Russian President Vladimir Putin compared what he claims is the West’s attempt to “cancel” his country to its response to author J.K. Rowling.
During a speech, Putin accused the United States of ignoring the contribution Russia’s Red Army made during World War II. He suggested in Japan they do not mention the United States’ decision to drop the atomic bomb on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
“They canceled Joanne Rowling recently, the children’s author. Her books are published all over the world. Just because she didn’t satisfy the demands of gender rights. Then they’re trying to cancel our country,” Putin said.
He added, “I’m talking about the progressive discrimination of everything to do with Russia. This trend that’s unfolding in a number of Western states with the full neglect and sometimes encouragement of Western cultures that are now engaging in the cancel culture.”
Watch his comments below:
"It's impossible to imagine such a thing in our country"
— Sky News (@SkyNews) March 25, 2022
President Vladimir Putin uses J K Rowling as an example of Western cynicism and "cancel culture", which he says is currently being aimed at Russia.
Latest on Ukraine: https://t.co/XTFXr6HmAe
📺 Sky 501 and YouTube pic.twitter.com/TyH9lddC5k
Rowling later tweeted a response, saying, “Critiques of Western cancel culture are possibly not best made by those currently slaughtering civilians for the crime of resistance, or who jail and poison their critics.”
Critiques of Western cancel culture are possibly not best made by those currently slaughtering civilians for the crime of resistance, or who jail and poison their critics. #IStandWithUkraine https://t.co/aNItgc5aiW
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) March 25, 2022
Rowling received criticism in June 2020 over her response to an op-ed that talked about “people who menstruate.”
She replied, “‘People who menstruate.’ I’m sure there used to be a word for those people. Someone help me out. Wumben? Wimpund? Woomud?”
‘People who menstruate.’ I’m sure there used to be a word for those people. Someone help me out. Wumben? Wimpund? Woomud?
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) June 6, 2020
Opinion: Creating a more equal post-COVID-19 world for people who menstruate https://t.co/cVpZxG7gaA
In a follow-up tweet, Rowling explained, “If sex isn’t real, there’s no same-sex attraction. If sex isn’t real, the lived reality of women globally is erased. I know and love trans people, but erasing the concept of sex removes the ability of many to meaningfully discuss their lives. It isn’t hate to speak the truth.”
She added, “The idea that women like me, who’ve been empathetic to trans people for decades, feeling kinship because they’re vulnerable in the same way as women – ie, to male violence – ‘hate’ trans people because they think sex is real and has lived consequences – is a nonsense.”
The idea that women like me, who’ve been empathetic to trans people for decades, feeling kinship because they’re vulnerable in the same way as women – ie, to male violence – ‘hate’ trans people because they think sex is real and has lived consequences – is a nonsense.
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) June 6, 2020
Actors who starred in the film adaptions of her Harry Potter series also came out and issued statements responding to her views.