Boy George has accused JK Rowling of hating men amid an ongoing clash over transgender issues, with the Culture Club singer, 63, claiming on social media that the Harry Potter author "cannot differentiate between a 'trans' woman and a biological male".
Rowling swiftly responded to the accusation, slamming the comments made by George and reiterated the fact that she is happily "married to man." .
The exchange marks the latest development in the public debate surrounding Rowling's gender-critical views, which have attracted both criticism and support in recent years.
Boy George's comments came in response to a social media exchange involving a fan account for actor Pedro Pascal, where they posted that Pascal "doesn't hate women" and "trans women are women".
The singer claimed Rowling "hated" men
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"Stop this nonsense that if you don't agree with @jk_rowling you hate women. She hates men. This is where this truth lies," he slammed on X.
The singer was responding to a recent trend in which Hollywood stars, including Pascal, have worn T-shirts with the slogan "Protect the Dolls".
"Dolls" refers to transgender women, with the slogan emerging following a Supreme Court ruling that some campaigners claim threatens transgender people.
In her full response, Rowling expanded on her position regarding transgender issues and penned: "I simply live in reality where men - however they identify - commit 98 per cent of sexual assaults, and 88 per cent of victims are female.
"Trans-identified men are no less likely than other kinds of men to pose a risk to women or girls."
The statement comes amid Rowling's continued advocacy for what she describes as women's sex-based rights, where the author has previously faced criticism from LGBTQ+ activists and some celebrities for her views.
The pair engaged in a spat on X
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Some social media users have labelled her views "disgusting", while others have branded her a "TERF"—a trans-exclusionary radical feminist - for her extensive outspoken opinions on transgender identity.
The recent clash follows a landmark ruling by the Supreme Court earlier this month, where it was determined that a transgender person with a certificate recognising them as female should not be considered a woman for equality purposes.
Rowling celebrated this decision, posting on X: "It took three extraordinary, tenacious Scottish women with an army behind them to get this case heard by the Supreme Court and, in winning, they've protected the rights of women and girls across the UK."
Both the British and Scottish Governments have said they will work to implement the ruling.
Senator Mike Lee, a Utah Republican and close ally of President Trump, backed Rowling in the dispute, saying: "Ignore realities of criminal behaviour at your own peril."
Protests against the ruling have taken place across the United Kingdom
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For Women Scotland, the organisation that brought the Supreme Court case, also responded to Boy George's comments.
"She really doesn't hate men, love. Women can say 'no' to men without hating all of the sex class. I realise this is tough conceptually for some of the bros."
