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JK Rowling compared to Harry Potter villain after latest tweet

"Imagine inventing as reprehensible a character as Prof. Umbridge and then deciding to be her forever."

By Alastair James

Words: Alastair James; pictures: Wiki

JK Rowling’s latest tweet regarding trans people and gender identity has seen her being compared to one of her most hated characters, Dolores Umbridge.

On Sunday (12 December) Rowling, who’s courted plenty of controversy in the last few years over her views on gender identity, tweeted an article criticising Police Scotland’s approach to treating prisoners based on their gender identity.

Along with the link to the article the Harry Potter author added: “War is Peace. Freedom is Slavery. Ignorance is Strength. The Penised Individual Who Raped You Is a Woman.”

“I didn’t realize that Dolores Umbridge was autobiographical”

Reacting to her tweet, one person said: “You just double down on hate regularly? I didn’t realize that Dolores Umbridge was autobiographical.”

Another person added: “Imagine inventing as reprehensible a character as Prof. Umbridge and then deciding to be her forever.”

Many others drew comparisons between the magical world she created and her views here in the real world and the harm they’ve caused to trans people. 

Rowling has previously opened up about some of the abuse she’s received for her views on sex and gender.

Last year, the writer mocked men who menstruate and published an essay where she cited concerns about single-sex spaces such as bathrooms and changing rooms and that she has “deep concerns about the effect the trans rights movement”.

Since then, she has said “hundreds of trans activists have threatened to beat, rape, assassinate and bomb me,” while doubling down on her views.

Harry Potter stars Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson are among those to have come out against the author’s views.

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