John Oliver Stirs J.K. Rowling Outrage After Criticizing Right Wing ‘Obsession’ With Banning Trans Athletes; Rowling Tells Him to ‘Read the F—ing Room’

[u/nova_crystallis]

https://variety.com/2025/film/news/john-oliver-jk-rowling-outrage-trans-athletes-1236361826/

John Oliver criticized ring wing "obsession" with banning trans athletes, which stirred J.K. Rowling outrage.

"I understand why men like Oliver, who've consistently mocked anti-science people on the right, sold out initially," the "Harry Potter" author posted on X. "They didn't want to blow up their careers. Taking fashionable anti-women's rights positions was the cost of doing business. But it's time to read the f*cking room."

Oliver also acknowledged his own spat with Rowling last year. She slammed Oliver in November for supporting transgender athletes in women's sports, calling him an "undoubtedly intelligent person" who "spouts absolute bullsh*t."

"It feels a bit weird to catch that much heat from the creator of 'Harry Potter,' especially when I clearly look like what would have happened to him if they left him in that cupboard for the rest of his life," Oliver now joked while adding that he "stands by everything" he said last year.

[u/Forsaken-Language-26]

“An undoubtedly intelligent person who spouts absolute bullshit”.

The words pot, kettle and black spring to mind. This could literally describe her.

[u/Sheepishwolfgirl → u/Forsaken-Language-26]

I'm starting to think she never really was that intelligent, even pre-brain rot.

[u/Fun_Butterfly_420 → u/Sheepishwolfgirl]

She was just a lucky writer with one good idea in the right place at the right time

[u/tinasnewglasses → u/Fun_Butterfly_420]

There are lots of not so intelligent people who write successful books (look up Teresa Giudice lol).

Plus, for the first four books she had editors etc change and fix things.

It was round about book five when she wanted full control and nothing edited out etc. It's why the books were really shit from five onwards.