Author JK Rowling, who is known for her polarising views on transgender people, has targeted asexuals in her latest online post on International Asexuality Day.
JK Rowling, who is best known for writing the Harry Potter novels, has become a vocal figure in the conversation surrounding trans and gender non-conforming individuals in recent years.
In a post on 6 April, Rowling posted to her X account to take aim at those who identify as asexual – a sexual orientation characterised by a lack of or very low sexual attraction to others
“Happy International Fake Oppression Day to everyone who wants complete strangers to know they don’t fancy a shag,” Rowling wrote above a graphic intended to educate people on what asexuality is.
The orientation, which is part of the wider LGBTQIA+ community, is defined as when a person “experiences little to no sexual attraction,” and denotes that they “don’t experience sexual attraction in the same way as others.”
Happy International Fake Oppression Day to everyone who wants complete strangers to know they don’t fancy a shag. pic.twitter.com/xkBhbWqP5z
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) April 6, 2025
In further comments underneath the original post, Rowling doubled down on her views, writing, “At this point, it’s quicker to list who isn’t under the queer umbrella than who is,” and “I want an International Bored Of This Shit day.”
She also wrote “how do asexual people know whether they’re gay or straight, I wonder?”
Her posts were roundly criticised by asexual people, members of the wider LGBTQ+ community, and their allies.
One person wrote: “Why is it necessary to behave this way? How does this harm you? How does these people existing – and their no way official day – offend you? X is a magnifying glass that increasingly shows everyone what sort of people we are. Is this who you want to be? A person who goes out of her way, to use her widely heard voice, to just cast scathing aspersion and unearned animosity at people for no particular reason?”
Another added: “Do you just have a problem with anyone that doesn’t think exactly like you!?”
A third referenced the “how do asexual people know whether they’re gay or straight” comment, writing: “Rowling does not understand the concept of Romantic Love.”
And a fourth pointed out that asexuals are subject to very real, rather than “fake” oppression, noting: “Asexual people face oppressive treatment through coercive “corrective” sex – aka rape – and forced sexualisation.”
In February, Rowling celebrated Donald Trump’s sports ban for trans athletes, writing, “Congratulations to every single person on the left who’s been campaigning to destroy women’s and girls’ rights. Without you, there’d be no images like this,” referencing a picture of the president signing the executive order.
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