Harry Potter creator JK Rowling has been called out for praising far-right commentator Matt Walsh's anti-trans film What Is a Woman? that has been making the social media rounds.
Walsh recently tweeted in disgust at singer Macy Gray for walking back the harmful comments about trans women in a recent interview with Piers Morgan. After initially suggesting that trans women aren’t women in her in that interview, Gray has since said that trans women are who they are.
“I think it takes a lot of courage to be yourself, to go out in the world and be honest about who you are. And so I think anyone who is in the LGBT community is a hero and sets an example for all of us,” Gray told the Today Show. “I said some things that didn’t go over well, but my intention was never to hurt anybody. I feel bad that I did hurt some people.”
She added,
“Being a woman is a vibe, and it’s something that I’m very proud of. And it’s very precious to me and I think that if you, in your heart, feel that that’s what you are, then that’s what you are regardless of what anybody says or thinks.”
Walsh said Gray’s latest statements were a sign of “gutless cowardice.”
“Sorry but women who publicly renounce the definition of ‘woman’ for fear of mean comments from trans activists deserve all the scorn they get. That kind of gutless cowardice is exactly what got us into this position in the first place,” he tweeted.
Meanwhile, Rowling replied,
“Endless death and rape threats, threats of loss of livelihood, employers targeted, physical harassment, family address posted online with [a] picture of bomb-making manual aren’t ‘mean comments.’ If you don't yet understand what happens to women who stand up on this issue, back off.”
\u201cEndless death and rape threats, threats of loss of livelihood, employers targeted, physical harassment, family address posted online with picture of bomb-making manual aren't 'mean comments'. If you don't yet understand what happens to women who stand up on this issue, back off.\u201d— J.K. Rowling (@J.K. Rowling) 1657463950
Walsh then responded to Rowling that he’s experienced such attacks and threats due to his recent transphobic documentary What Is a Woman? that has been roundly condemned for its depiction of trans women.
He added that he respected Rowling’s “courage” in voicing her views, writing “But many people have simply caved to the demands of trans activists and completely surrendered truth and reality to them. The cowards are also villains in this story. They need to be held accountable.”
While Rowling criticized Walsh’s attack on Gray, she gave his film a solid rating.
“And your film did a good job exposing the incoherence of gender identity theory and some of the harms it’s done. Many institutions I used to admire have uncritically embraced this dogma, but I reserve my ire for them rather than shouting ‘coward’ at individual women,” Rowling wrote.
\u201cI respect the courage you've shown on this issue, @jk_rowling. But many people have simply caved to the demands of trans activists and completely surrendered truth and reality to them. The cowards are also villains in this story. They need to be held accountable.\u201d— Matt Walsh (@Matt Walsh) 1657468360
Twitter users slammed Rowling for the interaction and for praising Walsh’s transphobic work.
\u201cJK Rowling knows she can't be harsh on Matt Walsh because Gender Critical and TERFs are so cozied up to right wing anti-feminism that they are inseparable.\n\nWhen orgs like WoLF (terf group) partner with the Heritage Foundation (anti abortion group), this should surprise no one.\u201d— Erin Reed (@Erin Reed) 1657508692
\u201cMy new favorite genre is TERF's like JK Rowling praising christofascists for their transphobia.\n\nPeople need to wake up at how transphobia is being used as a gateway to radicalize wealthy white women into reactionary fascist views.\u201d— Alejandra Caraballo (@Alejandra Caraballo) 1657484214
\u201cNothing to see here.\nJust a children's author praising a self-defined fascist.\n\nTrans hatred is part of the far right culture wars. These people are patriarchal theocrats who would imprison gays and take birth control away from women.\n\nJKR is so far down the rabbit hole now. \ud83d\ude31\u201d— Cr\u00e9mantCommunarde \ud83c\udf0d \ud83e\udde1\ud83c\udf24 (@Cr\u00e9mantCommunarde \ud83c\udf0d \ud83e\udde1\ud83c\udf24) 1657519637
Rowling has been outspoken over her TERF, an acronym for “trans-exclusionary radical feminist,” views for several years now. Her comments against trans women have caused many Harry Potter film stars to distance themselves from the author and her views.
- First U.S. Monkeypox-Related Death Reported in Texas - Advocate Channel ›
- Fired Over Gay Guest Speaker, Former Tenured Professor Files Lawsuit ›
