<ref name="Hendley"/> In Hendley's view, Rowling distinguishes "[[gatekeeping|people who have valid, visible, 'real' illness/disabilities]]" and want to to "[[Rugged individualism|'get on with it']], [[Wanting it bad enough|to live their lives 'despite' their difficulties]], [[Just world hypothesis|to even excel]]" from the spoonie who "not only wallows, but defines themselves by (and perhaps even revels in) being ill."<ref name="Hendley"/>

In May 2024, amidst wider controversy over [[Israel]]'s participation in Eurovision, [[Ireland|Irish]] contestant {{w|Bambie Thug}} accused Israeli broadcaster KAN of "incit[ing] violence" against them.<ref name="nme">{{cite news |last=Rigotti |first=Alex |date=May 12, 2024 |title=Bambie Thug accuses Eurovision organisers of "not supporting them" amidst Israel commentator controversy | work= NME| url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/bambie-thug-accuses-eurovision-organisers-of-not-supporting-them-amidst-israel-commentator-controversy-3755535}}</ref> They criticised the EBU's handling of their complaint against KAN in what anti-trans grifter {{w|Oli London}} described as a "profanity laden rant."<ref name="nme"/><ref name="kavanagh">https://www.reddit.com/r/EnoughJKRowling/comments/1cqg83a/jk_rowling_likes_tweets_mocking_ireland_singer</ref> Rowling liked a re-tweet of London by Dennis Noel Kavanagh, who added that "developmentally delayed as she [Bambie] is, even she realises cursing the public wouldn't go down well."<ref name="kavanagh"/> Bambie (who is [[non-binary]]) has stated that they were diagnosed with [[ADHD]] as a child.<ref>{{cite news |last=Mallon |first=Sandra |date=January 31, 2024 |title=Who is Bambie Thug? Singer wanted to be ballerina before horror injury led them to Eurovision fame | work= Irish Mirror| url=https://www.irishmirror.ie/showbiz/who-bambie-thug-singer-wanted-32003176}}</ref>

==Statements on sexual assault and abuse==
===Rowling's own experiences===
Rowling experienced [[domestic violence]] during her "short and catastrophic" marriage to [[Portugal|Portuguese]] journalist Jorge Arantes in the early 1990s.<ref name="terfmanifesto"/><ref>Oprah.com: [https://www.oprah.com/oprahshow/the-brilliant-mind-behind-harry-potter/all The Brilliant Mind Behind Harry Potter]</ref><ref name="manuscript">The Guardian: [https://www.theguardian.com/books/2023/feb/22/jk-rowling-reveals-abuse-in-past-relationship JK Rowling tells of fear former husband would burn Harry Potter manuscript]</ref> By Rowling's account, Arantes was "very violent and very controlling" as a partner, denying her a housekey so he could have "control of the front door."<ref name="manuscript"/><ref name="arantes1">The Independent: [https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/jk-rowling-first-husband-domestic-violence-b2286439.html JK Rowling describes 'violence' in first marriage]"</ref> At one point, Arantes allegedly took the manuscript of the first ''Harry Potter'' novel and hid it as "his hostage," forcing Rowling to sneak "a few pages" into work "every day" to photocopy.<ref name="manuscript"/> Rowling gradually assembled a copy of the manuscript and kept it in a staffroom cupboard.<ref name="manuscript"/> She feared Arantes would seize or destroy the original if she "wasn't able to get out [of the marriage] with everything."<ref name="manuscript"/> Arantes has admitted that he slapped Rowling on the night she fled in 1993 but denies having committed "sustained abuse."<ref>The Sun: [https://web.archive.org/web/20200612025219/https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/11842719/jk-rowling-ex-husband-abuse-claims/ JK Rowling's abusive first husband admits he slapped her but says 'I'm not sorry']</ref> ''[[The Sun]]'' (who else?) interviewed Arantes in June 2020 and published his claims with the lurid headline "I slapped JK and I'm not sorry."<ref name="arantes2">BBC News: [https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-53023543 JK Rowling: Sun newspaper criticised by abuse charities for article on ex-husband]</ref><ref name="arantes3">The Associated Press: [https://apnews.com/article/3310e2118b236b58b4de41be2ad57bc5 Sun newspaper says J.K. Rowling article did not glorify domestic abuse]</ref> This article was widely condemned by the press and abuse survivor advocates.<ref name="arantes2"/><ref name="arantes3"/>

In her 2020 [[#2020–2021: TERF manifesto and Twitter punditry|TERF manifesto]], Rowling revealed that she was the victim of a "serious sexual assault" sometime in her twenties, describing it as occurring "at a time and in a space where I was vulnerable" and involving a "man [who] capitalised on an opportunity."<ref name="terfmanifesto"/> Rowling wrote that her memories of this event spurred her to oppose Gender Recognition Act reform in [[Scotland]], declaring it would inevitably "[[Transphobia and public restrooms|throw open the doors of bathrooms and changing rooms]]" to sexual predators.<ref name="terfmanifesto"/> She added: "I'm mentioning these things now not in an attempt to garner sympathy, but out of solidarity with the huge numbers of women who have histories like mine, who've been slurred as bigots for having concerns around single-sex spaces."<ref name="arantes3"/> One such woman replied in a 2022 ''New Statesman'' column, "As a victim of abuse, I once agreed with JK Rowling".<ref>Lucy Hall (March 9, 2022). [https://www.newstatesman.com/comment/2022/03/as-a-victim-of-abuse-i-once-agreed-with-jk-rowling "As a victim of abuse, I once agreed with JK Rowling"]. ''The New Statesman''.</ref>

Rowling cited her personal history as a motivation for funding the establishment of a private "support centre for female victims of sexual violence" in Edinburgh in December 2022.<ref>The Guardian: [https://web.archive.org/web/20221213021748/https://www.theguardian.com/books/2022/dec/12/jk-rowling-launches-support-centre-for-female-victims-of-sexual-violence JK Rowling launches support centre for female victims of sexual violence]"</ref><ref>The Times: [https://archive.is/85ASU JK Rowling launches service for women victims of sexual violence before Scotland brings in self-ID law]"</ref> This service – named [[Beira's Place]] after the "Scottish goddess of winter" – is frequently lauded as a "women's shelter," "rape crisis centre," and "refuge" by Rowling's supporters, but reading the website makes it clear it doesn't offer shelter space or crisis support.<ref name="beira1">Beira's Place: [https://web.archive.org/web/20240104165443/https://beirasplace.org.uk/about/ About Us]</ref><ref name="beira2">Beira's Place: [https://web.archive.org/web/20240104165443/https://beirasplace.org.uk/faqs/ FAQs]</ref> It provides one-on-one and group counselling by appointment only.<ref name="beira2"/> The centre is not wheelchair accessible and clients are advised not to bring children.<ref name="beira2"/> Board member Rhona Hotchkiss served as governor of the {{w|Cornton Vale}} women's [[prison]] until 2019.<ref>NHS Scotland Events: [https://web.archive.org/web/20210410132833/https://nhsscotlandevents.com/speaker/rhona-hotchkiss Rhona Hotchkiss]</ref> In 2016, it was reported that inmates faced "Victorian conditions" and long queues for access to a shared toilet, with some being instructed by staff to "pee in the sink" if they couldn't wait.<ref>BBC News: [https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-35589196 Cornton Vale prisoners 'forced to use sink as a toilet']</ref><ref>Holyrood: [https://www.holyrood.com/news/view,cornton-vale-toilet-conditions-wholly-unacceptable-in-the-21st-century-warns-chief-prisons-inspector_6499.htm Cornton Vale toilet conditions 'wholly unacceptable in the 21st century', warns chief prisons inspector]</ref> Hotchkiss asserted in 2022 that she would've resigned if she'd still been governor during the {{w|Isla Bryson case||.}}<ref>The Telegraph: [https://web.archive.org/web/20230126185818/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/01/26/former-prisoner-governor-says-would-have-quit-trans-rapist/ Former prisoner governor says she would have quit over trans rapist]</ref><ref>Daily Mail: [https://web.archive.org/web/20230126091050/https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11678509/Ex-governor-Scottish-womens-prison-quit-Isla-Bryson.html Ex-governor of Scottish women's prison 'would have quit' if she'd been told to house transgender rapist with female inmates]</ref>

According to an article published by the ''[[Wall Street Journal]]'' in 2024, Rowling invoked "her past as an abused woman" during business meetings with Warner Bros., reportedly claiming that "a group of men telling her what to do reminded her of her previous marriage."<ref name="wsj1">{{cite news |last= Schwartzel |first=Erich |date=February 24, 2024 |title=Can Warner Bros. Uncancel J.K. Rowling? | work= The Wall Street Journal| url=https://www.wsj.com/business/media/jk-rowling-harry-potter-warner-bros-tv-ba66a767}}</ref>

===Johnny Depp and other accused===
Despite Rowling exploiting her public image as an outspoken feminist and #MeToo advocate in order to justify her anti-trans beliefs, she has on several occasions sided with alleged abusers over the victims of sexual violence.

In November 2016, shortly before the release of the first film in the ''Fantastic Beasts'' franchise, it was revealed {{w|Johnny Depp}} had a cameo as Gellert Grindelwald, and was slated to return in the sequels.<ref>USA Today: [https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/movies/2016/11/01/johnny-depp-fantastic-beasts-surprise-role/93143002/ Shocker! Johnny Depp is in 'Fantastic Beasts']</ref><ref>Digital Trends: [https://www.digitaltrends.com/movies/johnny-depp-fantastic-beasts-and-where-to-find-them-2-cast/ Johnny Depp will play a pivotal character in the ‘Fantastic Beasts’ sequel]</ref>{{efn|Rumour has it Depp sought to play this character in the first ''Deathly Hallows'' movie in 2008.<ref>Hypable: [https://www.hypable.com/johnny-depp-grindelwald-harry-potter-fantastic-beasts/ Report: Johnny Depp almost played Grindelwald in 'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows']</ref>}} His casting sparked outcry from ''Potter'' fans due to allegations of abuse made earlier that same year by Depp's then-wife Amber Heard.<ref>Stuff.co.nz: [https://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/film/86043237/backlash-from-harry-potter-fans-after-johnny-depp-cast-in-fantastic-beasts Backlash from Harry Potter fans after Johnny Depp cast in Fantastic Beasts]</ref> Rowling apparently blocked fans who asked her about it.<ref>Jacob Shamsian (December 1, 2017). [https://www.businessinsider.com/jk-rowling-blocks-fan-johnny-depp-twitter-2017-11 "J.K. Rowling blocked a fan on Twitter after she asked her why Johnny Depp would still be in 'Fantastic Beasts'"]. ''Business Insider''.</ref><ref>(November 29, 2017). [https://www.reddit.com/r/harrypotter/comments/7gjh2j/jk_rowling_blocking_harry_potter_fans_on_twitter/ "J.K. Rowling blocking Harry Potter fans on Twitter who ask her about Johnny Depp 'abusing his wife'"]. r/harrypotter (Reddit).</ref> She issued an official statement in December, telling fans that she understood why they were "confused and angry," but that she and the filmmakers were "not only comfortable sticking with our original casting, but genuinely happy" with Depp's involvement based on their "understanding of the circumstances" of Depp and Heard's marriage.<ref name="deppstatement">J. K. Rowling: [https://web.archive.org/web/20180113114758/https://www.jkrowling.com/opinions/grindelwald-casting/ Grindelwald casting]</ref><ref name="APJake"/> Rowling added, "conscience isn't governable by committee."<ref name="deppstatement"/><ref name="APJake">Jake Coyle (December 7, 2017). [https://apnews.com/movies-a02e4847176e4911aae7309cded903f3 "JK Rowling, Warner Bros. voice support for Johnny Depp"]. ''The Associated Press''.</ref> Depp said in a 2018 interview: "J.K. has seen the evidence and therefore knows I was falsely accused, and that's why she has publicly supported me."<ref>Alexia Fernández (October 13, 2018). [https://people.com/movies/johnny-depp-speaks-grindelwald-jk-rowling-supporting-him/ "Johnny Depp Opens Up About Playing Grindelwald, Says J.K. Rowling 'Knows I Was Falsely Accused'"]. ''People''.</ref><ref>Gina Carbone (September 15, 2022). [https://www.cinemablend.com/news/2491564/how-johnny-depp-amber-heard-libel-trial-directly-tied-to-jk-rowling-fantastic-beasts-movies "How Johnny Depp's Libel Trial Is Directly Tied To J.K. Rowling And Fantastic Beasts Movies"]. ''CinemaBlend''.</ref>

Depp was cut from the ''Fantastic Beasts'' franchise in 2020 after losing a libel case against ''[[The Sun]]'' for a headline calling him a "wife beater."<ref>(November 2, 2020). [https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-54779430 "Johnny Depp loses libel case over Sun 'wife beater' claim"]. ''BBC News''.</ref><ref>Variety: [https://variety.com/2020/film/news/johnny-depp-fantastic-beasts-warner-bros-1234826539/ Johnny Depp: Why Warner Bros. Finally Cut Ties With the 'Fantastic Beasts' Star]</ref>{{efn|The full headline was: "Gone Potty: How can JK Rowling be 'genuinely happy' to cast wife beater Johnny Depp in film?". ''{{w|Depp v News Group Newspapers Ltd}}'' was heard in England. {{w|English defamation law}} puts the [[burden of proof]] on the defendant. This makes Depp's loss striking as it means he failed to prove he ''wasn't'' abusive to the judge's satisfaction.}} Depp won a subsequent defamation suit against Heard in 2022 over an op-ed she wrote for the ''[[Washington Post|Washington Post]]'' in 2018.<ref>Entertainment Weekly: [https://ew.com/celebrity/johnny-depp-v-amber-heard-verdict/ Johnny Depp wins defamation trial against Amber Heard, jury awards him $15 million in damages]</ref> In this piece, Heard described herself as a "public figure representing domestic abuse," but did not specifically name Depp.<ref>Washington Post: [https://archive.is/mWa7d I spoke up against sexual violence — and faced our culture's wrath. That has to change.]</ref> Some have speculated that Depp's legal team pushed for the case to be heard in [[Virginia]] over the couple's home state of [[California]] due to Virginia's "far weaker" anti-[[SLAPP suit|SLAPP]] laws.<ref>Vulture: [https://www.vulture.com/2022/04/johnny-depp-amber-heard-defamation-lawsuit-virginia.html Johnny Depp and Amber Heard’s Defamation Trial, Explained]</ref><ref>Fairness & Accuracy in Reporting: [https://fair.org/home/depp-heard-verdict-a-loss-for-violence-survivors-and-a-free-press/ Depp/Heard Verdict a Loss for Violence Survivors—and a Free Press]</ref>

Rowling, reportedly a long-time friend of Depp, bought his yacht sometime around 2015 for £22 million, then soon sold it at £7 million loss.<ref>Lilit Marcus (September 15, 2016). [https://www.cntraveler.com/story/jk-rowling-is-selling-her-20-million-yacht-with-interiors-by-johnny-depp "J.K. Rowling Is Selling Her $20 Million Yacht (With Interiors By…Johnny Depp)"]. ''Condé Nast Traveler''.</ref><ref>(September 14, 2016). [https://www.scotsman.com/whats-on/jk-rowling-sells-yacht-for-aps7m-loss-a-year-after-buying-it-1467331 "JK Rowling sells yacht for £7m loss - a year after buying it"]. ''The Scotsman''.</ref> She sent a bouquet of roses to Depp's close friend [[Marilyn Manson]] in January 2020.<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20200209142625/https://twitter.com/marilynmanson/status/1223133969232752641</ref> In 2021, actress Evan Rachel Wood named Manson as the ex-partner behind an account of sexual assault revealed in 2016, prompting several other women to come forward with further allegations of rape and torture by Manson.<ref>BBC News: [https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-43226367 Evan Rachel Wood: Actress tells Congress about sexual abuse]</ref><ref>Vanity Fair: [https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2021/02/he-horrifically-abused-me-for-years-evan-rachel-wood-and-other-women-make-allegations-of-abuse-against-marilyn-manson He "Horrifically Abused Me for Years": Evan Rachel Wood and Other Women Make Allegations of Abuse Against Marilyn Manson]</ref> Depp stans paid to have the ''Depp v. Heard'' court records unsealed in the hope of unearthing dirt on Heard.<ref>Rolling Stone: [https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-news/johnny-depp-amber-heard-backfire-1391807/ Johnny Depp Stans Rushed to Fork Over Cash for Unsealed Court Docs. Did It Backfire?]</ref> They instead revealed a trove of unsavoury and embarrassing things about Depp. This included the transcript of a "troubling" 2016 text conversation in which Manson tried to set Depp up with an 18-year-old girl.<ref>Popculture.com: [https://popculture.com/celebrity/news/johnny-depp-marilyn-manson-text-messages-revealed-unsealed-court-documents-amber-heard/ Johnny Depp and Marilyn Manson's Troubling Text Messages Surface in Unsealed Court Documents]</ref><ref>Entertainment Weekly: [https://ew.com/celebrity/johnny-depp-amber-heard-court-docs-unsealed/ Biggest bombshells in unsealed Johnny Depp v. Amber Heard court docs: Erectile dysfunction, nude photos, and Marilyn Manson]</ref>

Rowling personally thanked voice actor {{w|Greg Ellis}} for his work on the 2023 video game ''Hogwarts Legacy''.<ref>J. K. Rowling (February 9, 2023). [https://archive.ph/Wl20x "Thank you, Greg"]. ''Twitter'', via archive.today.</ref><ref name="eeF3"/><ref name="btm1">BehindTheMagic.com: [https://insidethemagic.net/2023/02/rowling-under-fire-hogwarts-legacy-greg-ellis-jc1/ J.K. Rowling Under Fire For Publicly Thanking, Hiring "Canceled" Actor Accused of Domestic Violence]</ref> Ellis is a hardline [[MRA]] with his own history of domestic abuse allegations.<ref name="btm1"/><ref name="geekbuzz">GeekBuzz: [https://thegeekbuzz.com/the-basement/legal-filings-debunk-the-respondent-greg-ellis-belittling-proclamation-against-family-court/ Legal Filings Debunk the ‘Respondent’ Greg Ellis’ Belittling Proclamation Against Family Court]</ref><ref name="eeF3">Eli Erlick (February 11, 2023). [https://web.archive.org/web/20230212010833/https://twitter.com/EliErlick/status/1624481026163499009 "Greg Ellis is a Trump-supporting anti feminist who distributed revenge porn of his wife, had a restraining order for domestic violence, and is now banned from seeing his children. He voiced 12 characters in Hogwarts Legacy."] ''Twitter'', via the Wayback Machine.</ref> In 2015, Ellis' then-wife successfully filed for a restraining order against him, stating that he had threatened their children.<ref name="btm1"/><ref name="geekbuzz"/> Another former partner of Ellis obtained a three-year protection order in 2023 in a case involving an allegation of revenge porn.<ref>[https://archive.ph/qell7 Tweet] featuring redacted court document</ref> Ellis is reportedly a long-time friend of Depp,<ref name="ellisdepp1">OK Magazine: [https://okmagazine.com/p/johnny-depp-responsibility-trial-greg-ellis/ Actor Greg Ellis Says Pal Johnny Depp 'Took Responsibility For His Faults' During Trial: 'He's Never Said He's Perfect']</ref><ref name="ellisdepp2">New York Post: [https://nypost.com/2022/07/05/johnny-depp-is-happy-to-get-his-life-back-after-trial-says-longtime-friend/ Johnny Depp is ‘happy to get his life back’ after trial, says longtime friend]</ref> and has been one of his fiercest defenders on social media.<ref>Movieweb: [https://movieweb.com/greg-ellis-johnny-depp-support/ Pirates of the Caribbean Star Greg Ellis Supports Johnny Depp, Blasts 'False Allegations']</ref> Ellis supposedly met Depp at his infamous Los Angeles bar {{w|The Viper Room}} in the 1980s and worked with him on the ''Pirates of the Caribbean'' franchise.<ref name="ellisdepp2"/>

Depp wasn't the only ''Fantastic Beasts'' cast member to generate worrying headlines. Video emerged in 2020 of {{w|Ezra Miller}} physically assaulting a woman at a Reykjavík bar.<ref name="ezra1">Variety: [https://variety.com/2020/film/news/ezra-miller-throttling-woman-video-1234571800/ Ezra Miller Appears to Choke Woman in Video]</ref><ref name="ezra2">Vanity Fair: [https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2022/09/inside-ezra-millers-dark-spiral-messiah-delusions Ezra Miller's "Messiah" Delusions: Inside ''The Flash'' Star's Dark Spiral]</ref> Since 2022, they have incurred multiple arrests, citations, and restraining orders for a slew of alleged crimes including assault, burglary, and grooming minors.<ref name="ezra2"/><ref name="ezra3">NBC News: [https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/actor-ezra-miller-hit-temporary-protection-order-massachussetts-rcna34177 Massachusetts court grants temporary protection order against actor Ezra Miller]</ref><ref name="ezra4">The Daily Beast: [https://www.thedailybeast.com/12-year-old-granted-order-of-protection-against-ezra-miller 12-Year-Old Granted Order of Protection Against Ezra Miller]</ref> Scottish actor Kevin Guthrie was sentenced to three years in prison for sexual assault in 2021.<ref>[https://people.com/movies/fantastic-beasts-actor-kevin-guthrie-sentenced-to-3-years-in-jail-for-sexual-assault/ 'Fantastic Beasts' Actor Kevin Guthrie Sentenced to 3 Years in Jail for Sexual Assault]</ref> Rowling has not publicly commented on either case to date.

===Selective moral outrage===
When disturbing revelations of sexual abuse committed by popular fantasy author Neil Gaiman were to brought to wider attention in a ''New York'' magazine expose in January 2025<ref>https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/neil-gaiman-faces-sexual-assault-allegations-1236108095/</ref>, Rowling took to social media and accused the "literary crowd" of remaining silent on the matter while comparing Gaiman to [[Harvey Weinstein]].<ref>https://deadline.com/2025/01/nail-gaiman-allegations-j-k-rowling-1236255597/</ref> Ignoring the fact that Rowling   had, up until this point, made no mention of these allegations when they were first reported months ago in July 2024, its quite telling that Rowling would defend and cozy up to other powerful men accused of similar abuses for years, but will suddenly become Gloria Steinem if the accused in question just happens to be a high-profile ally of trans people. Its also probably not a coincidence that Gaiman signed a letter in support of the LGBTQ+ community in response to Rowling's transphobia 4 years prior.<ref>https://www.the-independent.com/arts-entertainment/books/news/stephen-king-margaret-atwood-transgender-open-letter-jk-rowling-b912344.html</ref>

===Flawed understanding of sexual abuse===
[[File:Lolita 1955.JPG|thumb|right|200px|A "tragic love story," according to Rowling.]]
Rowling has demonstrated a deeply flawed understanding of sexual violence and consent. In 2024, she tweeted that "under UK law, only men can commit rape."<ref>https://x.com/jk_rowling/status/1806021379474563455</ref> It's correct to say the UK {{w|Rape in English law|legally defines "rape"}} as the non-consensual penetration of the victim's "vagina, anus or mouth" by the perpetrator's "penis."<ref>[https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/42/section/1/2009-11-12 Sexual Offences Act 2003], ''www.legislation.gov.uk''</ref><ref>(February 8, 2021). [https://www.blmsolicitors.co.uk/2021/02/can-a-woman-rape-a-man/ "Can a woman rape a man?"]. ''Bastian Lloyd Morris Solicitor Advocates''.</ref>{{efn|Though, women have regardless been found guilty of rape offences in the UK before,<ref>Sarah Hall (March 17, 2001). [https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2001/mar/17/sarahhall "Woman found guilty of towpath rape"]. ''The Guardian''.</ref> often as accomplices.}} However, it betrays Rowling's apparent belief that [[AFAB]] people are incapable of committing sexual violence, a notion rooted in the [[biological determinism|essentialist idea]] that men are inherently aggressive and women are inherently weak. Rowling has repeatedly mentioned penises when discussing the supposed risk of housing trans women in women's [[prison]]s.<ref>https://x.com/jk_rowling/status/1470092815506063365</ref><ref>https://x.com/jk_rowling/status/1620107934364745728</ref><ref>https://x.com/jk_rowling/status/1639275893607612421</ref>

Her rhetoric on such topics sometimes alludes to "sex class",<ref>J. K. Rowling (May 17, 2024). [https://archive.ph/igkL6 "It's a very difficult point to grasp, if some of my regular attackers are anything to go by. 'Why do you care if the most vulnerable members of your sex class are deprived of basic protections?' They appear unable to fathom why I'd care about anything other than my own safety."] ''Twitter'', via archive.today. [https://x.com/jk_rowling/status/1791501820629598391 (Original post)].</ref> taking a leaf from [[Graham Linehan|one fellow TERF celebrity]].<ref>Graham Linehan (April 13, 2020). [https://web.archive.org/web/20200413191411/https://twitter.com/Glinner/status/1249773999137132552 "I'm very sorry that happened to you, Amy, that's terrible. It has nothing to do with the fact that men *as a class* rape women *as a class* and I don't know why you would pretend it does. I'm not sure anyone who would blind you to that fact is a 'friend'."] ''Twitter'', via the Wayback Machine.</ref><ref>Graham Linehan (April 15, 2020). [https://web.archive.org/web/20200417063055/https://twitter.com/Glinner/status/1250475644389072899 "so there are no sex classes? this is hysterical. Hey @FondOfBeetles you'll enjoy this one"]. ''Twitter'', via the Wayback Machine.</ref> This is a vulgarization of ~1960s–1970s [[radical feminist]] class theory, which proposed sex class was an oppressive [[social construct]]. Even {{w|Shulamith Firestone||,}} an early radical feminist author who theorized that these social classes stemmed from biological differences (specifically, historical and accumulated power imbalances from [[pregnancy]]), proposed in her book ''{{w|The Dialectic of Sex}}'' that social distinctions of sex class can and should be abolished with technological and medical innovation.<ref name="DialecticOfSex">Shulamith Firestone (1970). ''[https://archive.org/details/dialecticofsexth00fire The Dialectic of Sex: The Case for Feminist Revolution]''. ISBN: 978-1784780524.</ref>{{rp|10-11, 219-234}} This view of sex as a class system was partly inspired by [[Marx]]ist theory, which itself saw gradients and exceptions: petit bourgeois and lumpenproletariat were semi-distinguished from two main classes. Likewise, in ''Woman Hating'', [[Andrea Dworkin]] said two sex classes were a reductive construct; speaking of the "radical biology of sex similarity" in relation to intersex and transgender people, she said humanity was "a multi-sexed species which has its sexuality spread along a vast fluid continuum where the elements called male and female are not discrete."<ref>{{cite book |title= Woman Hating|last= Dworkin|first= Andrea|year= 1974|publisher= E. P. Dutton|location= New York City|isbn= 0-525-47423-4||page=175-186 |url=}}</ref>

The "women-cannot-rape" mentality has also seemingly influenced Rowling's fiction, even in her popular [[#Harry_Potter_series|''Harry Potter'' series]] for children. This is particularly apparent in how the love potions featured in the world of ''Harry Potter'' are used and depicted.<ref name="lovepotion1">{{cite journal |last1=Chattopadhyay |first1=Kabir |last2= |first2= |date=2020 |title='Powerful Infatuations': The Love Potion and Harry Potter's Ethics of Consent |url=https://genderforum.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Complete-Diversifying-YA-and-Childrens-Literature-2020_03.pdf#page=26 |journal=Gender Forum: An Internet Journal for Gender Studies |volume= |issue=75 |pages=22-36 |doi= | ISSN=1613-1878}}</ref> In ''Half-Blood Prince'' (2005), a female student, Romilda, gives Harry chocolates spiked with love potion, having purchased the potion as a novelty from a joke shop.<ref name="lovepotion1">{{cite journal |last1=Chattopadhyay |first1=Kabir |last2= |first2= |date=2020 |title='Powerful Infatuations': The Love Potion and Harry Potter's Ethics of Consent |url=https://genderforum.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Complete-Diversifying-YA-and-Childrens-Literature-2020_03.pdf#page=26 |journal=Gender Forum: An Internet Journal for Gender Studies |volume= |issue=75 |pages=22-36 |doi= | ISSN=1613-1878}}</ref> The chocolates are instead consumed by Ron in an incident played mainly for comic effect.<ref name="lovepotion1"/> It is also revealed that Voldemort's witch mother Merope forced his Muggle father Tom to marry and conceive a child with her by continuously dosing him with love potion over an extended period.<ref name="lovepotion1"/> Rowling has never acknowledged that Voldemort's villain origin story involves an act of female-on-male date rape. The closest she came was describing the love potion as "coercion" and a "symbolic way of showing that [Voldemort] came from a loveless union" in 2007.<ref name="lovepotion2">{{cite web |url=https://www.accio-quote.org/articles/2007/0730-bloomsbury-chat.html |title=J.K. Rowling and the Live Chat |last= |first= |date=July 30, 2007 |website= |publisher=|quote=}}</ref> Kabir Chattopadhyay wrote in the journal ''Gender Forum'' in 2020 that Rowling's love potions are a "largely harmless commodity, whose role in manipulating consent is presented not in the sinister context of abuse and gender violence, but in the frivolous, even playful, language of pranks and jokes."<ref name="lovepotion1"/> Chattopadhyay held that "the love potion, in its purpose and intent, is disturbingly similar" to actual date-rape drugs, but that Rowling uses "two major narrative strategies" – a desexualised "image of teenage romantic attention" (Romilda) and an "inversion of the gendered associations" of date rape (Merope) – to "dissociate the love potion from this real-world counterpart."<ref name="lovepotion1"/>

Another commonly cited example of gender essentialism in ''Harry Potter'' is the charmed stairs in Gryffindor Tower barring boys from accessing the girls' dormitory but not the reverse.<ref name="stairs1">{{cite web |url=https://theconversation.com/hogwarts-legacys-game-mechanics-reflect-the-gender-essentialism-at-the-heart-of-harry-potter-199604 |title=Hogwarts Legacy’s game mechanics reflect the gender essentialism at the heart of Harry Potter |last=Arasu |first=Prema |date=February 14, 2023 |website= |publisher=The Conversation |quote=}}</ref> According to Hermione, this is an "old-fashioned rule" set by Hogwarts' founders, in the belief that "boys [are] less trustworthy than girls."<ref name="stairs2">{{cite book |last=Pugh |first=Tison|date=2019 |title=Chaucer's Losers, Nintendo's Children, and Other Forays in Queer Ludonarratology |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EJq4DwAAQBAJ&pg=PA166|publisher= |page=166 |isbn=}}</ref> Tison Pugh wryly observed in 2019 that the school "incorporates gender bias into its very architecture."<ref name="stairs2"/> Not only did Rowling negate the possibility of girls wanting sex or being predators, but, once again, [[#.22Dumbledore_is_gay.22_and_queer-baiting|she conveniently forgot queer people exist]]. As Erin A. Delaney noted in 2007, "Hogwarts is an institution that acknowledges its students' sexuality," but it is only "heterosexual sex that the school guards against."<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Delaney |first1=Erin A. |last2= |first2= |date=2007 |title=Harry Potter: Out of the Cupboard Under the Stairs |url=https://scholarworks.calstate.edu/concern/theses/xs55mh12q |journal=ScholarWorks, California State University |volume= |issue= |pages=30 |doi=}}</ref>

Rowling hailed ''{{w|Lolita}}'' as one of her favourite books in a Radio 4 interview in 2000.<ref name="lolita1">{{cite news |last= Templeton |first=Sarah-Kate |date=May 21, 2000 |title=How Lolita inspired Harry Potter | work= The Sunday Herald| url=https://www.accio-quote.org/articles/2000/0500-heraldsun-templeton.html}}</ref> Rowling described the novel – about a middle-age man's [[child sexual abuse|abduction and rape of his 12-year-old stepdaughter]] – as a "great and tragic love story."<ref name="lolita1"/><ref>Jacob Shamsian (August 1, 2016). [https://www.businessinsider.com/jk-rowling-favorite-books-2016-7#lolitaby-vladimir-nabokov-19 "Here are all of J.K. Rowling's favorite books"]. ''Business Insider''.</ref> She stated that the novel's ending – in which now-teenage Lolita dies in childbirth – "make[s] [her] cry without fail."<ref name="lolita1"/> Fans have pointed to apparent ''Lolita'' references throughout the ''Harry Potter'' series.<ref name="lolita2">{{cite news |last= Granger |first=John |date=February 15, 2017 |title=Harry Potter and Lolita: J. K. Rowling’s ‘Relationship’ with Vladimir Nabokov (Names, Politics, Alchemy, and Parody) | work= Hogwarts Professor| url=https://www.hogwartsprofessor.com/harry-potter-and-lolita-j-k-rowlings-relationship-with-vladimir-nabokov/}}</ref> One would think a best-selling writer would know the difference between a romantic tale and a disturbing story told by an {{w|unreliable narrator||.}} Author {{w|Vladimir Nabokov}} himself was very clear ''Lolita'' is a story about a little girl preyed upon by a "vain and cruel wretch who manages to appear 'touching'."<ref name="lolita3">{{cite news |last= Gold |first=Herbert |date=Summer-Fall 1967 |title=Vladimir Nabokov, The Art of Fiction No. 40 | work= The Paris Review| url=https://www.theparisreview.org/interviews/4310/the-art-of-fiction-no-40-vladimir-nabokov}}</ref> In Rowling's mild defense, however, she's not exactly the only writer with this dubious interpretation. For instance, in a widely blurbed quote from a 1986 ''Vanity Fair'' article on ''Lolita'''s 40th anniversary, the writer praised Nabokov's novel (again, about a literal ''child rapist'') as "the only convincing love story of our century". <ref>https://archive.vanityfair.com/article/1986/8/in-pursuit-of-lolita</ref>

===Unconfirmed/denied Jeffrey Epstein association===
Released documents in 2026 hint at Rowling or her team possibly having made contact with [[Jeffrey Epstein]], though it is unclear in part due to redactions of the files made by Donald Trump's government. An email shows an unknown person requesting that Epstein introduce them to J.K Rowling, suggesting that they believed the two may have known each other in some capacity. Beyond that, how connected Rowling was to Epstein remains unconfirmed.<ref name="PandaJE">[https://www.boredpanda.com/newly-released-epstein-doc-made-harry-potter-fans-furious-with-jk-rowling/ Newly Released Epstein Doc Has ‘Harry Potter’ Fans Furious With JK Rowling], Amita Kumari, ''Bored Panda'' 2 February 2026</ref> Rowling stated in February 2026, "Neither I, nor anybody on my team, ever met, communicated with or invited Jeffrey Epstein to anything."<ref name="EWJE"/>

At least two emails (in 2005 and 2013) appear in the files with a redacted full name and the signature "J x" or "Jx".<ref name="EFTA2005">(September 2005). [https://www.justice.gov/epstein/files/DataSet%2011/EFTA02333181.pdf EFTA / Data Set 11 / "EFTA02333181"]. US Department of Justice.</ref><ref name="EFTA2013">(March 2013). [https://www.justice.gov/epstein/files/DataSet%209/EFTA00957474.pdf EFTA / Data Set 9 / "EFTA00957474"]. US Department of Justice.</ref> Rowling sometimes uses such an abbreviated signature (short for "Jo x" and in turn "Joanne x"),<ref name="PandaJE"/> but with the name being redacted it is impossible to verify whether the "J x" in question was Rowling in either instance. The 2005 email refers to somebody named "Geordie".<ref name="EFTA2005"/> Separately, Rowling has known British newspaper editor {{w|Geordie Greig||,}}<ref>(June 18, 2009). [https://www.theguardian.com/media/gallery/2009/jun/18/alexander-evgeny-lebedev-london-mikhail-gorbachev "The Lebedevs and guests at Raisa Gorbachev charity event"]. ''The Guardian''. {{blockquote|Evening Standard editor Geordie Greig, prime minister's wife Sarah Brown, Harry Potter author JK Rowling, doctor Neil Murray - Mr JK Rowling - and Evgeny Lebedev power-hug for the cameras.}}</ref> and he interviewed her at least as early as 2006.<ref>Geordie Greig (January 10, 2006). [https://www.accio-quote.org/articles/2006/0110-tatler-grieg.html "'There would be so much to tell her...'"]. ''Tatler Magazine'' via ''Accio Quote!''.</ref> It is unknown whether the email refers to the same person. The 2013 email chain identifies the redacted author as a woman who would sarcastically call somebody "wordsmith".<ref name="EFTA2013"/> It's not particularly unusual for British people to sign off a message with an "x".<ref>Marianne Jennings (March 23, 2025). [https://anamericansguidetobritishlife.substack.com/p/the-curious-case-of-the-british-x "The Curious Case of the British 'X'"]. ''An American's Guide to British Life''.</ref> The email's redacted author, however, uses the American-typical spelling for "airplane" rather than the British-standard "aeroplane".<ref name="EFTA2013"/>

A note appears in a photo album within the Epstein files, with a signature possibly reading either "Jo x" or "Xo x". The note references a 2016 wedding,<ref name="EFTA2016">[https://www.justice.gov/epstein/files/DataSet%203/EFTA00005386.pdf EFTA / Data Set 3 / EFTA00005386 / EFTA00005448], page 63 (item 63). US Department of Justice.</ref>{{rp|63}} likely in regards to the secret marriage of Epstein's collaborator, Ghislaine Maxwell, that year.<ref>Kate Duffy (January 3, 2022). [https://www.businessinsider.com/ghislaine-maxwell-husband-scott-borgerson-moved-on-jail-end-marriage-2022-1 "Ghislaine Maxwell's husband told her in a prison phone call that he had 'moved on' with another woman, ending their secretive marriage: report"]. ''Business Insider''.</ref> The handwriting on the note's signature<ref name="EFTA2016"/>{{rp|63}} is different from some publicly available examples of Rowling's own "Jo" or "Jo x" signature, lacking e.g. the horizontal bar on top of the "J".<ref>(2024). [https://natedsandersauctionblog.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/72953_A_lg-scaled.jpeg Letter by JK Rowling], via Nate D Sanders Auctions blog. [https://archive.ph/1K47A (Archived version)].</ref><ref>[https://portal-images.azureedge.net/auctions-2025/srsw10225/images/26e53ca7-5cf0-4324-a97f-b34f01533840.jpg Note by JK Rowling], via The Saleroom. [https://archive.ph/gE4lE (Archived version)].</ref> Epstein knew other people who plausibly could have been nicknamed "Jo", especially his butler, Jo Jo Fontanella.<ref>Rhian Lubin and James Liddell (September 3, 2025). [https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/epstein-files-list-trump-bondi-b2819340.html "The Epstein List: All the names revealed before Trump and Bondi said there was nothing to see"]. ''The Independent''.</ref>

Other emails appear to show that J.K. Rowling's team invited Epstein to the 2016 premiere of ''Harry Potter and the Cursed Child'' as well as to attend a dinner invitation; this was long after Epstein had been convicted in 2007 of soliciting a prostitute who was a minor (he was charged with many other sex crimes at the time but received a sweetheart plea deal to avoid a trial). Rowling denies ever inviting Epstein to the dinner, and the emails show he wasn't able to enter due to not being on the guest list.<ref name="EWJE">Mekishana Pierre (February 4, 2026). [https://ew.com/j-k-rowling-denies-inviting-jeffrey-epstein-to-harry-potter-broadway-opening-11899445 "J.K. Rowling denies she invited Jeffrey Epstein to Harry Potter and the Cursed Child opening"]. ''Entertainment Weekly''.</ref>

==Cormoran Strike series==
{{cquote|''Troubled Blood'' is not fun, and it's not playful. It feels bloated and resentful, turgid with an ethos of grim duty. It's the writing of someone who feels she has no choice but to bring some home truths to you, the reader, and damn the consequences.|||''Vox'' literary critic Constance Grady summing up the novel's nauseating tone in a nutshell, but also probably the general direction of the series going forward.<ref>https://www.vox.com/culture/21449215/troubled-blood-review-jk-rowling-transphobia-controversy</ref>}}

Since finishing the ''Harry Potter'' series, Rowling has focused on a new series, adult detective novels featuring ex-military policeman Cormoran Strike and his female assistant Robin Ellacott. These are published under the [[pseudonym]] Robert Galbraith. Some have also been adapted for television by the [[BBC]] and HBO.<ref>[https://www.bbc.com/mediacentre/2022/strike-troubled-blood Tom Burke and Holliday Grainger return in Strike - Troubled Blood], BBC press release, 2022</ref>

In the beginning, it wasn't known that Galbraith was Rowling. But then the first book, ''The Cuckoo's Calling'' (2013), was rejected by some publishing firms and sold just 1,500 copies once it did find a publisher. Her [[lawyer]] then proceeded to leak the fact that the novel was authored by Rowling to his "wife's best friend". The sales for the book then skyrocketed after ''[[The Sunday Times]]'' reported it.<ref>James Meikle (July 18, 2013). [https://www.theguardian.com/books/2013/jul/18/jk-rowling-anger-lawyers-secret-identity "JK Rowling directs anger at lawyers after secret identity revealed"]. ''[[The Guardian]]''.</ref><ref> Adam Taylor (July 15, 2013). [https://www.businessinsider.com/the-cuckoos-calling-reveals-a-lot-about-publishing-2013-7 "Every Aspiring Author Should Be Depressed By J.K. Rowling's Pseudonymous Publishing Stunt"]. ''Business Insider''.</ref> It is completely impossible that this "leak" was actually staged as a financial decision.

Initially, the books seemed to be unexceptional genre works, but that changed when Rowling started to inject her increasingly strange beliefs about trans people and other issues. Over time, it started to become obvious that Rowling was writing these airport novels as an exhibitionist way to vent her own personal obsessions and prejudices into fiction. At first it was subtle; book two, ''The Silkworm'' (2014), features two trans characters who are portrayed in a relatively sympathetic fashion, although Strike is rude to them and threatens one with prison [[rape]].<ref name=gradyvox/>

Book three, ''Career of Evil'' (2015), is about an online community of people who wish to be disabled and have limbs amputated to meet their desire. {{w|Body integrity dysphoria}} is a real condition, but to some people, it felt like Rowling was using these people who wished to be disabled as a way to attack or mock trans people, whom she viewed as similarly deluded.<ref name=gradyvox/>

''Lethal White'' (2018), book four in the series, features a pair of far-left villains who hate [[Israel]] so much that they became antisemitic.<ref name="JTAIsrael"/> (See: [[J.K. Rowling#Other political views|J. K. Rowling § Other political views]].)

Controversy increased with book five: ''Troubled Blood'' (2020) features a serial killer who disguises himself in [[drag]] in order to assault woman in public restrooms. Naturally, this was read in the light of Rowling's hostility to trans people and belief that trans women are all men dressing as women to attack cis women. It also contains a lot of criticism of 21<sup>st</sup> century [[feminism]] for being [[sex-positivity|sex-positive]], pro-[[porn]], holding [[SlutWalk]]s to oppose slut shaming, etc, as well as gender essentialist undertones in regards to the behavior of men and women.<ref name=gradyvox>[https://www.vox.com/culture/21449215/troubled-blood-review-jk-rowling-transphobia-controversy J.K. Rowling’s transphobic new novel sees her at the mercy of all her worst impulses], Constance Grady, ''Vox'', September 3, 2020</ref> In addition to transphobic stereotypes, several passages in the novel also have a perverse fixation with fat people; filled with bizarre paragraphs that detail in unnecessary length the eating habits and appearances of overweight characters in a less-than-flattering matter and whose behavior is an almost cartoonish portrayal of obesity in what is supposed to be a serious crime thriller.<ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cHTMidTLO60</ref> As to the reasons behind these baffling creative decisions is due to Rowling despising fat people or just [[Psychological projection|psychologically projecting]] her own body image insecurities unto fictional characters remains unclear, however. This is even more puzzling when considering Rowling has spoken against society using weight as an insult before.<ref>Paul Kelbie (April 6, 2006). [https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/this-britain/rowling-rails-at-fashion-s-obsession-with-weight-6104519.html "Rowling rails at fashion's obsession with weight"]. ''The Independent''.</ref>

This was followed by book six, ''The Ink Black Heart'' (2022), which is about a cartoonist who is [[Doxxing|doxxed]] and ultimately [[murder]]ed after antagonising [[woke]] online [[troll]]s with remarks about a [[hermaphrodite]] worm that are considered transphobic. Rowling insists any resemblance to her life is coincidental; most people don't believe her (not even ''[[The Daily Telegraph]]'').<ref name="Roundtree">Cheyenne Roundtree (August 29, 2022). [https://web.archive.org/web/20220830183434/https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-news/j-k-rowlings-latest-book-ink-black-heart-transphobic-views-1234582911/ "J.K. Rowling's New Book Just So Happens to Feature a Character Persecuted Over Transphobia"]. ''Rolling Stone''.</ref><ref>Mey Rude (August 30, 2022). [https://www.out.com/books/2022/8/30/jk-rowlings-new-book-about-creator-doxxed-over-transphobia "J.K. Rowling's New Book Is About a Creator Doxxed Over Transphobia"]. ''Out''.</ref> Not exactly subtle Joanne.

In the seventh book, ''The Running Grave'' (2023), the apparent connection between Rowling's real-world views and this fictional storyline is built upon further. Some drew parallels between the abusive [[cult]] present in the seventh installment and the way Rowling views her political opponents. The cult is described as (aside from the abusive behavior typical of any real-world cult) expressing positions in favor of various [[social justice]] causes. A typical profile of a cult recruit is described as someone with dyed-blue hair, most likely a [[dogwhistle|coded]] reference to right-wing stereotypes of LGBTQ people and liberals/progressives having unnaturally colored hair to signal strangeness and non-conformity.<ref>https://ohiofusion.com/the-blue-haired-liberal/</ref><ref>https://www.wired.com/story/portland-blue-hair-stereotype/</ref> They are also said to predate on [[Autism|autistic]] people and [[Lesbianism|lesbians]], and one of its fictional critics is a "patron of several charities" with a "reputation for intelligence and integrity". Again, nothing terribly subtle here.<ref name="RunningGrave"/>

===About that pen name…===

There is also a curious coincidence that the pseudonym Robert Galbraith is very similar to the name of {{w|Robert Galbraith Heath||,}} a controversial psychiatrist. He experimented on black people; Harry Bailey, a research partner of his, stated that the two experimented on black people because it was "cheaper to use [[nigger]]s than cats because they were everywhere", though Heath later denied knowing Bailey.<ref>Slattery, J.P. (1990). "Report of the Royal Commission into Deep Sleep Therapy". ''New South Wales Parliamentary Paper''. 304/1990-1991. {{Isbn|0724087664}}.</ref><ref>Deborah Cameron (October 8, 1988). [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-mkultra-austra/7536346/ "The CIA link to deep-sleep research"] (page 11). ''The Sydney Morning Herald''.</ref><ref>Carl Bernofsky. [https://www.tulanelink.com/tulanelink/twoviews_04a.htm "Changing People's Minds, Tulane Style: A Tale From Two Perspectives"]. ''TulaneLink''.</ref> He also experimented on the mentally ill and pioneered [[conversion therapy]] for gay men, including the use of electric shocks.

Rowling's spokesperson said she was unaware of the existence of Heath when she chose the pseudonym and that she had long been fond of the name "Galbraith". The spokesperson also pointed to Rowling's original explanation for the pseudonym's origin in 2013.<ref name="NolanGalbraith">Emma Nolan (September 16, 2020). [https://www.newsweek.com/why-jk-rowling-robert-galbraith-pseudonym-gay-conversion-robert-galbraith-heath-1532341 "Why J.K. Rowling's 'Robert Galbraith' Pseudonym is Linked to Harmful Conversion Therapist"]. ''Newsweek''.</ref> She had then stated: "When I was a child, I really wanted to be called 'Ella Galbraith', and I've no idea why. I don't even know how I knew that the surname existed, because I can't remember ever meeting anyone with it." She attributed her choice of "Robert" to her admiration for [[Robert F. Kennedy]].<ref>Liz Bury (July 24, 2013). [https://www.theguardian.com/books/2013/jul/24/jk-rowling-robert-galbraith-harry-potter "JK Rowling tells story of alter ego Robert Galbraith"]. ''The Guardian''.</ref><ref>Margaret Lyons (July 24, 2013). [https://www.vulture.com/2013/07/jk-rowling-explains-her-pseudonym.html "J.K. Rowling Explains Her Pseudonym"]. ''Vulture''.</ref>

Robert Colvile, the author of a 2016 article about Robert Galbraith Heath, claimed Rowling "could not have known about" Heath in 2013 when she chose the name, because it came before his article and "everyone had forgotten" about Heath.<ref name="TERFmerchToF">Arturo Garcia (September 24, 2020). [https://www.truthorfiction.com/jk-rowling-terf-merch/ "Did J.K. Rowling Promote a Website Selling Transphobic Merchandise?"]. ''Truth or Fiction?''.</ref> In actual fact, Heath's [[Wikipedia]] page was created in 2007, and from the point of creation made reference in-text to his experiments on black people, and view of them as "animals"; a citation referenced one of Heath's conversion therapy experiments in its title.<ref>(February 5, 2007). [https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Robert_Galbraith_Heath&oldid=105962033 "Robert Galbraith Heath"] (old revision). ''Wikipedia''.</ref> A winter 2006 article in ''The New Atlantis'' (a conservative journal),<ref>Adam Keiper (Winter 2006). [https://www.thenewatlantis.com/publications/the-age-of-neuroelectronics "The Age of Neuroelectronics"]. ''The New Atlantis''.</ref> a September 2008 article in the neuroscience blog ''Mind Hacks'',<ref>Vaughan Bell (September 16, 2008). [https://mindhacks.com/2008/09/16/erotic-self-stimulation-and-brain-implants/ "Erotic self-stimulation and brain implants"]. ''Mind Hacks''.</ref> an October 2010 article in Vice's ''Motherboard'',<ref>Don Caldwell (October 18, 2010). [https://www.vice.com/en/article/ezzvem/wireheading-1950s-wetware-hacking "Wireheading: This Strange Experiment from the 1950s Wired Pleasure Directly Into the Brain"]. ''Motherboard''. Vice.</ref> an April 2012 ''CRC Press'' book,<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=O6q8SbgeWjwC&q=heath#v=snippet&q=heath&f=false "Neurotechnology: Premises, Potential, and Problems"], p. 151. ''CRC Press''.</ref> and a May 2012 article in ''[[Scientific American]]''<ref>John Horgan (May 14, 2012). [https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/cross-check/what-are-sciences-ugliest-experiments/ "What Are Science's Ugliest Experiments?"]. ''Cross-Check''. Scientific American.</ref> all discussed Heath's brutal experiments, and half the time named him in full as "Robert Galbraith Heath". To state that she ''could not have known about this guy'' is completely inaccurate, although it is likely to have been an accidental coincidence in any case. Even if she ''did'' know, it's much more likely that she simply didn't care, rather than secretly having some kind of twisted admiration for a homophobic [[mad scientist]].

==Other political views==
{{cquote|''Because bigotry is probably the thing I detest most. All forms of intolerance, the whole idea of “that which is different from me is necessary evil.” I really like to explore the idea that difference is equal and good. But there's another idea that I like to explore, too. Oppressed groups are not, generally speaking, people who stand firmly together – no, sadly, they kind of subdivide among themselves and fight like hell. That's human nature, so that's what you see here. This world of wizards and witches, they're already ostracized, and then within themselves, they've formed a loathsome pecking order.''|||JK Rowling explaining why she included themes of bigotry in her books<ref name=jensen>Jeff Jensen, "[https://ew.com/books/2000/08/04/jk-rowling-harry-potter-and-goblet-fire/ J.K. Rowling talks about writing Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire]", ''Entertainment Weekly'', September 7, 2000</ref>}}

In a 2000 interview, Rowling described herself as left-wing.<ref name=jensen/> As early as 2002, Rowling claimed that one of her biggest writing influences had been {{w|Jessica Mitford||,}} whom she described as a "self-taught [[socialist]]" (Mitford had also been a member of the [[CPUSA|Communist Party of the United States]] until 1958).<ref> Lindsay Fraser, ''The Scotsman'', November 2002, archived at [https://www.accio-quote.org/articles/2002/1102-fraser-scotsman.html Accio Quote!]</ref> She also donated to Labour<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2008/sep/20/labourconference.jkrowling JK Rowling gives Labour £1m donation], 20 September 2008</ref> and was openly supportive of the [[Welfare policy of the United Kingdom|British welfare state]]<ref>[https://www.taxfairness.ca/en/news/j-k-rowling-paying-taxes-and-welfare-state JK Rowling on paying taxes and the welfare state]</ref> in the late 2000s. In April 2010, she wrote a Single Mother's Manifesto criticising Tory austerity and [[David Cameron]].<ref>[https://blogs.warwick.ac.uk/morleyd/entry/jk_rowling_the/ The Single Mother's Manifesto], originally pushed in The Times</ref>

However, she was very critical of [[Jeremy Corbyn]], a remnant of Labour's Old Left,<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/aug/31/this-isnt-bloody-funny-jk-rowling-laments-corbyns-strong-position JK Rowling gave "blast of reality" on Jeremy Corbyn]</ref> and mocked his (honestly mediocre and half-assed) stance on [[Brexit]].<ref name=jeremy>[https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2018/dec/23/jk-rowling-mocks-jeremy-corbyn-brexit-stance-twitter-thread JK Rowling mocks "Saint Jeremy" over Brexit]. The Guardian, 23 December 2018.</ref> This was driven by fear that it would lead to a repeat of {{w|the longest suicide note in history||,}} which resulted in the Tories, under Margaret Thatcher, winning re-election in 1983 and control over national politics until 1997.<ref name=jeremy/><ref>[https://www.vox.com/2016/9/1/12749364/jk-rowling-jeremy-corbyn-twitter-row JK Rowling is in a massive Twitter war about the future of progressive politics in Britain]</ref>

Rowling expressed her opposition to [[Scottish National Party|Scottish independence]] at the time of the 2014 independence referendum, donating £1m to the anti-independence group Better Together.<ref>Alexandra Siierlin, [https://time.com/3305015/j-k-rowling-twitter-scotland-independence/ J.K. Rowling Tweets Her Opposition to Scottish Independence], ''Time'', 8 September 2014.</ref><ref name="DeathEaterish>Jill Lawless (June 11, 2014). [https://apnews.com/general-news-d994577248e448b58a60710ea49933f1 "JK Rowling comes out against Scottish independence"]. ''The Associated Press''.</ref> This didn't endear her to some Scottish Nationalists, and she received online abuse, which caused her to double down in her opposition to independence, accusing Scottish nationalists of bigotry; she also called out the "blood and soil" ethnonationalists [[Siol nan Gaidheal]], who are certainly bigots but whose membership is so small they can hardly be considered representative of anything.<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/books/2018/jul/06/jk-rowling-attacked-for-saying-scottish-nationalism-contains-traces-of-bigotry JK Rowling attacked for saying Scottish nationalism 'contains traces of bigotry'], The Guardian, 6 July 2018</ref> Predicting some in the independence movement would discard her opinion due to being born and raised in England, she called the idea "Death Eaterish".<ref name="DeathEaterish/>

In 2015, she signed a letter stating that "cultural [[boycott]]s singling out Israel are divisive and discriminatory, and will not further peace."<ref name="InsiderIsrael">Megan Willett-Wei (October 27, 2015). [https://www.businessinsider.com/jk-rowlings-harry-potter-essay-on-palestine-and-israel-2015-10 "J.K. Rowling wrote about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict using her 'Harry Potter' characters as examples"]. ''Business Insider''.</ref><ref>(October 22, 2015). [https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/oct/22/israel-needs-cultural-bridges-not-boycotts-letter-from-jk-rowling-simon-schama-and-others "Letters: Israel needs cultural bridges, not boycotts – letter from JK Rowling, Simon Schama and others"]. ''The Guardian''.</ref><ref>(October 23, 2015). [https://www.timesofisrael.com/jk-rowling-tops-list-of-uk-artists-opposing-israel-boycott/ "J. K. Rowling tops list of UK artists opposing Israel boycott"]. ''The Times of Israel''.</ref> In response to criticism of this, she wrote a bizarre essay which criticized Israel (though particularly [[Netanyahu]]), but also argued young Harry Potter would be upset with her decision not to boycott Israel. Dumbledore and an older Harry Potter would have agreed with her refusal to boycott Israel, she added.<ref>Sam Kriss (November 2, 2015). [https://www.vice.com/en/article/4wb7j3/what-harry-potter-cant-tell-us-about-the-israel-palestine-conflict-830 "JK Rowling's Weird, Nonsensical Claim That Dumbledore Would Have Been Against a Boycott of Israel"]. ''Vice''. [https://web.archive.org/web/20231016171341/https://www.vice.com/en/article/4wb7j3/what-harry-potter-cant-tell-us-about-the-israel-palestine-conflict-830 (Archived version)].</ref><ref name="InsiderIsrael"/><ref>Gita Jackson (October 3, 2018). [https://kotaku.com/j-k-rowling-needs-to-stop-messing-with-harry-potter-1829503693 "J.K. Rowling Needs To Stop Messing With Harry Potter"]. ''Kotaku''.</ref> Some ''Harry Potter'' fans were reportedly "heartbroken" at her apparent anti-BDS ("Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions") stance.<ref name="GL2015"/> One of Rowling's literary agents, {{w|Neil Blair (agent)|Neil Blair|,}} has been involved with Israel-linked and funded NGOs.<ref name="GL2015">Sarah Irving (November 4, 2015). [https://www.greenleft.org.au/2015/1075/culture/harry-potter-fans-heartbroken-jk-rowlings-israel-support "Harry Potter fans 'heartbroken' by JK Rowling's Israel support"]. ''Green Left''.</ref><ref>(August 18, 2022). [https://www.jewishnews.co.uk/neil-blair-jk-rowling-agent-takes-the-helm-at-british-friends-of-united-hatzalah/ "JK Rowling agent takes the helm at British Friends of United Hatzalah"]. ''Jewish News''.</ref> In 2018, she released a Cormoran Strike novel featuring a pair of far-left "Israel-hating antisemites" as the villains.<ref name="JTAIsrael">Yvette Alt Miller (September 23, 2018). [https://web.archive.org/web/20221204114409/https://www.haaretz.com/world-news/europe/2018-09-23/ty-article/in-j-k-rowlings-new-novel-a-villain-is-an-israel-hating-anti-semite/0000017f-e9f3-da9b-a1ff-edff118a0000 "In J.K. Rowling’s New Novel, the Villain Is an Israel-hating anti-Semite"]. ''Jewish Telegraphic Agency'', via Haaretz.</ref> In a 2025 response to a potshot Rowling took at him, journalist [[Owen Jones]] criticized Rowling for her total silence about Israel's genocidal conduct in the Gaza war (2023–).<ref>Owen Jones (July 7, 2025). [https://www.owenjones.news/p/jk-rowlings-silence-on-gazas-murdered "JK Rowling's silence on Gaza's murdered women"]. ''BattleLines''.</ref>{{efn|As of 2025, the {{w|Gaza genocide}} was recognized as such by the International Association of Genocide Scholars, as well as the Israeli human rights groups B’Tselem and Physicians for Human Rights-Israel.<ref>(September 1, 2025). [https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/leading-genocide-scholars-organization-says-israel-is-committing-genocide-in-gaza "Leading genocide scholars organization says Israel is committing genocide in Gaza"]. ''PBS''.</ref> Numerous civil organizations such as [[Human Rights Watch]] and [[Amnesty International]] (who Rowling used to work for), along with various countries and the United Nations' human rights experts, joined {{w|South Africa's genocide case against Israel}} at the International Court of Justice.<ref>{{wpa|South Africa's genocide case against Israel}}</ref><ref>(January 31, 2024). [https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2024/01/gaza-icj-ruling-offers-hope-protection-civilians-enduring-apocalyptic "Gaza: ICJ ruling offers hope for protection of civilians enduring apocalyptic conditions, say UN experts"]. The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.</ref> See also: {{w|Intent and incitement in the Gaza genocide||.}}}}

Rowling told off [[Vladimir Putin]] when he had the gall to compare Western sanctions against Russia to Rowling being "canceled" for her TERF views.<ref>Arnaud Siad, Nathan Hodge and Toyin Owoseje, [https://edition.cnn.com/2022/03/25/world/jk-rowling-putin-intl-scli-gbr/index.html J.K. Rowling hits back at Putin after he likened Russia to her in rant against cancel culture]. CNN, 25 March 2022.</ref> In apparent response to her stance, a group of Russian trolls pranked her, convincing her that she was in a video conference with [[Volodymyr Zelenskyy]]. Roughly fifteen minutes of strange nonsense ensued, with Rowling agreeing to "look into" changing Harry Potter's scar due to its similarity to the Russian {{w|Z (military symbol)|"Z" symbol|.}} She endorsed pressure on Russia "culturally and economically", in response to a question about how "not to promote Russian culture" such as music.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20220624162331/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VRtGHtYTm6k "J.K. Rowling pranked by Russian pranksters"].</ref><ref>James Hibberd (June 23, 2022). [https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/j-k-rowling-volodymyr-zelensky-zoom-prank-1235170917/ "J.K. Rowling Pranked by Russians Impersonating Ukraine President Zelensky on Zoom Call"]. ''The Hollywood Reporter''.</ref>{{efn|Obviously, she learned this was a prank afterwards. But now you know that Harry Potter with a Ukrainian trident for a scar was almost canon. At least if [https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/WordOfGod Word of God] equals canon to you.}}

==See also==
*[[Anita Bryant]], another celebrity whose subsequent bigotry against LBGTQ people has completely overshadowed her legacy.
*[[Philosopher's stone]]
*[[Tatsuya Ishida]], another once-popular writer turned TERF (and in his case, later turned neo-Nazi).

==External links==
*[https://www.skeptic.com/eskeptic/11-07-13/ Religion in Harry Potter] — ''Skeptic''
*[https://boolean-union.com/dissections/boolunion/truthyouth/BU.TTODD.TFY12.PART1.html Boolean Union Tract Dissections review of The Truth For Youth's ''Hairy Polarity and the Sinister Sorcery Satire'' comic]
*[https://www.theguardian.com/books/booksblog/2007/jul/17/harrypottersbigconisthep Harry Potter's big con is the prose]
*[https://www.nytimes.com/2003/07/07/opinion/harry-potter-and-the-childish-adult.html Harry Potter and the childish adult]
*[https://www.vox.com/culture/23622610/jk-rowling-transphobic-statements-timeline-history-controversy "Is J.K. Rowling transphobic? Let’s let her speak for herself."] — ''[[Vox (website)|Vox]]''
*[[ContraPoints]] video [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7gDKbT_l2us on J. K. Rowling]
*[[Shaun]]'s videos [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-1iaJWSwUZs on Harry Potter] and [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ou_xvXJJk7k JK Rowling's New Friends]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20180711170315/https://ferretbrain.com/articles/article-161.html Harry Potter and the Doctrine of the Calvinists]

==Notes==
{{reflist|group=note}}

==References==
{{reflist|2|80%}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Rowling, JK}}
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Categories: Ableism, Alt-lite, Antisemites, Autism woo, Authors, British people, Christians, Cult leaders, Denialists, Epsteinsphere, Holocaust denialists, Leftists who turned right with age, Liberals, Living people, Media hysteria, Moral panics, Pseudoscience promoters, Racists, Rape culture, Slavery apologists, TERFs, Trolls, Homophobes