Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin (born 7 October 1952) is a Russian politician and former intelligence officer who has served as President of Russia since 2012, previously holding the position from 1999 until 2008. He was also the Prime Minister of Russia from 1999 to 2000 and again from 2008 to 2012.
Piers Morgan puts aside JK Rowling feud to defend 'cancelled' star amid transgender row
Piers Morgan has said he's put aside his feud with Harry Potter author JK Rowling to defend her amid the ongoing transgender row she's embroiled in.The TV personality, 56, branded the treatment of the author "an absolute disgrace" amid the backlash she is facing for airing her views on the on sex and gender publicly.Piers addressed the topic of the US transgender swimmer, Lia Thomas, who is set to become a "world-beating superstar" after having joined the women's team.He wrote that the swimmer previously competed unsuccessfully on the University of Pennsylvania men's team.Piers branded the move "grotesquely unfair" in a new column but added that anyone who criticises the move is immediately branded "transphobic".The star wrote that he "unequivocally" the rights of trans people to equality and fairness but added that Thomas had a "massive biological advantage" over her competitors.Piers went on to write that defenders of women's rights are frequently subjected to "the intolerant cancel culture mob", claiming that they try to "destroy careers and lives" for the cause.The former Life Stories host looked to the case of Rowling as an example who has received death threats over the matter on Twitter.Yesterday, the best-selling author hit back at Russian president Vladimir Putin, who compared the cancellation of the Harry Potter author to the sanctions placed upon Russia for invading Ukraine.In a speech, Putin said: "They cancelled Joanne Rowling recently, the children’s author, her books are published all over the world - just because she didn’t satisfy the demands of gender rights."They are now trying to cancel our country.
