Backing away from writing fantasy novels, J.K. Rowling now seems to be taking inspiration from issues that are closer to home. Apparently, her new book — released under her pseudonym Robert Galbraith — has a major storyline that follows a character being accused of transphobia.
According to Rolling Stone, the Harry Potter novelist's latest book, The Ink Black Heart, follows the life of Edie Ledwell, "a creator of a popular YouTube cartoon who sees internet trolls and her own fandom turn on her after the cartoon was criticized as being racist and ableist, as well as transphobic for a bit about a h—ite worm." Further, the book supposedly takes clear aim at "social justice warriors," and paints Ledwell as the victim of a well-organized cancellation campaign.
Despite the clear nods to Rowling's own experiences of being called a TERF, she claims that the book was written before the online backlash. "I should make it really clear after some of the things that have happened the last year that this is not depicting [that]," she said on Graham Norton's radio show.
She continued: "I had written the book before certain things happened to me online. I said to my husband, 'I think everyone is going to see this as a response to what happened to me,' but it genuinely wasn't. The first draft of the book was finished at the point certain things happened."
Accusations of Rowling being transphobic date as far back as 2019, and have been ongoing ever since. Said accusations have also alienated her from most of the cast of Harry Potter and even her own fan sites, with no apology or acknowledgement of wrong-doing in sight.
According to Rolling Stone, the Harry Potter novelist's latest book, The Ink Black Heart, follows the life of Edie Ledwell, "a creator of a popular YouTube cartoon who sees internet trolls and her own fandom turn on her after the cartoon was criticized as being racist and ableist, as well as transphobic for a bit about a h—ite worm." Further, the book supposedly takes clear aim at "social justice warriors," and paints Ledwell as the victim of a well-organized cancellation campaign.
Despite the clear nods to Rowling's own experiences of being called a TERF, she claims that the book was written before the online backlash. "I should make it really clear after some of the things that have happened the last year that this is not depicting [that]," she said on Graham Norton's radio show.
She continued: "I had written the book before certain things happened to me online. I said to my husband, 'I think everyone is going to see this as a response to what happened to me,' but it genuinely wasn't. The first draft of the book was finished at the point certain things happened."
Accusations of Rowling being transphobic date as far back as 2019, and have been ongoing ever since. Said accusations have also alienated her from most of the cast of Harry Potter and even her own fan sites, with no apology or acknowledgement of wrong-doing in sight.
