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.
Nobody is suggesting that people need to buy Rowling's books or that she's being silenced if people won't buy her books. Book stores don't need to carry them either-- some have taken her books off their shelves, and good for them I guess.
But the campaign to destroy her reputation based on misrepresentation of her views and inaccurate claims about her work goes beyond that. It's pretty similar to the fake news campaigns being waged in politics. "JKR is transphobic, she wrote a book about a trans serial killer!" is about the same level of discourse as "Candidate X has ties to Islamic extremists!", "Candidate Y wants to disband the police and leave the streets to the gangs!" "OMG it's true I read it on Facebook plz share this info with everyone!" As the saying goes, lies can run halfway around the world before the truth can get its shoes laced up, and we see that in social media all the time.
And obviously the deluge of threats of violence and gendered slurs directed toward Rowling speaks for itself. As does the "#RIPJKRowling" hashtag that was trending this week.
Violent misogyny is completely normalized on Twitter, to the extent that women who click the "report" button don't even get replies. But misgender a trans person and BOOM the Twitter riot police are there in a heartbeat.
-k
Home
Contact
Login
Register