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The Jerusalem Post

Transgender broadcaster reports J.K. Rowling to police over social media comments

 
Writer J.K. Rowling attends the British premiere of 'Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald' movie in London, Britain, November 13, 2018 (photo credit: TOBY MELVILLE/REUTERS)
Writer J.K. Rowling attends the British premiere of 'Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald' movie in London, Britain, November 13, 2018
(photo credit: TOBY MELVILLE/REUTERS)

J.K. Rowling has rejected the allegation, saying that holding gender-critical views was not a crime.

British police said on Thursday they had received a complaint after a transgender broadcaster reported J.K. Rowling to them over comments the "Harry Potter" author had made on social media.

India Willoughby, who was Britain's first transgender newsreader, has accused Rowling of a "hate crime" over remarks the author posted on X on Monday.

Rowling has rejected the allegation, saying that holding gender-critical views was not a crime.

"I contacted Northumbria constabulary yesterday ... I have reported J.K. Rowling to the police for what she said," Willoughby said in an interview with independent news publisher Byline Times which it posted on X late on Wednesday.

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"Calling a trans person a man, deliberately knowing that that person is a woman - and I am a woman regardless of what J.K. Rowling says ... my birth certificate says female, my passport, all my documents, I am legally recognized as a woman, and for J.K. Rowling to deliberately, and that is the key word, misgender me knowing who I am, is grossly offensive."

Author J.K. Rowling attends the premiere of ''Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them'' in Manhattan, New York, U.S., November 10, 2016 (credit: ANDREW KELLY / REUTERS)
Author J.K. Rowling attends the premiere of ''Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them'' in Manhattan, New York, U.S., November 10, 2016 (credit: ANDREW KELLY / REUTERS)

A controversial figure

The author has become a controversial figure on transgender issues and the definition of what it is to be a woman, leading to fierce criticism from some trans activists but vocal support from some women's rights campaigners.

"Some time ago, lawyers advised me that not only did I have a clearly winnable case against India Willoughby for defamation, but that India's obsessive targeting of me over the past few years may meet the legal threshold for harassment," Rowling wrote on X.

Asked about the Willoughby's accusation, Northumbria Police, in Northern England, said in a statement: "On Monday, March 4, we received a complaint about a post on social media. We are currently awaiting to speak to the complainant further."

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