J.K. Rowling Returns To Global Spotlight After Alleging She'd Received Death Threats From Trans Activists

After removing herself from the limelight following several controversies surrounding her stance on trans issues Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling once again attracted Twitter's attention after alleging she'd received "hundreds" of trans activists "have threatened to beat, rape, assassinate and bomb" her.

The claim started when she screenshot a tweet from a user who wrote "I wish you a very pipebomb in your mailbox" to her.

"To be fair, when you can’t get a woman sacked, arrested or dropped by her publisher, and cancelling her only made her book sales go up, there’s really only one place to go," wrote Rowling. When a user asked what the tweet was in reference to, she sarcastically said, "Yes, but now hundreds of trans activists have threatened to beat, rape, assassinate and bomb me I’ve realised that this movement poses no risk to women whatsoever."

To be fair, when you can’t get a woman sacked, arrested or dropped by her publisher, and cancelling her only made her book sales go up, there’s really only one place to go. pic.twitter.com/MsNWXhWlyc

— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) July 19, 2021

Yes, but now hundreds of trans activists have threatened to beat, rape, assassinate and bomb me I’ve realised that this movement poses no risk to women whatsoever. pic.twitter.com/qb1RrCFqy0

— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) July 19, 2021

The tweets split users on Rowling's accusations. Some were appalled at what Rowling claimed to have received:

I really, really cannot state how much I disagree with you on your opinions on this issue and how they hurt & sadden me deeply as a fan. HOWEVER, these ridiculous threats and calls for violence are disgusting. Trans activists--you don’t make yourselves look good this way!

— Jessie Marie (SuperGeek21) (@JessieMarie921) July 19, 2021

Absolutely nobody, including JK Rowling, deserves to receive death threats or be harassed.

That being said, she could just not be loudly transphobic over and over again & she’d be left alone. Meanwhile, trans people get death threats for simply existing.

— Mama Doctor Jones | Danielle Jones, MD (@MamaDoctorJones) July 21, 2021

Ever find yourself thinkIng “Hmm, this trans debate is so complicated – I just don’t know who’s right”?
Well here’s a tip: the people sending death threats to a women who survived domestic abuse because she said something they didn’t like – those aren’t the good guys. pic.twitter.com/76k16GxJ0a

— James Kirkup (@jameskirkup) July 19, 2021

A large number of Twitter users argued that what Rowling claimed was false equivalence, arguing that advocating against trans people with her platform was far more harmful than the backlash she'd received.

A reminder that JK Rowling has transphobia trending because she had some anon Twitter threats.

Meanwhile transphobes are ACTUALLY stabbing trans people and people they think are trans in California because of a made up incident.

— Erin, boycotting Arkansas businesses (@ErinInTheMorn) July 20, 2021

JK Rowling: I received death threats after the statements i made about trans people

Trans people: BITCH, ME TOO

— ✨download kaiconic today✨ (@kaichoyce) July 20, 2021

What a fucking coincidence. Trans people also have been receiving violent threats following JK Rowling's remarks on trans rights! pic.twitter.com/7yd2FgWj5W

— Carmen IRL (@CarmenHandiego) July 20, 2021

Maybe, (hear me out here) if you use your massive platform to post harmful rhetoric about marginalised people, some of those people getting very upset with you and DMing you reprehensible shit…. isn't actually that weird? Maybe it's kind of expected, actually?

— Niz (@Recluse_Goose) July 19, 2021

After her brief foray back onto Twitter to stir the pot, Rowling returned to writing her crime novel.

Got to get back to my chapter now, but to all the people sending me beautiful, kind, funny and supportive messages, thank you so much 🙏 . Wish I had time to answer all of you, but Strike and Robin are at a tricky stage of their investigation, so I need to drop a few clues.

— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) July 19, 2021