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A simmering dispute that has been going on for years between JK Rowling and the Indian broadcaster Willoughby has led to a police complaint against the Harry Potter author for alleged transphobia.
Willoughby, who has appeared in Celebrity Big Brother in the UK and co-presented shows including loose womenHe said he had reported Rowling to Northumbria Police in recent days.
In an interview with Byline TV, Willoughby claimed she had a “cut and dry” complaint against Rowling, arguing that the writer had repeatedly misinterpreted her.
Willoughby underwent gender reassignment surgery in 2015 and is credited with being the first transgender television news reporter in the UK, working for ITV regional news Tyne Tees.
In recent days, Rowling has repeatedly refused to use Willoughby’s preferred pronouns and has openly mocked the broadcaster in posts on Twitter, now X.
“The mask is off. Historically, people have given him the benefit of the doubt by hearing that all he does is defend women’s rights,” Willoughby said. “She can no longer discuss that now that she came out and she told me in general terms that India Willoughby is a man.”
The UK Crown Prosecution Service says hostility based on transgender identity can be prosecuted as a hate crime. Deadline has contacted Northumbria Police for comment.
Rowling responds
In a series of posts on
“I ignored this advice because I couldn’t be bothered to give India the publicity it so clearly craves,” Rowling added. “Aware as I am that lying to the authorities is a crime, I will simply have to explain to the police that, in my opinion, India is a classic example of the narcissistic man who lives in a state of perpetual anger that I cannot force women to take it according to their own assessment.”
The author also pointed to a 2021 employment tribunal ruling, which found that researcher Maya Forstater’s gender-critical views were a philosophical belief protected by the Equality Act. “No law requires anyone to pretend to believe that India is a woman,” Rowling said.
Deadline has reported in recent weeks that Rowling has been involved in the process of finding a writer for a live-action film. Harry Potter series for Max. The submission process has been narrowed down to three finalists: Francesca Gardiner, Tom Moran and Kathleen Jordan.