Oft-embattled “Harry Potter” author J.K. Rowling found herself playing social media defense yet again Friday, only this time it was as a result of remarks made by Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Rowling, an outspoken feminist, has frequently been criticized as a Trans-Exclusionary Radical Feminist (TERF) from the far-left for her efforts to protect women and women’s spaces from those in the “trans” community. Describing womanhood as “not a costume” has resulted in Rowling being canceled from events ironically considered “inclusive, welcoming [places] for everyone.”
Now, as Putin continues the Russian invasion of Ukraine and faces well-warranted backlash for his aggression, the Russian president is trying to play the victim and likening his plight to that of the bestselling author.
In a Friday address on Russian state TV, Putin compared the public’s response to him and his nation as just another example of the West trying to cancel people. “They canceled Joanne Rowling, the children’s author – her books are published all over the world – because she didn’t satisfy the demands of gender rights,” Putin stated.
"It's impossible to imagine such a thing in our country"
President Vladimir Putin uses J K Rowling as an example of Western cynicism and "cancel culture", which he says is currently being aimed at Russia.
Latest on Ukraine: https://t.co/XTFXr6HmAe
📺 Sky 501 and YouTube pic.twitter.com/TyH9lddC5k
— Sky News (@SkyNews) March 25, 2022
“They’re trying to cancel our country,” Putin said, highlighting the works of Tchaikovsky and Rachmaninov being excluded from concerts, “and Russian writers and their books are also banned.”
Putin carried on about the “progressive discrimination of everything to do with Russia,” stating, “We remember the footage when they were burning books. It is impossible to imagine such a thing in our country and we are insured against this thanks to our culture…where there is no place for ethnic intolerance, where for centuries representatives from dozens of ethnic groups have been living together.”
Rowling was having no part of Putin’s attempted association and was quick to point out the hypocrisy in his claims, indicting reports of war crimes and sharing an article about the jailing and poisoning of one of his most outspoken critics, Alexei Navalny.
Critiques of Western cancel culture are possibly not best made by those currently slaughtering civilians for the crime of resistance, or who jail and poison their critics. #IStandWithUkraine https://t.co/aNItgc5aiW
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) March 25, 2022
“Critiques of Western cancel culture are possibly not best made by those currently slaughtering civilians for the crime of resistance, or who jail and poison their critics,” Rowling stated bluntly with the hashtag, #IStandWithUkraine.
In addition to the anti-corruption protests promoted by Navalny that had detained thousands, more recent protests against the invasion of Ukraine have led to the incarceration of journalists following the enactment by Putin of a law banning “fake news.”
Rowling further disassociated herself from the Russian leader by mentioning the efforts by her charity organization Lumos and her commitment to match donations to help, “Children trapped in orphanages and other institutions,” throughout Ukraine.
A reminder: I will personally match all donations to our emergency appeal, up to £1m. If you're able to, you can donate here. Again, thank you so very much to all who've already donated.💙💛 @lumos https://t.co/NSDoHf1ZHv
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) March 25, 2022
“Lumos is actively participating in national working groups and coordinating with NGOs and other authorities to find urgent solutions to child protection issues and resource shortages,” Rowling explained on her website, “and to address longer-term needs such as education and psychological support.”
While she and her organization actively work toward finding solutions to the growing refugee crisis caused by his invasion, Putin continues to gripe about the slight he feels that Russia hasn’t had proper representation in Hollywood films about WWII.
“In Hollywood, they made films where the country that defeats the fascist was the United States. They just cancel the contribution of the Red Army,” he complained.
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Native of Brooklyn, NY, Kevin Haggerty is a graduate of Hunter College where he studied Cultural Anthropology and Geography. An avid reader and truth seeker, he currently resides in Texas with his wife and their dog and, when he isn't researching current events and their impacts, you'll find him spending time with friends and family or working on his next novel.
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