Joanne Harris dismisses row with JK Rowling as 'fabricated' amid calls for Chocolat novelist to be axed as Society of Authors chair after she was accused of mocking death threats with 'tasteless' Twitter poll in wake of Rushdie stabbing

• e-mail

Chocolat novelist Joanne Harris has dismissed her row with JK Rowling as 'fabricated' as she faces growing calls to be removed from her role as Chair of the Society of Authors after she was accused of mocking death threats to writers in the wake of the brutal attack on Salman Rushdie. 

Around 50 British authors signed an open letter calling for her resignation from the industry body as a bitter war of words between Rowling and Harris boiled over after Indian-born Sir Salman was stabbed multiple times by an suspected Iran sympathiser in upstate New York. 

Rowling, 57, had tweeted her support for Rushdie when she received a vile death threat from an Islamist extremist who warned: 'Don't worry, you are next'. Harris, 58, then posted a Twitter poll asking 'Fellow-authors... have you ever received a death threat (credible or otherwise).'

The response options were 'Yes', 'Hell, yes', 'No, never' and 'Show me, dammit', with some interpreting this as suggesting scepticism about how serious the threats were.

Amid claims that she was mocking death threats to writers Harris deleted the poll admitting that she 'got the tone wrong'.

Rowling then accused Harris of betraying the principle of free speech, claiming that the Chocolat author had 'consistently failed' to defend female writers who disagreed 'with her personal position on gender identity ideology'.

The two women have been at loggerheads for years over their differing views on trans rights and gender. Rowling and Harris clashed in 2020 after the Harry Potter author criticised an article that referred to 'people who menstruate'. Trans rights campaigners then encouraged readers to burn Rowling's books, while Harry Potter actors Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint turned on the author. 

And Harris, who is an advocate of trans rights, was among 100 signatories to a letter which said 'non-binary lives are valid, trans women are women, trans men are men, trans rights are human rights'.

Branding the row between her and Rowling as 'fabricated', Harris, who is an advocate of trans rights, tweeted: 'I totally condemn any threats to her, as I do to anyone. I think the literary world can do better than this fabricated culture war.'

It comes as radical feminist Julie Bindel, bestselling novelists' Christina Dalcher, Anne Fine, Alex Marwood and Paula Byrne along with journalist Helen Joyce were among 50 writers who signed an open letter demanding that Harris be removed from her post with the SoA. 

They called Harris's position 'untenable' and told chief executive Nicola Solomon: 'This had turned into a polarised argument between supporters and detractors of Rowling, with many of the latter loudly complaining that the focus of discussion had shifted from Rushdie's troubles to Rowling's.'

It comes as the SoA today said that it 'condemns any type of personal attack on any author - whether physical, verbal, legal or political - for exercising their right to express themselves freely'.

In a siren call for free speech, the body said in a statement that it deplored 'any kind of racist, hate or unprofessional speech', 'bullying, trolling and personal attacks', and said: 'We support the right of all authors to hold and express opinions'.

'Following the attempted murder of Sir Salman Rushdie on 12 August 2022, it is more important than ever that authors find ways to cooperate, regardless of their views, to protect the fragile freedom of expression that we all depend on. This is no time to surrender to polarisation and hate,' it added.

JK Rowling (pictured left) and Joanne Harris (pictured right) have been at loggerheads for years over their differing views on trans rights and gender

The Chocolat author took to Twitter and said Ms Rowling has 'every right to her opinions' and condemned the death threats targeted towards her  

Joanne Harris said her son came out as trans gender recently but her 'feelings about the gender-critical movement' have not affected her support of 'free speech'

Joanne Harris, 58, wrote in the poll: 'Fellow-authors... have you ever received a death threat (credible or otherwise)'

The poll was later deleted by Joanne Harris, who replaced it with an alternative version shown above

Christina Dalcher, who wrote bestselling feminist novel Vox, was among the writers to sign an open letter to the Society of Authors

Radical feminist Julie Bindle hit out at Harris, saying she had been 'disgustingly inappropriate'

After Harris sent her Tweet, other writers hit out at her including Julie Bindel who said it was 'disgustingly inappropriate'. 

She and tens of authors also wrote in the open letter:  'We, the undersigned writers and industry professionals, wish to express our deep disquiet and anger at the Society of Authors' abject failure to speak out on violent threats towards its members, and the behaviour of Joanne Harris, the Chair of your Board of Management, on Twitter.

'We believe Joanne Harris's position as Chair of the Management Committee is untenable.'

Novelist Simon Edge, who has written books on the trans debate, described the poll, which was later deleted and replaced with an alternative version, as 'indefensible' and said it's 'high time' the Chocolat author stepped down from her Society of Authors role. He also signed the letter later today. 

Rowling told the Times: 'I was startled to read this [..] as I've received no communication whatsoever from Harris expressing sympathy for the death and rape threats I've received.'  

She has since replied to Harris' poll and said the author 'consistently failed' to defend female authors like Rachel Rooney and Gillian Philip who disagreed 'with her personal position on gender identity ideology'. 

She also claimed Rooney and Philip suffered 'severe personal and professional harm' after they challenged 'a fashionable ideology which has been remarkably successful in demonising those who protest against the current attack on women's rights'.

Rowling added: 'Harris has consistently failed to criticise tactics designed to silence and intimidate women who disagree with her personal position on gender identity ideology and has said publicly, 'Cancel isn't a dirty word. We habitually cancel things we no longer want'. 

'I find it impossible to square the society's stated position on freedom of speech with Harris's public statements over the past two years and stand in solidarity with all female writers in the UK who currently feel betrayed by their professional body and its leader.' 

Harris, who identifies as gender fluid and uses the pronouns she/they, told her followers on Twitter after Rowling's remarks: 'I support trans rights. I also have a son who came out as trans a few months ago. But my personal feelings about the gender-critical movement don't affect my belief in free speech, or what I do for the Society of Authors. 

'We vigorously promote free speech. But free speech comes with an equal right to a response.

She added: 'JK Rowling has every right to her opinions. I may not share them, but that's fine. And I totally condemn any threats to her, as I do to anyone. I think the literary world can do better than this fabricated culture war, and that's what I'm trying to do. 

'Sometimes, it's exhausting. But just because I won't take your side, or join your hashtag, or be in your gang, doesn't mean your rights won't be fought for as fiercely as anyone else's. Because rights are more important than politics. We're all in this together.'

She also earlier said: 'I don't hate JK Rowling, and have never said or implied as much.' 

When Harris was asked for a comment, the Society of Authors replied and 'reiterated' its Commitment guidance on dealing with online abuse, harassment and bullying to Professional Behaviour in Publishing, Dignity and Respect policy and its unequivocal 'condemnation of violence and the threat of violence'.

Authors to have signed the open letter include Christina Dalcher, who wrote bestselling feminist novel Vox and Helen Joyce, journalist and author of Trans: When Ideology Meets Reality.

Bestselling and award winning children's author Anne Fine OBE and novelist Amanda Craig also attached their names to the letter.

Ms Dalcher tweeted today: 'Proud to sign this! Any authors' union worth its salt should condemn threats against writers & also condemn making light of such threats.' 

The death threat sent to Rowling came from an Iran-supporting Islamic extremist called Meer Asif Aziz, based in Karachi, who described himself on Twitter as a 'student, social activist, political activist and research activist'. 

He has also made tasteless 'jokes' about how to destroy Israel and branded it a Vladimir Putin-savaged Ukraine - as well as Pakistan's chief geopolitical rival India - 'terrorist states'.

The 57-year-old Harry Potter writer had expressed her horror at the sickening attempt on Sir Salman's life in upstate New York when she was sent the threat on Twitter.

She also revealed that after reporting the vile threat, the social media network responded decided that the extremist did not violate the rules. 

The email from Twitter read: 'After reviewing the available information, we determined that there were no violations of the Twitter rules in the content you reported. We appreciate your help and encourage you to reach out again in the future if you see any potential violations.' 

Rowling posted a screenshot of the response, commenting: 'These are your guidelines, right? 'Violence: You may not threaten violence against an individual or a group of people. We also prohibit the glorification of violence... 'Terrorism/violent extremism: You may not threaten or promote terrorism'...'

Journalist and novelist Alex Marwood (pictured) has also signed the open letter calling on the Society of Authors chair to step down from her position

Writer Joanne Harris (left) was accused of mocking JK Rowling (right) with a 'tasteless' Twitter poll about death threats

The Harry Potter writer said on Twitter: 'Horrifying news. Feeling very sick right now. Let him be ok'. She received the chilling reply: 'Don't worry you are next'

The Harry Potter writer had expressed her horror at the sickening attempt on Sir Salman's life in upstate New York when she was issued with the threat on Twitter

Aziz also appears to support the Supreme Leader of Iran, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who frequently rants about Israel in deranged, genocidal tweets. In one of Khamenei's posts about the 'oppressive Yazidis', for instance, Aziz responded with a heart emoji. 

And responding to another tweet from the Iranian dictator, Aziz gushed: 'Dear leader your struggle for Islamic world will not be wasted until we young generation are with you'. 

Rowling had posted about Sir Salman's stabbing: 'Horrifying news. Feeling very sick right now. Let him be ok'.

Aziz, who had described Sir Salman's alleged attacker Hadi Matar, 24, as a 'revolutionary Shia fighter', then threatened: 'Don't worry you are next'. 

After sharing screenshots of the threatening tweet, Rowling said: 'To all sending supportive messages: thank you Police are involved (were already involved on other threats).'

A Police Scotland spokesman said: 'We have received a report of an online threat being made and officers are carrying out enquiries.'

Bosses at Warner Bros Discovery (WBD), the entertainment company behind the film adaptions of JK Rowling's Harry Potter series, said they 'strongly condemn' the threats made against the author.

A spokesman for the media conglomerate added: 'We stand with her and all the authors, storytellers and creators who bravely express their creativity and opinions.

'WBD believes in freedom of expression, peaceful discourse and supporting those who offer their views in the public arena.

'Our thoughts are with Sir Salman Rushdie and his family following the senseless act of violence in New York.

'The company strongly condemns any form of threat, violence or intimidation when opinions, beliefs and thoughts might differ.'

Rowling is among the authors and notable faces who have voiced their dismay after Sir Salman's stabbing.

The Indian-born British author, whose writing led to death threats from Iran in the 1980s, was to deliver a lecture at the Chautauqua Institution, 65 miles from Buffalo in New York state, when he was attacked.

Hadi Matar, 24, has been charged with the attempted murder and assault of author Salman Rushdie. Pictured arriving at Chautauqua County Courthouse in Mayville, New York, on Saturday

Matar being escorted from the stage as people tend to author Sir Salman at the Chautauqua Institution kast Friday

On stage at the lecture theatre: Sir Salman Rushdie is seen on the left at the the Chautauqua Institution in Buffalo, New York

British-American writer Aatish Taseer said, in a since-deleted tweet, the 75-year-old was 'off the ventilator and talking (and joking)', which was then confirmed by the author's agent Andrew Wylie.

Rushdie suffered a damaged liver and severed nerves in an arm and an eye, according to Mr Wylie, and is likely to lose the eye. 

The man accused of stabbing him, 24-year-old Hadi Matar of Fairview, New Jersey, pleaded not guilty on Saturday to charges of attempted murder and assault, in what a prosecutor called a 'pre-planned' crime.

In a family statement posted on social media on Sunday, Sir Salman's son Zafar Rushdie said: 'Following the attack on Friday, my father remains in critical condition in hospital receiving extensive ongoing medical treatment.

'We are extremely relieved that [Sunday] he was taken off the ventilator and additional oxygen and he was able to say a few words.

Blood was spattered on the wall behind where Sir Salman had been attacked, with some also seen on a chair. New York State Police confirmed that Sir Salman was stabbed in the neck

Law enforcement officers detaining Sir Salman's suspected attacker Hadi Matar outside the Chautauqua Institution

'Though his life changing injuries are severe, his usual feisty & defiant sense of humour remains intact.

'We are so grateful to all the audience members who bravely leapt to his defence and administered first aid along with the police and doctors who have cared for him and for the outpouring of love and support from around the world.

'We ask for continued patience and privacy as the family come together at his bedside to support and help him through this time.'

In 2020, 58 writers, journalists and actors signed a letter in the Sunday Times in support of Rowling, condemning the 'onslaught of abuse' she had received after expressing her views on gender.

Three days later, Miss Harris was among more than 200 figures who published a statement in support of trans and non-binary people and their rights.