JK Rowling has slammed an ex-SNP councillor for "having a right old laugh" after a women's rights campaigner was pelted with tomato sauce.
The Harry Potter author accused former Glasgow City councillor Austin Sheridan of being "open" about not taking "male violence against women" seriously after he tweeted a photo of a bowl of soup.
Sheridan tweeted a photo of the meal with the caption "seems that you can't have a nice wee bit of tomato soup without transphobes getting all worked up about it" accompanied by the thinking face and crying with laughter emojis.
This sparked Rowling, who is a campaigner against male on women violence and has previously spoken out about being a victim of domestic violence, to respond.
The Harry Potter author and former SNP councillor clashed on Twitter
"'We've all met "progressive" men who think male violence against women they don't agree with is a right old laugh. What's new is seeing them being this open about it. Maybe Humza will let you write his gags if you manage to get him elected," she tweeted.
Sheridan shortly after hit back at the tweet saying: "I have never ever condoned violence against women or anyone for that matter. No matter what views people hold I expect everyone to observe the law and anyone who doesn't observe the law should be punished in the appropriate manner.
"I was saying it's ridiculous that people can no longer post what they are having for dinner or tea without transphobes jumping on it saying some of the most awful things. Not only is some of the stuff being said by GC people abhorrent, it's just down right peculiar. Anyway. Happy Sunday JKR."
However, the Harry Potter author continued the row saying: "The laughing emoji, the sly smirk emoji and the mention of 'transphobes' a mere forty-eight hours after a highly publicised mass attack on women, at which at least one was punched, absolutely confirm that this was entirely about your desire for tomato soup, Austin."
The row took place after women's rights advocate Kellie-Jay Keen-Minshull, who goes by the name Posie Parker, was covered in sauce at a rally in Auckland, New Zealand, on Saturday by pro-trans activists.
A video taken by New Zealand Herald columnist Shaneel Lal, who praised the fact she wasn't allowed to deliver a speech, showed counter-protesters taking over the area where the rally was taking place.
Keen-Minshull, who calls herself a "women's right activist but not a feminist" believes it's impossible to change gender and campaigns to exclude trans women from female-only spaces.
Her views on gender have sparked chaos Down Under, and her talks have seen demonstrations from local trans activists in both countries, and her rally in Auckland on Saturday was over before it even really began, after a trans activist poured tomato sauce on her and some 2,000 demonstrators refused to allow her to speak.
The former SNP councillor hit back at the author, saying he has "never condoned violence against women"
A statement released by Speak Up For Women said a planned Wellington speaking event had been cancelled after being "overrun by a violent mob".
"Speak Up for Women thanks Mrs Keen-Minshull for having the courage to come to New Zealand and showing up in Albert Park today, despite receiving multiple death threats and threats of violence in the last week" the statement read.
"'In the coming weeks Speak Up For Women will be gathering witness statements and laying a formal complaint with the Independent Police Conduct Authority about the lack of police action to prevent violence in what was clearly an increasingly volatile situation" they added.
Following the incident Rowling tweeted: "After the repellent scenes from New Zealand, in which a mob assaulted women speaking up for their rights, #TheLesbianProject is being intimidated and threatened in the UK, right now."
