J.K. Rowling References Easter in Response to “F*** JKR” Chants at U.K. Parliament Protest (2025)

Thousands gathered in London’s Parliament Square to protest an April 16, 2025, U.K. Supreme Court ruling on the legal definition of a woman that excludes trans women. The unanimous court decision impacts, among other rulings, a 2018 Scottish law requiring at least 50 percent females on boards of public entities, which had previously included transgendered females.

With concern growing over opposition to trans rights, activists and allies gathered in an emergency protest, as chants of “Fuck J.K. Rowling” broke out in the crowd on Saturday, April 19. Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling reportedly helped finance the legal challenge brought by Campaigners For Women Scotland, and her first reaction on X, formerly Twitter, to reports of the protest chants was “Only a thousand? #disappointed,” followed by resurfacing a response to an older post that urged boycotting her books: “I get the same royalties whether you read them or burn them. Enjoy your marshmallows!” in reference to Easter Sunday.

The protest happened on the heels of Warner Bros. announcing the adult cast to the Harry Potter television series based on Rowling’s blockbuster books, which have sold over 600 million copies worldwide. Seven seasons, one per book, are planned, with showrunner Francesca Gardiner (Succession) at the helm and Mark Mylod directing some episodes (Game of Thrones). The casting of John Lithgow as Professor Albus Dumbledore has encountered some resistance to his being an American (previous Dumbledores have been portrayed by British actors Richard Harris, Michael Gambon and Jude Law).

Bridgerton star Nicola Coughlin numbers among the more public figures who have denounced both the ruling and those who championed it, a veiled but direct reference to Rowling, in an Instagram Story that has since expired and a follow-up post.