This is very much like the obfuscating 'free speech' with 'free from repercussions of public perception'.
She's free to say whatever she likes. People are free to not read her books just as much.
She isn't free to say whatever she likes, you said so yourself with your own reluctance to say what you think on Twitter.
This idea that anonymous Twits can get people fired, cancelled whatever is a new phenomena and a disturbing one. It was a very difficult thing to do before the internet and social media.