When your name is on the tip of the tongue of the most detested man in the current news cycle, it may be time to conduct a personal inventory. Author J.K. Rowling, best known for being the author of the beloved "Harry Potter" book series, and also for being a Trans-Exclusionary Radical Feminist, otherwise known as a TERF, was mentioned by Putin during a recent broadcast.
During the televised meeting on Friday, Putin made a comparison between the treatment of Russian political figures and that of Rowling stating that, according to the popular mindset, both fall under the category of "cancelled."
Related: Rowling doubles down on "transphobic" remarks about gender reform bill on International Women's Day
WATCH: Vladimir Putin says the West has "cancelled" JK Rowling and are now "engaging in cancel culture" against Russia.
— TLDR News UK (@TLDRNewsUK) March 25, 2022
(Begins at 1:00)pic.twitter.com/fqAin41HpO
"Not so long ago, the children's writer J.K. Rowling was also cancelled because she ... did not please the fans of so-called gender freedoms," Putin said during the broadcast. "Today they are trying to cancel a whole thousand-year culture, our people," he added. "I am talking about the gradual discrimination against everything linked to Russia."
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Rowling, likely desperate to find her way back to a realm in which she's viewed in a positive light again, fired back against Putin's statement in an effort to distance herself saying via Twitter "Critiques of Western cancel culture are possibly not best made by those currently slaughtering civilians for the crime of resistance, or who jail and poison their critics."
Critiques of Western cancel culture are possibly not best made by those currently slaughtering civilians for the crime of resistance, or who jail and poison their critics. #IStandWithUkraine https://t.co/aNItgc5aiW
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) March 25, 2022
The responses to Putin's mention of Rowling, and Rowling's statement in return, were thematically unanimous.
When JK Rowling sat in that cafe all those years ago, there’s no way she could have known she’d one day be endorsed by Vladimir Putin. Never give up on your dreams.
— James Felton (@JimMFelton) March 25, 2022
jk rowling could have easily and uncontroversially been remembered as the most beloved children’s author of all time but she took a detour and is now being defended by a totalitarian war criminal dictator. anything is possible
— matt (@mattxiv) March 25, 2022
Vladimir Putin defending JK Rowling is like that moment in your D&D game when you realize all of the bad guys have actually been working together from the beginning.
— Erin, Trail Mom (@ErinInTheMorn) March 25, 2022
So I suppose you have nothing to say about this image then? troubling... pic.twitter.com/GShs4OsbDN
— Rob (@robrousseau) March 25, 2022
Maybe stop and analyze why the fascists seem to love you Joanne.
— Erin, Trail Mom (@ErinInTheMorn) March 25, 2022
Read more:
Jon Stewart said Harry Potter goblins are Jews, but adds, "I do not think JK Rowling is antisemitic"
Amazon sales of a transphobic book revives greater free speech debate
"Harry Potter" & the problematic creator – What's left for a fandom raised on false tolerance?