J.K. Rowling and Joanne Harris in death threat row
Rowling accuses fellow author of allowing female writers to be ‘silenced and intimidated’ over their gender identity beliefs
J.K. Rowling has hit back at a mocking tweet by Society of Authors chair Joanne Harris by accusing her of “betrayal”.
Harris, author of 1999 bestselling novel Chocolat, posted a Twitter poll asking whether other writers had “ever received a death threat (credible or otherwise)” on Saturday. This was shortly after Rowling received a death threat for tweeting her outrage at the stabbing of Salman Rushdie.
In response, Rowling told The Times that trans rights advocate Harris had “consistently failed” to defend female authors who disagreed “with her personal position on gender identity ideology”, and allowed women to be intimidated into silence.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
What did Harris say?
The row erupted after Rowling tweeted her support for Rushdie after he was seriously injured in an attack in New York on Friday. Rowling, author of the Harry Potter series, received a message that said “don't worry, you are next”.
Harris then tweeted her death threats poll, with the response options being “Yes”, “Hell, yes”, “No, never” and “Show me, dammit”.
The tone of the Twitter poll, said the Daily Mail, suggested that the Society of Authors chair had some “scepticism” over “how serious the threats were”.
How has Rowling responded?
Rowling told The Times that she had “received no communication whatsoever from Harris expressing sympathy for the death and rape threats I’ve received”.
She added that Harris had “consistently failed to criticise tactics designed to silence and intimidate women who disagree with her personal position on gender identity ideology and has said publicly, ‘Cancel isn’t a dirty word. We habitually cancel things we no longer want.’
“I find it impossible to square the society’s stated position on freedom of speech with Harris’s public statements over the past two years and stand in solidarity with all female writers in the UK who currently feel betrayed by their professional body and its leader,” said Rowling, who has faced widespread condemnation over her views on gender identity.
Harris fired back that she was “wholly against threats of any kind, to anyone, regardless of their politics, opinions or views. That includes J.K. Rowling, or anyone whose opinions I might sometimes disagree with.
“Some of you may have noticed the volume of harassment I get on a regular basis from certain gender-critical people. This is entirely because I signed a letter supporting trans rights three years ago. I still support trans rights. The same people are behind this latest stunt.”
In a series of tweets Harris said she had deleted the poll as she felt she had “got the tone wrong”, and replaced it with a new version as she felt it is “important to see the extent of this problem”.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Who actually needs life insurance?
The Explainer If you have kids or are worried about passing on debt, the added security may be worth it
By Becca Stanek, The Week US Published
-
Sexual wellness trends to know, from products and therapies to retreats and hotels
The Week Recommends Talking about pleasure and sexual health is becoming less taboo
By Theara Coleman, The Week US Published
-
Is the AI bubble deflating?
Today's Big Question Growing skepticism and high costs prompt reconsideration
By Joel Mathis, The Week US Published
-
Abortion law reform: a question of safety?
Talking Point Jailing of woman who took abortion pills after legal limit leads to calls to scrap ‘archaic’ 1861 legislation
By Harriet Marsden Published
-
Andy Warhol, Prince and a question of copyright
Talking Point Supreme Court ruling that sent shockwaves through art world could have huge implications for AI image generation
By The Week Staff Published
-
Disaster trolls and conspiracy theories: is legislation the answer?
Talking Point Two Manchester Arena bombing victims are taking landmark legal action against conspiracy theorist Richard D. Hall
By The Week Staff Published
-
Menopause: a matter for the law?
Talking Point The Government has decided against making menopause a ‘protected characteristic’ under the Equality Act
By The Week Staff Published
-
Battle of Britain: will Rishi Sunak block Scotland’s gender recognition law?
Today's Big Question Prime minister reportedly set to use constitutional ‘nuclear option’ in showdown with Holyrood over the legislation
By The Week Staff Published
-
Shamima Begum: what next after ‘Isis bride’ loses bid to regain UK citizenship?
Talking Point Lawyers say the Isis bride was victim of human trafficking for the purposes of sexual exploitation
By Arion McNicoll Last updated
-
Should criminal barristers be allowed to strike?
Talking Point Prolonged dispute over cuts to pay and legal aid has led to indefinite walkout in September
By The Week Staff Published
-
Archie Battersbee: the laws of life and death
Talking Point After a painful legal battle to keep their son on life support, Hollie Dance and Paul Battersbee were defeated
By The Week Staff Published