Potter fans were shocked by the author’s controversial tweets about gender identity.
J.K. Rowling, who has often come under fire for her bold and sometimes controversial social media posts, has once again sparked backlash after posting a series tweets mocking a headline that read “people who menstruate.”
“‘People who menstruate.’ I’m sure there used to be a word for those people,” Rowling tweeted on Saturday. “Someone help me out. Wumben? Wimpund? Woomud?”
Rowling went on to write, “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.”
‘People who menstruate.’ I’m sure there used to be a word for those people. Someone help me out. Wumben? Wimpund? Woomud?
Opinion: Creating a more equal post-COVID-19 world for people who menstruate https://t.co/cVpZxG7gaA
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) June 6, 2020
Rowling’s name began trending on Twitter and many accused her of transphobia. In the past, the author has been accused of being transphobic due to her comments. Anger, sadness and frustration ensued on social media, and even Daniel Radcliffe, who does not have a public presence on social media, wrote Rowling a heartfelt response. The actor wrote a blog post for The Trevor Project, a non-profit that works towards preventing suicide among LGBTQ+ youth.
Radcliffe stated that “Transgender women are women.” He followed this statement by writing that anything said otherwise “erases the identity and dignity” of those who identify as transgender. Radcliffe has worked with The Trevor Project for the last decade and has called for more support for transgender and nonbinary people.
The Harry Potter actor then addressed fans of the Wizarding World who felt as though their experience of the books has been “tarnished or diminished.” He apologized for the pain Rowling’s comments caused and encouraged fans to hold strong to the lessons they learned from the books and the stories that resonated with them.