JK Rowling vows SNP's Humza Yousaf will 'disappear through the ice' like Nicola Sturgeon
J.K. Rowling says Humza Yousaf “will disappear through the ice” like Nicola Sturgeon
PA
JK Rowling has said the new Scottish National Party leader, Humza Yousaf, “will disappear through the ice” like Nicola Sturgeon.
The Harry Potter author remarks were made in relation to Yousaf’s support for the Gender Recognition Reform Bill passed in Scotland, which makes it easier for biological males to self-identify as women, and therefore access female-only spaces.
Responding to a tweet about Yousaf's support for the controversial gender legislation, Rowling wrote: "Humza Yousaf is the kid who just saw the skater in front of him disappear through the ice, but yells 'watch me, everybody!' while wobbling straight for the hole."
SNP leader Humza Yousaf has been voted in by MSPs as Scotland’s youngest First Minister and the first from a minority ethnic background.
The Harry Potter author remarks were made in relation to Mr Yousaf’s support for the Gender Recognition Reform Bill passed in Scotland.
Twitter: J.K Rowling
The 37-year-old succeeds Nicola Sturgeon, who formally tendered her resignation to the King on Tuesday morning after announcing her intention to stand down last month after more than eight years in the post.
In Yousaf’s first speech since taking over in the top job, he promised to “strive every minute of every day” to be worthy of the honour of being First Minister.
Responding to a tweet about Yousaf's support for the controversial gender legislation, Rowling wrote: "Humza Yousaf is the kid who just saw the skater in front of him disappear through the ice, but yells 'watch me, everybody!' while wobbling straight for the hole."
SNP leader Humza Yousaf has been voted in by MSPs as Scotland’s youngest First Minister and the first from a minority ethnic background.
Sturgeon announced her resignation last month amid criticism that her support for the Gender Recognition Reform Bill was endangering women.
It came after Isla Bryson, a biologically male double rapist was initially sent to a female prison.
The Bryson case was seen as a contributing factor to the end of Sturgeon’s political career, as the decision to house Bryson in a female prison was made under a Scottish Prison Service policy that followed the same principle as her gender self-ID laws.
Rowling has previously attacked Mr Yousaf over his pledge to protect women's rights, accusing him of backing legislation that would have allowed rapists to be housed in women's prisons.
Humza Yousaf posted a picture of himself on Twitter holding up a large cardboard cutout of a pink heart bearing the slogan: "Upholding Rights."
Outgoing First Minster of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon signs her official resignation letter to King Charles III
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J.K. Rowling has previously been criticised for her staunch views on gender identity, explaining that she was partly motivated to speak out because of her experience of domestic abuse and sexual assault, but has strongly denied accusations of transphobia.
Speaking in an episode of the podcast The Witch Trials of J.K. Rowling, she addressed a tweet she had made in 2019, in which she expressed support for tax expert Maya Forstater, and the resulting fallout.
The world-famous author said she “absolutely knew” that her comments and views on transgender issues would make Harry Potter fans “deeply unhappy” but despite an enormous backlash to a tweet made in 2019, there were “a tonne of Potter fans that were grateful that I said what I said”.