Halsey condemns JK Rowling for ‘invalidating trans people’

Star referenced the messaging within Rowling’s Harry Potter novels when condemning the timing of her controversial tweets

Halsey has condemned JK Rowling for “invalidating trans people”, amid controversy over a series of tweets by the Harry Potter creator that saw her labelled a transphobe.

Rowling sparked backlash on 6 June after accusing trans people and trans allies of “erasing the lived reality of women”.

In her own response, Halsey slammed the timing of Rowling’s tweet, contrasting the Harry Potter novels with the worldwide protests against racism and police brutality.

Halsey tweeted: “Imagine writing a generation defining series about a youth uprisal [sic] that defeats a tyrannical monster motivated by the preservation of ‘pure blood’ and looking at THIS time in the world and going ‘hmm...yep. I’m gonna invalidate trans people.’”

Halsey has been an active protester and Black Lives Matter supporter in recent weeks, attending protests, helping injured protesters and campaigning for anti-racism causes.

Rowling, meanwhile, has been criticised for her tweets, with stars including Sarah Paulson, Jameela Jamil, Munroe Bergdorf and Harry Potter actor Katie Leung condemning her words, or in response promoting charities that support trans lives.

Rowling claimed that she was being cheered on by a “butch lesbian friend” as she tweeted claims about trans people “erasing the concept of sex”. “It isn’t hate to speak the truth,” the author wrote.

Jonathan Ross has emerged as one of Rowling’s few celebrity supporters, tweeting that she was “right and magnificent”.