J.K. Rowling Faces Furious Backlash After Voicing Support For Researcher Who Lost Job Over Transgender Tweets

J.K. Rowling has been slammed online after voicing her support for Maya Forstater, who lost her job at a think tank over comments she made about people not being able to change their biological sex.

The Guardian reported Wednesday that a judge ruled Forstater’s views did “not have the protected characteristic of philosophical belief,” after she took her company to court.

After hearing the latest news, Rowling posted:

Dress however you please.
Call yourself whatever you like.
Sleep with any consenting adult who’ll have you.
Live your best life in peace and security.
But force women out of their jobs for stating that sex is real? #IStandWithMaya #ThisIsNotADrill

— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) December 19, 2019

Forstater, who was a visiting fellow at the Centre for Global Development, previously tweeted:

What I am so surprised at is that smart people who I admire, who are absolutely pro-science in other areas, and champion human rights & womens rights are tying themselves in knots to avoid saying the truth that men cannot change into women (because that might hurt mens feelings)

— Maya Forstater (@MForstater) September 30, 2018

Rowling’s message has been widely criticized on Twitter, with many accusing her of being transphobic. See some of the reaction below.

JK Rowling gave the world an incredible gift with Harry Potter. That does not mean she is above criticism or justifiable anger. She has proven time and time again that she is not only transphobic, but unwilling to unlearn her prejudices. Hate to say it, but we do not stan.

— Sophia Elaine Hanson (@authorsehanson) December 19, 2019

Trans folks for years now: “hey yo, jk Rowling is transphobic, pls don’t support her”

Y’all: “oh you’re just making that up, she would never”

JK Rowling, today: pic.twitter.com/AI9ov7UfuJ

— Freezing Scott (@thaDiffptcg) December 19, 2019

#IStandWithMaya I don’t! Shes transphobic and is a TERF. Just like JK Rowling. You’re entitled to believe whatever you want to believe but to openly spew bigotry and to imply thats trans women are predators is gross pic.twitter.com/ujInzqAZjv

— tyler (@tyleranny) December 19, 2019

You're defending intentional cruelty. Her contract wasn't renewed because she was INTENTIONALLY HARASSING TRANS PEOPLE. pic.twitter.com/tFosDhKUff

— Amanda *🎨daily* wants kids out of cages for xmas (@juuust_amanda) December 19, 2019

Just because you retroactively made Dumbledore gay doesn't mean you get to be the supreme arbiter of queer issues Rowling, stop spreading this dangerous transphobic rhetoric

— Jingle Elle Maruska (they/them) (@ellle_em) December 19, 2019

The “Harry Potter” author’s rep refused to comment when contacted by ET Canada.