Bridgerton star Nicola Coughlan hits out at JK Rowling after Harry Potter author celebrated Supreme Court gender ruling - as trans activists take to the streets of London in protest
Nicola Coughlan has taken a swipe at JK Rowling after the Harry Potter author celebrated this weeks Supreme Court gender ruling with a smug social media post.
Nicola Coughlan has taken a swipe at JK Rowling after the Harry Potter author celebrated this weeks Supreme Court gender ruling with a smug social media post.
A landmark Supreme Court hearing on Wednesday ruled that the definition of a woman is based on biological sex, meaning transgender women are no longer legally considered women.
Following the decision, Rowling, who has been unapologetically vocal with her views about gender in recent years, took to X to celebrate.
Accompanying a picture of her sat smoking a cigar on her superyacht with a drink in-hand, the Harry Potter creator wrote: I love it when a plan comes together.
Today however, Bridgerton star Nicola Coughlan, who was left completely horrified by Wednesdays ruling, hit back at Rowlings celebrations with a post on Instagram.
The actor shared an article headlined: This is a new low for JK Rowling before referring to HBOs new Harry Potter series by writing: Keep your new Harry Potter lads. Wouldnt touch it with a 10ft pole.
Earlier this week, 38-year-old Coughlan, who starred in Derry Girls, also shared a video voicing her disgust at what she called a stomach-churning Supreme Court ruling.
To see an already marginalised community being further attacked and attacked in law is really stomach churning and disgusting, and to see people celebrate it is more stomach-churning and disgusting, she said.
After the Supreme Court hearing on Wednesday, JK Rowling posted the above photo with the caption: I love it when a plan comes together
Today however, Bridgerton star Nicola Coughlan, who was left completely horrified by Wednesdays ruling, hit back at Rowlings celebrations with a post on Instagram
Make your voice heard and let your trans and non-binary friends and the community at large know that you are there for them and will keep fighting for them.
The video was shared to announce the launch of a new fundraiser spearheaded by the actor in support of trans charity Not A Phase - which has already raised more than £100,000.
Wednesdays ruling that the words sex, man and woman in the Equality Act must mean biological sex sparked jubilant scenes outside Londons Supreme Court.
It means the legal definition of woman only applies to those who were born female, and trans women do not have the right to use single-sex women-only spaces such as toilets or changing rooms.
The ruling however, has caused much controversy and has left transgender activists furious.
Thousands took to the streets of London today to protest the decision, with a statue of suffragette Millicent Fawcett defaced as part of the protest.
Thousands of campaigners gathered in London today to campaign against the Supreme Court ruling
Trans activists defaced a statue of the suffragette Millicent Fawcett as part of their protest against the Supreme Court ruling on the definition of a woman
At least two statues in Parliament Square were daubed with graffiti during the rally, with f** rights and a heart painted on the banner held by suffragette Millicent Fawcett, and trans rights are human rights sprayed on the pedestal bearing a memorial to South African military leader and statesman Jan Christian Smuts
The demonstration has been described as an emergency and has taken place in the capitals Parliament Square.
Activists demanded trans liberation and trans rights now, with some waving flags and holding banners.
At least two statues in Parliament Square were vandalized during the rally, with f** rights and a heart chalked onto the banner held by suffragette Millicent Fawcett, and trans rights are human rights spray-painted on the pedestal bearing a memorial to South African military leader Jan Christian Smuts.
Among the groups supporting the London protest are Trans Kids Deserve Better, Pride in Labour, the Front for the Liberation of Intersex Non-binary and Transgender people (Flint) and TransActual.
Thousands of trans rights protesters also took to the streets of Edinburgh this afternoon following the Supreme Court ruling.
Activists demanded trans liberation and trans rights now, with some waving flags and holding banners
Pictured: Activists hold signs that read: Life feels like a black mirror episode right now and Dont hate me because Im beautiful
Demonstrators waved flags and signs and chanted slogans as they gathered at the foot of the Mound, in the heart of the Scottish capital, before marching to the UK Government offices at Queen Elizabeth House.
Speakers addressed the crowd using megaphones, and led the demonstrators in chants that included Trans rights are human rights and When trans rights are under attack, what do we do? Fight back.
Lauren Yeoman, 38, said she was taking part in the demonstration because she was disgusted at what she said amounted to the removal of trans peoples human rights.
Describing how she felt when she learned of the Supreme Court ruling she said: I felt sick to be honest. I think were taking a lot of backward steps.
It feels like every day women are being attacked, minorities are being attacked, and the real problem is being ignored, and were pointing fingers at people who arent harming anybody, such as trans people, while ignoring the real problems.
Earlier this week, the Government said the unaninmous ruling made by five judges brought clarity and confidence for women and service providers, while a Labour Party source said Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer had brought the party to a common sense position on the subject from an activist stance.