Police Launch Investigation After J.K. Rowling Was Sent Vicious Death Threats By Trans Activist
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Police are investigating after a tweet threatening Harry Potter author J.K Rowling with a pipe-bomb surfaced online.
The 56-year-old writer shared a screenshot of a tweet which featured a picture of a bomb and a red arrow pointing towards her (now blanked-out) address.
The offending tweet also shared an image of a guidebook to bomb-making.
"My family’s address (covered), a pipe bomb and a picture of a bomb-making handbook," Rowling tweeted.
My family’s address (covered), a pipe bomb and a picture of a bomb-making handbook. The account remains active, naturally. #BeKind pic.twitter.com/IoEkHzpmpd
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) July 1, 2022
The account was deactivated on July 2 for violating Twitter rules.
A Police Scotland spokeswoman confirmed to the Daily Mail that 'officers are carrying out enquiries' in relation to the incident.
The threat appeared to have stemmed from a trans activist, likely targeting Rowling due to her previous comments on transgender women.
Following Rowling's most recent threat, the hashtag #IStandWithJKRowling trended on Twitter.
One user wrote: "Today I’m tweeting #IStandWithJKRowling because no one should have to endure the abuse and threats that she has for simply voicing an opinion that most people in the real world would consider completely uncontroversial."
A second added: 'This is a threat to kill. It is one of many that JKR and other women face for the crime of supporting women's rights."
This is not the first time that the Harry Potter author has copped online abuse and threats against her life.
Back in 2021, Rowling shared a screenshot of a tweet that also threatened her with a pipe bomb.
She also claimed she has been the subject of a number of rape and assassination threats following her comments on trans women and women's rights.
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
Back in 2020, Rowling attracted a lot of attention when she took issue with an article that said 'people who menstruate' in an attempt to make it as inclusive as possible.
However, Rowling said this attempt at inclusion seemingly excluded women from their own bodily narrative.
Rowling raised concerns that cisgendered women like her are starting to feel erased from femininity due to the trans community.
She wrote on Twitter: "If sex isn't real, there's no same-sex attraction. If sex isn't real, the lived reality of women globally is erased. I know and love trans people, but erasing the concept of sex removes the ability of many to meaningfully discuss their lives. It isn't hate to speak the truth.
"I respect every trans person's right to live any way that feels authentic and comfortable to them. I'd march with you if you were discriminated against on the basis of being trans. At the same time, my life has been shaped by being female. I do not believe it's hateful to say so."
Featured Image Credit: PA Images / Alamy Stock Photo. Zefrog / Alamy Stock Photo.
Topics: JK Rowling, News, LGBTQ
