J.K. Rowling: Harry Potter author says social media is a ‘gift’ for those who want to ‘behave in a malign way’

J.K. Rowling has described social media as a “gift” to online trolls, after being forced to defend herself against cruel comments and threats.

Author, 57, who lives in Scotland, is best known for creating the Harry Potter book series.

However, in recent years she has garnered many critics after openly sharing her views about the trans community and was even hit with death threats for supporting a stabbed American-English novelist Sir Salman Rushdie.

Rushdie, became a controversial figure after writing The Satanic Verses in 1988, which a lot of Muslims consider blasphemous.

J.K. Rowling told Virgin Radio UK about the online abuse she has endured, saying: “Social media can be a lot of fun and I like the pub argument aspect of it. That can be a fun thing to do.

“But there is no doubt that social media is a gift for people who want to behave in a malign way. “

Last year, Rowling’s house was targeted by pro-trans protesters after her home address was doxxed online.

“I try to behave online as I would like others to behave. I’ve never threatened anyone obviously, and I certainly wouldn’t want anyone to go to their houses or anything like that” she said

The author’s divisive tweets about the trans community began in 2020, when she wrote: “‘People who menstruate.’ I’m sure there used to be a word for those people. Someone help me out. Wumben? Wimpund? Woomud?”

Despite the backlash, she decided to stand her ground and write a more in-depth post explaining her views.

“If sex isn’t real, there’s no same-sex attraction. If sex isn’t real, the lived reality of women globally is erased.

“I know and love trans people, but erasing the concept of sex removes the ability of many to meaningfully discuss their lives. It isn’t hate to speak the truth.

“The idea that women like me, who’ve been empathetic to trans people for decades, feeling kinship because they’re vulnerable in the same way as women - ie, to male violence - ‘hate’ trans people because they think sex is real and has lived consequences - is a nonsense.

“I respect every trans person’s right to live any way that feels authentic and comfortable to them. I’d march with you if you were discriminated against on the basis of being trans.

“At the same time, my life has been shaped by being female. I do not believe it’s hateful to say so.”