Boy George issues sassy message to JK Rowling on live TV after transgender row

Daily Mirror

6 hours ago

Boy George has hit back at Harry Potter author JK Rowling live on ITV's Lorraine following their online feud over her widespread anti-trans commentary
Boy George hit back at JK Rowling live on Lorraine this morning, as he addressed their on going social media feud. It comes after the two engaged in a spat on X, following the author's anti-trans commentary.
Last week, Boy George called the Harry Potter author a "rich bored bully," leading to a scathing response.
‌
She later continued: "For more than half my life I was a regular anonymous person. Some of those years were spent in poverty. That's why I understand the importance of single-sex spaces for women who're reliant on state-funded services," as she continued to speak about her stance against trans-spaces.
‌
Addressing the feud on Lorraine this morning, George didn't hold back, as he said: "I think it's hilarious that I'm having a row with someone I've never met and probably never will meet.
"In the movies she creates this beautiful magical world and in real life she's a muggle so it's very disappointing to find out that in a way it's not true," The Karma Chameleon singer said live on the ITV morning show.
The star then proceeded to address the Harry Potter author, who he believed was watching the show. "I bet she's watching now, morning," he said with a sarcastic wave. He didn't stop there however, as he exclaimed: "Get over it!"
Prior to his message to the author, Lorraine praised the star for his support for the transgender community.
‌
Speaking on his childhood, George said: "When I was a kid, when I was seven, it was obvious to everyone that I was gay, obviously I didn't know what it was. Parents often know but they don't say anything and think if they don't talk about it, it will go away.
"Usually with trans kids, it's the kid that informs the adult through different behaviour. This idea that a parent pushes their kid to be trans is so ridiculous.
"I've got friends who've got kids that are trans and it's a nightmare and they struggle; 'should I do the right thing? Should I wait until the kid is eighteen or twenty one,' all of that stuff is real life stuff. It's not two celebrities bickering on the internet.'
‌
Lorraine later continued: "Having friends who are trans who are going through a really tough time, let's just be fair, let's talk and we can all have our points of view but at the end of the day we're all just people blundering through and trying to get on with our lives."
Earlier this week, Rowling hit back at George's "rich bored bully" comments in a lengthy statement. In part, she said: "There are many differences between us, George, but some are particularly relevant to this debate.
"1. You're a man and I'm a woman. 2. You've been wealthy and famous since your early 20s. I didn't become well known until I was well over 30."
‌
Later, she continued: "For more than half my life I was a regular anonymous person. Some of those years were spent in poverty.
"That's why I understand the importance of single-sex spaces for women who're reliant on state-funded services. That's why I understand why mixed public changing rooms are a problem for women."
Boy George isn't the only celebrity to hit out at the author, who has received widespread criticism for her views. Earlier this week, she lashed out at Sir Stephen Fry after he accused her of being "radicalised by TERFs".
‌
Fry, who is the narrator for the popular books, previously claimed the author was a "friend of mine" and said he wouldn't "abandon" friendships despite even though his trans friends were "deeply upset" by Rowling.
However, he recently called her a 'lost cause' on the podcast The Show People this month. He said: "She has been radicalised, I fear, and it may be she has been radicalised by TERFs, but also by the vitriol that is thrown at her.
However, JK Rowling was quick to shut down claims they were ever friends, as she took to X to say: "It is a great mistake to assume that everyone who claims to have been a friend of mine was ever considered a friend by me."