JK Rowling stressed the importance of standing up to negativity when she took on a Twitter user who suggested she could be "angling for some online abuse" head on.
The Harry Potter author responded to a post by the STV journalist Stephen Daisley, who joked that he hated “everything” in a tweet, prompting Rowling to send him a picture of the former Scottish Labour leader Jim Murphy.
Daisley has a picture of Murphy as his Twitter banner and has included a number of pictures in his 'Why I love Scotland' blog. Daisley and Rowling have also joked about Murphy in past Twitter exchanges, but her most recent reply saw another user ask whether she was “angling for abuse” and suggest she could be seeking publicity for a new book, play or film.
@jk_rowling @JournoStephen Is Rowling angling for some online abuse. Must have a new book/play/film in the pipeline. Publicity.
; Iain Taylor (@IainTaylor2014) September 17, 2015
Rowling has been at the receiving end of misogynistic and aggressive posts on Twitter in the past, with abuse peaking after she donated £1 million to the No campaign ahead of the Scottish referendum. She responded sarcastically to the user's tweet, using strong language to mock his suggestion that she could be encouraging abuse for attention.
God knows how Harry Potter got so big! I could go weeks at a time without being called a Quisling whore in the 90s. https://t.co/e4achhcDDz
; J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) September 17, 2015
Just heard from Warner Bros. 'Cancel the trailers, somebody's called her a cunt on Twitter again!' https://t.co/kzHwBhTkY9
; J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) September 17, 2015
When one user asked her why she had dignified comments with a response, Rowling quoted the late poet and author Maya Angelou to explain the importance of a woman speaking out.
"Each time a woman stands up for herself... she stands up for all women." Maya Angelou. https://t.co/LSZGaYlPQw
; J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) September 17, 2015
@jk_rowling brilliant, and true. Well said...
; ddsnorth ™ (@ddsnorth) September 17, 2015
@jk_rowling @Henscher @jk_rowling everyday I hope to be as graceful, independent and worthy a role model for my daughters as you are.
; Alice Potenza (@AlicePotenza) September 17, 2015
Rowling often responds to both positive and negate comments on Twitter and has in the past tackled trolls head on by replying to tweets. One of her most memorable comebacks includes: “The Internet doesn’t just offer opportunities for misogynistic abuse, you know. Penis enlargers can also be bought discreetly.”
