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JK Rowling brands past colleagues ‘despicable’ after distancing themselves from her-Laura Harman-Entertainment – Metro
The author has made a string of controversial and offensive statements in recent years.
Rowling has called the opinion of her former coworkers ‘despicable’ (Picture: Justin Tallis/AFP via Getty Images)
JK Rowling, the author of the Harry Potter series has revealed her disdain for her former coworkers in a new article.
In 2020, Rowling, 58, became a vocal trans-exclusionary radical feminist after publicly stating that she doesn’t believe trans people and trans women should be allowed the same rights as cis-women – specifically being allowed into female-only spaces.
The author has now criticised her past colleagues who have supported trans women and branded their views about transgender people ‘despicable’.
Speaking to The Times, the author discussed her relationship with her former colleagues, saying: ‘People who’d worked with me rushed to distance themselves from me or to add their public condemnation of my blasphemous views (though I should add that many former and current colleagues have been staunchly supportive).’
She then revealed that some of her coworkers had followed up with her to check they were still amicable.
‘In truth, the condemnation of certain individuals was far less surprising to me than the fact that some of them then emailed me, or sent messages through third parties, to check that we were still friends.’
She then added crucially: ‘The thing is, those appalled by my position often fail to grasp how truly despicable I find theirs.’
Rowling worked on the Harry Potter films for over a decade with the cast and crew (Photo by Jon Furniss/WireImage)
In her article, the author spoke about ‘certain female celebrities’ which may have been hinting at Emma Watson’s previous statement supporting transgender people.
‘I’ve listened as certain female celebrities insist that there isn’t the slightest risk to women and girls in allowing any man who self-identifies as a woman to enter single-sex spaces reserved for women, including changing rooms, bathrooms or rape shelters,’ Rowling told the publication.
The cast with the author two decades ago in 2004 (Picture: Julian Makey/REX/Shutterstock)
In response to the author’s initial comments in 2020, Emma Watson shared her support for the transgender community.
The actress who played Hermione in the Harry Potter series said on social media: ‘Trans people are who they say they are and deserve to live their lives without being constantly questioned or told they aren’t who they say they are.
‘I want my trans followers to know that I and so many other people around the world see you, respect you and love you for who you are.’
Rowling has been persistent in sharing her views about trans people and said she is defending women (Picture: Ian West/PA Wire)
This isn’t the first time the author has spoken negatively about her co-workers. Earlier this year, Rowling said Daniel Radcliffe and Watson could ‘save their apologies’ on trans views as she hit out at the former child stars who brought her book to life.
Following these comments, Radcliffe has admitted Rowling makes him ‘really sad’ now.
The actor told the Atlantic this week: ‘It makes me really sad, ultimately, because I do look at the person that I met, the times that we met, and the books that she wrote, and the world that she created, and all of that is to me so deeply empathic.’
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