Entertainment
JK Rowling responds after Putin references her in speech about cancel culture
The leader likened the portrayal of Russia in the West to allegations of transphobia against Rowling (Picture: AP/REX)
JK Rowling has responded to Vladimir Putin after seemingly referencing her during a speech condemning ‘cancel culture’ in the West.
Likening the portrayal of Russia in the West to the backlash of the Harry Potter author, the president said Rowling had been cancelled ‘because she did not satisfy the demands of gender rights’
He made the comments during a televised meeting with Russian cultural figures, during which he also claimed Western countries were trying to cancel the works of composers Tchaikovsky, Shostakovich and Rachmaninoff.
Sharing an article about incarcerated Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny on Twitter, Rowling wrote: ‘Critiques of Western cancel culture are possibly not best made by those currently slaughtering civilians for the crime of resistance, or who jail and poison their critics.’
The writer also shared the hashtag #IStandWithUkraine.
In a subsequent tweet, she detailed the work her Lumos charity is doing in the country.
‘Children trapped in orphanages and other institutions are exceptionally vulnerable right now,’ she wrote.
‘Thank you so, so much to everyone who has already donated to Lumos’s Ukraine appeal.’
Rowling said she was personally matching all donations to the Lumos emergency appeal up to £1 million.
Putin is reported as saying earlier today: ‘They cancelled Joanne Rowling recently, the children’s author.
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web
browser that
supports HTML5
video
‘Her books are published all over the world. Just because she did not satisfy the demands of gender rights.
‘They are trying to cancel our country. I am talking about the progressive discrimination of everything to do with Russia – this trend that is unfolding in a number of Western states.’
In June 2020, Rowling wrote an essay explaining how she was partly motivated to speak about transgender issues because of her experience of domestic abuse and sexual assault.
The writer has been widely criticised for her remarks on the transgender community (Picture: Neil Hall//EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)
Critics have accused the writer of being transphobic, an allegation she strongly denies.
Most recently, she hit out at Labour party leader Sir Keir Starmer after he said that ‘trans women are women.’
The writer also supposedly turned down an opportunity to appear on Piers Morgan’s new TV show, where she would no doubt be asked about the allegations of transphobia.
More: Russia
Rowling’s critics have included Harry Potter stars Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint.
Emma – who shot to fame as Hermione Grander in the franchise – used the Bafta stage to ‘throw shade’ at the writer last week, with transgender charity Mermaids praising her for showing solidarity.
Got a story?
If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.
MORE : Gay male footballers won’t come out ‘because they don’t feel safe,’ says Megan Rapinoe
