JK Rowling defends anti-transgender comments: Cancel culture is ‘the language of a dictator’
Heather Hamilton
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Harry Potter series author J.K. Rowling has clapped back at threats she’s faced since making comments in defense of using biological sex as the standard for how a man or woman is defined.
During her latest episode of The Witch Trials of J.K. Rowling podcast, Rowling addressed people’s attempts to cancel her following a series of tweets that she suggested was like tossing a “hand grenade” onto the internet.
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Rowling explained that she first became upset while reading an article in 2020 that used the gender-inclusive language of “people who menstruate.”
“I’m coming to that article on the background of what I see as huge injustice and people trying to shut women down,” Rowling said. “So I was angry, and I was flippant.”
Rowling said that’s when she took to Twitter to quip: “’People who menstruate.’ I’m sure there used to be a word for those people. Someone help me out. Wumben? Wimpund? Woomud?”
“Did I mean to drop a hand grenade in? No. I was just keeping a rein on my own fury,” Rowling said of that initial tweet. “So off it went.”
The famous author has maintained her stance despite backlash. Most recently, in January, she rejected any biological male’s attempt to define what a woman is, telling critics “real misogyny” is found in men telling women how to behave, think, or feel.
Yet Rowling acknowledged she’s also received support for her stance and expressed her gratefulness.
“I have to tell you, a ton of Potter fans were still with me. And in fact, a ton of Potter fans were grateful that I’d said what I said,” Rowling added.
Rowling noted that those who have blasted her and said they would hold her “accountable” are missing the point.
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“Look, I’ve heard this all the time. ‘We’re holding you accountable. We’re holding you accountable,’” Rowling said. “Well, I would say this: I’m a great believer in looking at not what people say but what they do. How are you behaving?”
“If you are threatening, if you are threatening to remove livelihoods, if you are saying, ‘This person is canceled.’ That is the language of a dictator,” she continued. “I mean, I’ve literally lost count of the number of times I’ve seen the hashtag #RIPJKRowling floating around. I don’t call that being held accountable.”