J.K. Rowling Criticized for Comment About Trans Soccer Coach
Harry Potter series writer is being accused of bullying Clark, a 51-year-old former referee who was appointed manager of Sutton United, a women's team based in South London, in January.Rowling has drawn a fierce backlash in recent years for her views on transgender people, including suggestions that she has "ruined her legacy" with her comments.Rowling, 58, has previously been called out for calling transgender people by the wrong pronouns, such as English news broadcaster India Willoughby, and for statements that some have considered transphobic.On May 11, LGBTQ+ charity Pride celebrated Clark on X (formerly Twitter).
The organization praised Clark for becoming the "first trans manager in the top five divisions of English women's football."Rowling responded on X to the now-deleted post, writing: "When I was young all the football managers were straight, white, middle-aged blokes, so it's fantastic to see how much things have changed."Newsweek has reached out to Rowling for comment via email and Lucy Clark via Instagram.Rowling's remark, which has received 3.7 million views, has divided users on X.
Some blasted her for the "cruel" comment."Shame on you!" wrote Beth Fisher. "You're a hateful hateful person," agreed Becky Taylor-Gill."You post pictures of trans women, just getting on with their lives, so that your followers will ridicule them," said Alexander Hamer."Why be so mean?" asked @LScoliose.
