JK Rowling reacts sharply to David Tennant’s “misogynistic” speech about transgender people amid Badenoch controversy: “Men’s rights!”
JK Rowling has waded into the ongoing row surrounding David Tennant’s remarks about Kemi Badenoch during an acceptance speech at this year’s British LGBT Awards.
The actor, who was accepting an award for being a “celebrity ally” to the trans community, said during his speech that he wished the Equalities Minister would “shut up”.
He also suggested that until people like Badenoch “don’t exist anymore”, the issue of trans rights will continue to be a talking point.
Badenoch has since hit back at Tennant, branding him a “rich, lefty, white male celebrity” and defended her stance for wanting to ban trans women from women’s toilets and sports teams in order to protect females.
She also insisted she “will not shut up” or be “silenced by men who prioritise applause from Stonewall over the safety of women and girls”.
Kemi Badenoch was the subject of Tennant’s speech on trans rights
“Ladies and gentlemen – I give you the perfect example of Male Entitlement… Omg….” (sic)
Rowling appeared to echo and endorse Navratilova’s stance by sharing the take with her 14.1 million followers.
“A rich, lefty, white male celebrity so blinded by ideology he can’t see the optics of attacking the only black woman in government by calling publicly for my existence to end.
“Keir Starmer stood by while Rosie Duffield was hounded. He and his supporters will do the same with the country. Do not let the bigots and bullies win.”
The row surrounding Tennant and Badenoch also caught the attention of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak who took to the social media site to condemn the actor’s comments.
Tennant doesn’t use social media and is yet to publicly address the fallout from his speech.
“With a slogan I attract the ire of the occasional online idiot, but I don’t have social media, so even I have to be told about that from my brilliant wife Georgia, who is the real engine behind anything we do.
David Tennant received an award for being a “celebrity ally”
“Whilst we do live in this world, I am honoured to receive this. I’m thrilled to be here and to be a part of this night. Pride is very important in our house. It’s a family affair. We have skin in the game.
“So this event tonight thrills me. It gives me hope. It gives me fire, it gives me energy and deep joy. And even if I feel I don’t really deserve this, I’m very pleased and very proud to be receiving it. Thank you all so much.”
