India Willoughby, a broadcaster known for her appearance on “Celebrity Big Brother” and as a co-host on “Loose Women,” has reported J.K. Rowling to the police. Willoughby accuses the “Harry Potter” author of transphobia for misgendering her on social media during an ongoing disagreement.
During an interview with Byline TV, Willoughby expressed her belief that Rowling had broken the law by referring to her as a man despite knowing that she is legally recognized as a woman. Willoughby argues this action violates the Equalities Act and the Gender Recognition Act, especially given Rowling’s wide-reaching influence on social media.
Willoughby is unsure whether the police will classify the incident as a hate crime or malicious communication, but she feels confident that a legal offense has occurred.
There hasn’t been any immediate comment from Northumbria Police or Rowling’s representatives in response to these claims.
Rowling, on the other hand, defended herself on the platform X (formerly Twitter), suggesting that she had consulted with a lawyer. The lawyer reportedly believes Rowling could win a defamation case against Willoughby, who Rowling accuses of obsessively targeting her, potentially constituting harassment.
Broadcaster Says She Reported J.K. Rowling to the Police Over Alleged Transphobia as 'Harry Potter' Author Threatens Harassment Claim https://t.co/3dNoiCyjtS
— Variety (@Variety) March 7, 2024
Rowling also mentioned that her views on gender, which some consider anti-trans, are legally protected as a philosophical belief. She emphasized that no law obliges her to recognize someone’s gender identity contrary to her beliefs.
This controversy adds to the criticism Rowling has faced in recent years regarding her comments on the transgender community. Several actors from the “Harry Potter” films have publicly disagreed with her views. Despite this, Warner Bros. Discovery’s CEO, David Zaslav, shared that the company had productive discussions with Rowling about a new “Harry Potter” series for the Max streaming service, indicating a continued partnership. Source
