Jonathan Ross has defended JK Rowling on Twitter after the Harry Potter author was criticised for “anti-trans” tweets.
The author has once again found herself facing a backlash, this time for after tweeting about an article advocating for more equal rights for people who menstruate.
Rowling, 54, took issue with the phrasing, writing: “‘People who menstruate.’ I’m sure there used to be a word for those people. Someone help me out. Wumben? Wimpund? Woomud?”
After Twitter users pointed out that there are women who do not menstruate, while transgender men and non-binary individuals are among people who do, Rowling followed up with a Twitter thread defending her views.
She wrote: “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.”
Rowling insisted she did not “hate” trans people, and said she would march with trans people “if you were discriminated against on the basis of being trans.”
She concluded: “At the same time, my life has been shaped by being female. I do not believe it’s hateful to say so.”
“If sex isn’t real, there’s no same-sex attraction. If sex isn’t real, the lived reality of women globally is erased,” she wrote.
J K Rowling – In pictures
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J K Rowling signs one of her books in Washington, DC, USA
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J K Rowling poses with her novel Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire at King’s Cross Station in London, England
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Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling waves to the crowd before her reading during the International Festival of Authors in Toronto, Canada
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J K Rowling and her partner Neil Murray arrive for the world premiere of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets in London, England
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J K Rowling arrives at Royal Albert Hall where she will give a reading of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix in London, England
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J K Rowling joins Stephen Fry on stage for her reading of Harry Potter And The Order Of The Phoenix in London, England
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Rowling joins Jane Goodall for a chat with Asturias regional President Vicente Alvarez Areces during an official reception for the Prince of Asturias 2003 Prize in Oviedo, Spain
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J K Rowling and husband Neil Murray attend the UK Premiere of Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkaban in London, England
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J K Rowling receives an Honorary Degree of Doctor honoris causa at the University of Edinburgh’s graduation ceremony in Edinburgh, Scotland
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JK Rowling arrives at Edinburgh Castle where she will read passages from the sixth magical children’s title Harry Potter And The Half-Blood Prince in Edinburgh, Scotland
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J K Rowling poses with her novel before her reading in Edinburgh, Scotland
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J K Rowling visits abandoned children at the maternity ward of the Giulesti Hospital in Bucharest, Romania
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Romanian Prime minister Calin Popescu Tariceanu talks to J K Rowling during a meeting at the Victoria Palace prior to her taking part in a charity benefit to help underprivileged children of Romania and Europe in Bucharest, Romania
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J K Rowling attends the Children’s Garden Party as part of the Queen’s 80th Birthday celebrations in London, England
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J K Rowling receives Doctor Of Laws honorary degree from the University of Aberdeen in Aberdeen, Scotland
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J K Rowling joins Stephen King onstage during a news conference for An Evening With Harry, Carrie and Garp in New York, NY, USA
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J K Rowling and her husband Dr Neil Murray,arrive at the Dominion theatre for the premier of the film Snow Cake at the Edinburgh International Film Festival in Edingburgh, Scotland
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J K Rowling attends the Raisa Gorbachev Foundations Second Annual Gala Dinner in Hampton Court, England
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J K Rowling and Neil Murray attend the Harry Potter And The Order Of The Phoenix UK premiere in London, England
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J.K. Rowling meets fans at a reading and signing of her of her latest novel Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows in London, England
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J K Rowling holds a press conference and book signing for Los Angeles Unified School District school children in Hollywood, CA, USA
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J K Rowling signs copies of her book Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows during the final stop on the J K Rowling Open Book Tour in New York, NY, USA
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J K Rowling poses during the South Bank Show Awards 2008 in London, England
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J K Rowling with her award for the Outstanding Achievement during the Galaxy British Book Awards in London, England
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.K. Rowling, author of the Harry Potter books leaves the U.S. District Court
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J K Rowling autographs a book for a student graduating after giving commencement speech at Harvard University in Cambridge, MA, USA
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JK Rowling is pictured as she reads extracts from her new book The Tales of Beedle The Bard to schoolchildren at a tea party in Edinburgh, Scotland
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J.K. Rowling speaks after she was awarded with the knight of the Legion of Honour, the highest civilian distinction in France in Paris, France
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JK Rowling arrives at Downing Street for dinner with President Obama and other delegates in London, England
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J K Rowling poses with Britain’s Prime Minister Sarah Brown as they visit the Royal Opera House in London, England
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J K Rowling arrives with her husband Neil to attend the Fourth Raisa Gorbachev Foundation Gala Dinner in London, England
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JK Rowling arrives for the world premiere of Harry Potter And The Half Blood Prince in London, England
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Mattel releases a J K Rowling barbie doll at the International Toy Fair in Nuremberg, Germany
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J.K. Rowling points to the place on her forehead where her title character has a scar while reading Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone during the Easter Egg Roll on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, DC, USA
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Rowling signs autographs outside the Odense Concert Hall after receiving the Hans Christian Andersen Literature Award 2010 in Odense, Denmark
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J K Rowling shakes hands with Danish Crown Princess Marie, wife of Prince Joachim upon her arrival at the Odense Concert Hall in Odense, Denmark
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JK Rowling attends the Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows: Part 1 world film premiere in London, England
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J K Rowling joins the cast of Harry Potter after being awarded Outstanding British Contribution to Cinema during the 2011 Orange British Academy Film Awards in London, England
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J K Rowling poses for photographers during the launch of her new project www.pottermore.com in central London, England
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JK Rowling attends the world premiere of Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows – Part 2 in London, England
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J K Rowling buries a time capsule to mark the start of building work on a research clinic for patients with multiple sclerosis in Edinburgh, Scotland
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J K Rowling holds a certificate after being presented with the Freedom in London, England
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J.K. Rowling attends photocall ahead of her reading from The Casual Vacancy at the Queen Elizabeth Hall in London, England
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J K Rowling chats with Kate Middleton during the Inauguration Of Warner Bros. Studios in London, England
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J K Rowling sits on centre court with her husband Neil Murray ahead of the start of play on day two of the 2013 Wimbledon Championships tennis tournament in Wimbledon, England
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J K Rowling attends a charity evening hosted by JK Rowling to raise funds for Lumos a charity helping to reunite children in care with their families in Eastern Europe in London, England
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J. K. Rowling and John Tiffany
attend the press preview of Harry Potter & The Cursed Child in London, England
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J K Rowling attends the ‘Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them’ World Premiere in New York, NY, USA
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J K Rowling poses after arriving to attend the European premiere of the film Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them in London, England
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J K Rowling attends the 70th EE British Academy Film Awards in London, England
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J K Rowling poses with her medal after being made a Companion of Honour for services to literature and philanthropy by the Britain’s Prince William in London, England
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J K Rowling speaks as she is flanked by Zoe Kravitz, Jude Law and Eddie Redmayne during the premier of the fantasy film Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald in Paris, France
AFP/Getty Images
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J. K. Rowling poses with her husband Neil Murray for a photograph as they arrive for the premier of the fantasy film Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald in Paris, France
AFP/Getty Images
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J.K Rowling attends the UK Premiere of Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes Of Grindelwald in London, England
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AFP/Getty Images
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J K Rowling signs one of her books in Washington, DC, USA
AFP/Getty Images
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J K Rowling poses with her novel Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire at King’s Cross Station in London, England
AFP/Getty Images
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Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling waves to the crowd before her reading during the International Festival of Authors in Toronto, Canada
AFP/Getty Images
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J K Rowling and her partner Neil Murray arrive for the world premiere of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets in London, England
Getty Images
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J K Rowling arrives at Royal Albert Hall where she will give a reading of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix in London, England
Getty Images
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J K Rowling joins Stephen Fry on stage for her reading of Harry Potter And The Order Of The Phoenix in London, England
Getty Images
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Rowling joins Jane Goodall for a chat with Asturias regional President Vicente Alvarez Areces during an official reception for the Prince of Asturias 2003 Prize in Oviedo, Spain
AFP/Getty Images
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J K Rowling and husband Neil Murray attend the UK Premiere of Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkaban in London, England
Getty Images
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J K Rowling receives an Honorary Degree of Doctor honoris causa at the University of Edinburgh’s graduation ceremony in Edinburgh, Scotland
Getty Images
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JK Rowling arrives at Edinburgh Castle where she will read passages from the sixth magical children’s title Harry Potter And The Half-Blood Prince in Edinburgh, Scotland
Getty Images
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J K Rowling poses with her novel before her reading in Edinburgh, Scotland
Getty Images
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J K Rowling visits abandoned children at the maternity ward of the Giulesti Hospital in Bucharest, Romania
Getty Images
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Romanian Prime minister Calin Popescu Tariceanu talks to J K Rowling during a meeting at the Victoria Palace prior to her taking part in a charity benefit to help underprivileged children of Romania and Europe in Bucharest, Romania
AFP/Getty Images
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J K Rowling attends the Children’s Garden Party as part of the Queen’s 80th Birthday celebrations in London, England
Getty Images
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J K Rowling receives Doctor Of Laws honorary degree from the University of Aberdeen in Aberdeen, Scotland
Getty Images
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J K Rowling joins Stephen King onstage during a news conference for An Evening With Harry, Carrie and Garp in New York, NY, USA
Getty Images
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J K Rowling and her husband Dr Neil Murray,arrive at the Dominion theatre for the premier of the film Snow Cake at the Edinburgh International Film Festival in Edingburgh, Scotland
Getty Images
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J K Rowling attends the Raisa Gorbachev Foundations Second Annual Gala Dinner in Hampton Court, England
Getty Images
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J K Rowling and Neil Murray attend the Harry Potter And The Order Of The Phoenix UK premiere in London, England
Getty Images
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J.K. Rowling meets fans at a reading and signing of her of her latest novel Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows in London, England
Getty Images
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J K Rowling holds a press conference and book signing for Los Angeles Unified School District school children in Hollywood, CA, USA
Getty Images
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J K Rowling signs copies of her book Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows during the final stop on the J K Rowling Open Book Tour in New York, NY, USA
AFP/Getty Images
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J K Rowling poses during the South Bank Show Awards 2008 in London, England
Getty Images
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J K Rowling with her award for the Outstanding Achievement during the Galaxy British Book Awards in London, England
Getty Images
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.K. Rowling, author of the Harry Potter books leaves the U.S. District Court
Getty Images
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J K Rowling autographs a book for a student graduating after giving commencement speech at Harvard University in Cambridge, MA, USA
Getty Images
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JK Rowling is pictured as she reads extracts from her new book The Tales of Beedle The Bard to schoolchildren at a tea party in Edinburgh, Scotland
AFP/Getty Images
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J.K. Rowling speaks after she was awarded with the knight of the Legion of Honour, the highest civilian distinction in France in Paris, France
AFP/Getty Images
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JK Rowling arrives at Downing Street for dinner with President Obama and other delegates in London, England
Getty Images
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J K Rowling poses with Britain’s Prime Minister Sarah Brown as they visit the Royal Opera House in London, England
Getty Images
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J K Rowling arrives with her husband Neil to attend the Fourth Raisa Gorbachev Foundation Gala Dinner in London, England
AFP/Getty Images
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JK Rowling arrives for the world premiere of Harry Potter And The Half Blood Prince in London, England
Getty Images
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Mattel releases a J K Rowling barbie doll at the International Toy Fair in Nuremberg, Germany
AFP/Getty Images
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J.K. Rowling points to the place on her forehead where her title character has a scar while reading Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone during the Easter Egg Roll on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, DC, USA
Getty Images
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Rowling signs autographs outside the Odense Concert Hall after receiving the Hans Christian Andersen Literature Award 2010 in Odense, Denmark
AFP/Getty Images
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J K Rowling shakes hands with Danish Crown Princess Marie, wife of Prince Joachim upon her arrival at the Odense Concert Hall in Odense, Denmark
AFP/Getty Images
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JK Rowling attends the Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows: Part 1 world film premiere in London, England
Getty Images
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J K Rowling joins the cast of Harry Potter after being awarded Outstanding British Contribution to Cinema during the 2011 Orange British Academy Film Awards in London, England
Getty Images
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J K Rowling poses for photographers during the launch of her new project www.pottermore.com in central London, England
AFP/Getty Images
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JK Rowling attends the world premiere of Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows – Part 2 in London, England
Getty Images
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J K Rowling buries a time capsule to mark the start of building work on a research clinic for patients with multiple sclerosis in Edinburgh, Scotland
Getty Images
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J K Rowling holds a certificate after being presented with the Freedom in London, England
Getty Images
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J.K. Rowling attends photocall ahead of her reading from The Casual Vacancy at the Queen Elizabeth Hall in London, England
Getty Images
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J K Rowling chats with Kate Middleton during the Inauguration Of Warner Bros. Studios in London, England
Getty Images
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J K Rowling sits on centre court with her husband Neil Murray ahead of the start of play on day two of the 2013 Wimbledon Championships tennis tournament in Wimbledon, England
AFP/Getty Images
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J K Rowling attends a charity evening hosted by JK Rowling to raise funds for Lumos a charity helping to reunite children in care with their families in Eastern Europe in London, England
Getty Images
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J. K. Rowling and John Tiffany
attend the press preview of Harry Potter & The Cursed Child in London, England
Getty Images
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J K Rowling attends the ‘Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them’ World Premiere in New York, NY, USA
AFP/Getty Images
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J K Rowling poses after arriving to attend the European premiere of the film Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them in London, England
AFP/Getty Images
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J K Rowling attends the 70th EE British Academy Film Awards in London, England
Getty Images
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J K Rowling poses with her medal after being made a Companion of Honour for services to literature and philanthropy by the Britain’s Prince William in London, England
AFP/Getty Images
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J K Rowling speaks as she is flanked by Zoe Kravitz, Jude Law and Eddie Redmayne during the premier of the fantasy film Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald in Paris, France
AFP/Getty Images
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J. K. Rowling poses with her husband Neil Murray for a photograph as they arrive for the premier of the fantasy film Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald in Paris, France
AFP/Getty Images
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J.K Rowling attends the UK Premiere of Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes Of Grindelwald in London, England
Getty Images
Ross – who has himself faced accusations of transphobia in the past – has now tweeted his support for Rowling.
“I just ate too many brownies. Again. Oh, and also. @jk_rowling is both right and magnificent,” the presenter wrote. “For those accusing her of transphobia, please read what she wrote. She clearly is not.”
Ross’s daughter Honey, however, shared a meme on Instagram criticising Rowling’s views.
The image is a mock-up of a Harry Potter book cover with the title “Harry Potter and the aduacity of this b***h” emblazoned across the front.
During the row over the weekend, a physician replied to Rowling: “I want people to know that sex exists on a bimodal biological spectrum just like gender exists on a bimodal sociological spectrum.
“While most identify as either female or male, there are intersex and trans individuals whose identities are just as valid and real.”
Actress Jameela Jamil posted a link to a fundraiser for homeless black trans women, asking Rowling to “please share some of your $650million mega wealth with this charity.”
Meanwhile, a biologist re-shared a viral thread from December 2019 beneath Rowling’s tweets which explains the complexity of biological sex.
