JK Rowling has unleashed a torrent of criticism towards some of her former Harry Potter collaborators in her latest book, amid a sprawling dispute with key figures from the beloved series.
In her forthcoming book titled The Women Who Wouldn’t Say Wheesht, Rowling doesn’t hold back, branding certain former colleagues as ‘despicable.’ This juicy tidbit comes from an excerpt shared exclusively with The Times.
The snippet from her book dives into what Rowling perceives as a battle for women’s rights and the significant ‘backlash’ she has encountered due to her outspoken views on gender ideology.
Daniel Radcliffe and Emma Watson, stars who rose to fame through the Harry Potter series, have publicly supported the transgender community, directly opposing Rowling’s stance. Rowling responded sharply, suggesting they could ‘save their apologies’ as she remains uninterested in mending fences.
Radcliffe expressed his dismay about the growing rift with Rowling in a conversation with The Atlantic, noting it’s ‘sad’ how distant they’ve become. He acknowledged Rowling’s pivotal role in his career but maintained, “But that doesn’t mean that you owe the things you truly believe to someone else for your entire life.”
Further in her book, Rowling reveals her lack of surprise at the reactions from some colleagues, detailing how quickly they distanced themselves or condemned her views. However, she also noted that while many current and former colleagues have shown their support, it was unexpected that some wished to maintain their friendship, reaching out personally or through intermediaries.
Rowling’s commentary doesn’t shy away from the contentious. She criticizes the no-debate culture among those she once saw as advocates for free speech and challenges the safety assessments regarding trans individuals in single-sex spaces, an issue causing significant debate globally.
“Better that a hundred women who aren’t up to speed with the latest gender jargon miss public health information than that one trans-identified individual feels invalidated, seems to be the view,” Rowling writes, encapsulating the heart of the controversy from her perspective.
If these discussions stir up feelings or if you just need someone to talk to, consider reaching out to the LGBT national hotline at 888-843-4564, available Monday to Friday from 4pm-12am ET and on Saturdays from 12pm-5pm ET.