JK Rowling faced backlash on X after tweeting in support of Iranian protesters, with critics highlighting her silence during Israel’s actions in Gaza. The author condemned the Iranian regime and praised protesters for rejecting oppressive laws, framing their bravery as “light in a dark world.”
However, many users called out her selective activism, pointing out that she had remained silent as over 68,000 Palestinians, including women and children, were killed during Israel’s recent actions in Gaza.
Critics described her behavior as “selective feminism” or “imperial feminism,” accusing Rowling of championing women’s rights only when it aligns with Western geopolitical comfort zones.
The framing of Iranians rejecting Islam was also criticized as oversimplified and potentially Islamophobic, reducing a complex society to a narrative convenient for Western audiences.
Many argued that true solidarity cannot exist in isolation from other injustices, especially when those injustices are perpetuated or ignored by the same global powers that the activism implicitly supports.
The backlash highlighted frustration with Western celebrities who claim moral authority while practicing conditional empathy. Users emphasized that supporting Iranian women’s rights is valid, but lecturing others on morality while ignoring Palestinian suffering undermines credibility.
Many noted Rowling’s history of controversial commentary on marginalized communities, including her transphobia controversies, which added context to the skepticism.
Observers also warned against the danger of framing liberation as secularization, implying that freedom must conform to Western ideals. This, critics argued, risks flattening cultural and religious nuance and can inadvertently justify interventionist narratives.
The responses on X were less about condemning advocacy for Iranian rights and more about challenging selective outrage, hypocrisy, and the hierarchy of suffering often imposed by influential figures.
The episode illustrates the broader tension between celebrity activism and consistent moral accountability. While Rowling may genuinely believe she is supporting human rights, online critics insist that true advocacy requires consistency, attention to context, and acknowledgment of silences in other crises.
