J.K. Rowling criticized a Scottish politician Sunday for laughing at a transgender individual dousing a woman with tomato sauce during a women’s rights rally.
Rowling clashed with former Glasgow City councillor Austin Sheridan for having a “laugh” about violence against women, referring to an incident in which British women’s rights activist Posie Parker was doused with tomato soup at a “Let Women Speak” rally. Sheridan responded to the incident by posting a picture of tomato soup on his twitter account with a caption that seemed to mock Parker’s assault.
“Seems that you can’t have a nice wee bit of tomato soup without transphobes getting all worked up about it,” he wrote, along with three laughing emojis. (RELATED: ‘Hogwarts Legacy’ Breaks Sales Record For Warner Bros. Games Despite JK Rowling Backlash)
JK Rowling is calling trans women “trans identified males.”
This is a well known anti trans slur.
TERFs call trans women “trans identified males” or TIMs. For trans men, it’s TIFs (trans identified females).
It’s hurtful, wrong, and mean spirited.
She should be ashamed. pic.twitter.com/RZExUkvxxN
— Erin Reed (@ErinInTheMorn) March 26, 2023
The tweet was eventually deleted, but Rowling posted a screenshot of it and ripped into Sheridan for making light of Parker’s confrontation with pro-trans activists.
“We’ve all met ‘progressive’ men who think male violence against women they don’t agree with is a right old laugh,” Rowling wrote. “What’s new is seeing them being this open about it.”
Sheridan, seemingly unmoved by Rowling’s criticism, doubled-down on his position.
“I won’t be cancelled for standing against lies. I also will never be put off standing up for LGBTQ+ rights,” Sheridan responded.
Rowling has been in the hot seat lately over her views on transgender issues. She previously used the term “trans-identified male” instead of “trans female,” in a rant against allowing transgender people in women’s prisons.