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Daily Record
Daily Record
Entertainment
Bev Lyons

Rachel Riley claims hate JK Rowling's receives for trans rights views comes after she spoke out 'for Jews'

Rachel Riley has claimed much of the hate JK Rowling receives for her views on trans rights, comes because she spoke out “for Jews and against Jeremy Corbyn”.

Countdown star Rachel acknowledged she expected to be 'cancelled' after praising the Harry Potter author's philanthropic work.

JK has sparked controversy in recent years with her comments on trans issues, and in 2020 made fun of gender neutral phrase “people who menstruate”.

She wrote: "I’m sure there used to be a word for those people. Someone help me out. Wumben? Wimpund? Woomud?"

Amongst those who have criticised the author are LGBT charities, including Stonewall.

Rachel Riley claimed much of the criticism directed at Rowling is due to her speaking out for Jewish people (PA)

Rachel commented on the controversy to the Sunday Times explaining: "I think a lot of the attacks on JK Rowling are really because she spoke out for Jews and against Jeremy Corbyn and antisemitism."

She also said: “She has made a real difference to the world. And just saying this will get us both cancelled.”

In 2020, the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) wrote that the Labour Party could have tackled antisemitism more effectively “if the leadership had chosen to do so”.

Jeremy Corbyn, said at the time that although antisemitism was "absolutely abhorrent, the scale of the problem was also dramatically overstated for political reasons by our opponents".

He was suspended by the party over the statement, and later said he did not mean to“belittle concerns” about antisemitism.

Following her most recent comment Rachel has posted on her Twitter: "I support trans rights for people to live as they please & I support JK Rowling who also does.

“We all know any mention of this subject whatsoever will result in a pile on for whoever dares comment. It’s horrible and I’m so sorry for the people directly affected by this toxicity."

JK had also tweeted in the past: "I respect every trans person’s right to live any way that feels authentic and comfortable to them. I’d march with you if you were discriminated against on the basis of being trans.

"At the same time, my life has been shaped by being female. I do not believe it’s hateful to say so."

Rachel was also awarded £10,000 in damages at the end of last year after suing ex-Corbyn aide Laura Murray for libel.

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