JK Rowling has waded into the ongoing row surrounding David Tennant’s remarks about Kemi Badenoch during an acceptance speech at this year’s British LGBT Awards.
The actor, who was accepting an award for being a “celebrity ally” to the trans community, said during his speech that he wished the Equalities Minister would “shut up”.
He also suggested that until people like Badenoch “don’t exist anymore”, the issue of trans rights will continue to be a talking point.
Badenoch has since hit back at Tennant, branding him a “rich, lefty, white male celebrity” and defended her stance for wanting to ban trans women from women’s toilets and sports teams in order to protect females.
She also insisted she “will not shut up” or be “silenced by men who prioritise applause from Stonewall over the safety of women and girls”.
Rowling is one of many public figures who has now made their thoughts on Tennant’s remarks clear by reposting a furious verdict from tennis icon Martina Navratilova about the speech.
Kemi Badenoch was the subject of Tennant’s speech on trans rights
PA
Navratilova had penned on X, formerly Twitter: “Wow. The misogyny is in full force!!!
“Ladies and gentlemen – I give you the perfect example of Male Entitlement… Omg….” (sic)
Rowling appeared to echo and endorse Navratilova’s stance by sharing the take with her 14.1 million followers.
The Harry Potter author similarly appeared to back Badenoch, reposting her full retort to Tennant which read: “I will not shut up. I will not be silenced by men who prioritise applause from Stonewall over the safety of women and girls.
Wow. The misogyny is in full force!!!
Ladies and gentlemen- I give you the perfect example of
Male Entitlement…
Omg… https://t.co/eBN2tDdXuF— Martina Navratilova (@Martina) June 25, 2024
“A rich, lefty, white male celebrity so blinded by ideology he can’t see the optics of attacking the only black woman in government by calling publicly for my existence to end.
“Tennant is one of Labour’s celebrity supporters. This is an early example of what life will be like if they win.
“Keir Starmer stood by while Rosie Duffield was hounded. He and his supporters will do the same with the country. Do not let the bigots and bullies win.”
The row surrounding Tennant and Badenoch also caught the attention of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak who took to the social media site to condemn the actor’s comments.
The PM penned: “Freedom of speech is the most powerful feature of our democracy.
“If you’re calling for women to shut up and wishing they didn’t exist, you are the problem.”
Tennant doesn’t use social media and is yet to publicly address the fallout from his speech.
His speech at the LGBT Awards in full went: “I am honoured to receive this, I’m thrilled to be here and to be a part of this night.
“With a slogan I attract the ire of the occasional online idiot, but I don’t have social media, so even I have to be told about that from my brilliant wife Georgia, who is the real engine behind anything we do.
David Tennant received an award for being a “celebrity ally”
GETTY
“She educated me about empathy and understanding and she has been a huge educator for me. But I think I suppose if I’m honest I’m a little depressed by the fact that acknowledging that everyone has the right to be who they want to be and live their life how they want to live it, as long as they’re not hurting anyone else, should merit any kind of special award or special mention, because it’s common sense, isn’t it? It is human decency.
“We shouldn’t live in a world where that is worth remarking on. However, until we wake up and Kemi Badenoch doesn’t exist anymore… I don’t wish ill of her, I just wish her to shut up.
“Whilst we do live in this world, I am honoured to receive this. I’m thrilled to be here and to be a part of this night. Pride is very important in our house. It’s a family affair. We have skin in the game.
“So this event tonight thrills me. It gives me hope. It gives me fire, it gives me energy and deep joy. And even if I feel I don’t really deserve this, I’m very pleased and very proud to be receiving it. Thank you all so much.”
Source Agencies
