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JK Rowling hits back at being 'cancelled' after receiving pipebomb death threat

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - DECEMBER 12: Author J.k. Rowling arrives at the RFK Ripple of Hope Awards at New York Hilton Midtown on December 12, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images)
JK Rowling said trans activists have threatened to beat rape and murder her. (Getty Images)

JK Rowling has reacted after apparently receiving multiple threats of rape and murder from trans activists.

The Harry Potter author was accused of transphobia last year after comments she made about the use of the word woman and a subsequent essay about single-sex bathroom

Rowling shared a bomb threat she had received from a user identifying as "Trigender".

Read more: 'Harry Potter' fans reject news of TV series in light of JK Rowling's 'transphobia' row

The 55-year-old writer said: "To be fair, when you can’t get a woman sacked, arrested or dropped by her publisher, and cancelling her only made her book sales go up, there’s really only one place to go."

Rowling also replied to a comment asking if the threat related to her previous comments about single-sex bathrooms, saying: "Yes, but now hundreds of trans activists have threatened to beat, rape, assassinate and bomb me I’ve realised that this movement poses no risk to women whatsoever."

The author added: "Got to get back to my chapter now, but to all the people sending me beautiful, kind, funny and supportive messages, thank you so much," revealing she is writing another instalment in her Cormoran Strike detective series.

It is the first time the writer has commented directly on social media about being "cancelled" for the comments she made last year.

Rowling was accused of transphobia after a series of posts on Twitter last June, responding to a story with a headline which read: “Opinion: Creating a more equal post-COVID-19 world for people who menstruate.”

She tweeted: “‘People who menstruate’. I’m sure there used to be a word for those people. Someone help me out. Wumben? Wimpund? Woomud?”

Watch: Rupert Grint on JK Rowling: 'You can have huge respect for someone and still disagree'

She went on to defend her comments saying: “If sex isn’t real, there’s no same-sex attraction. If sex isn’t real, the lived reality of women globally is erased.

"I know and love trans people, but erasing the concept of sex removes the ability of many to meaningfully discuss their lives. It isn’t hate to speak the truth.

Read more: Harry Potter star Robbie Coltrane defends JK Rowling in transphobia row

She went on to publish an essay online in which she claimed - as a domestic violence survivor - that she felt allowing trans people to use single-sex bathrooms and changing rooms could be "offering cover to predators".

Rowling was criticised for her remarks by Harry Potter stars including Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Fantastic Beasts star Eddie Redmayne.

LONDON - NOVEMBER 3: Actors Robbie Coltrane, Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Author Jk Rowling, Rupert Grint and Kenneth Branagh arrive for the world premiere of
Robbie Coltrane, far left, is one of few 'Harry Potter' stars to come out in support of JK Rowling.(Getty Images)

Rowling’s series of seven children’s novels about the boy wizard were turned into a successful movie franchise by Warner Bros between 2001 and 2011, and a further spin-off franchise Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, based on a fictional textbook within the original novels is still ongoing.

Watch: Rupert Grint said he still respects JK Rowling but disagrees with what she said