JK Rowling has revealed that she’s been forced to go to the police after receiving death threats in the wake of Salman Rushdie’s New York stabbing. The 57-year-old Harry Potter author said a man responded to a tweet she posted about Rushdie’s attack with “don’t worry, you’re next.”
To all sending supportive messages: thank you 💕
Police are involved (were already involved on other threats).— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) August 13, 2022
- Rowling shared screencaps of the man’s account. While she’d already contacted police about other threats she’d received, this one seemed particularly malicious and also had to be reported to the authorities. She also appealed to Twitter for help, asking: “Any chance of some support?” She went on to say: “To all sending supportive messages: thank you. Police are involved (were already involved on other threats).”
- Rowling was one of many artists speaking out in support of Rushdie and wishing him well. She tweeted in response to the news of Rushdie’s stabbing: “Horrifying news. Feeling very sick right now. Let him be ok.” That’s when a user with the handle “MeerAsifAziz1” responded with “don’t worry you are next.”
- Rushdie was attacked during a speaking engagement at the Chautauqua Institution. While Rushdie is no stranger to death threats, having had a fatwa on him since he released The Satanic Verses in 1988, this is the first time someone has followed through with them. He was stabbed multiple times on stage and has been left on a ventilator. Andrew Wylie, his book agent, said that the author will “likely lose one eye; the nerves in his arm were severed; and his liver was stabbed and damaged.”
- The violence needs to stop. Attacking someone or even killing them because you don’t agree with their ideas, opinions, or work is completely unacceptable and should be punished to the full extent of the law. You don’t have to like someone to believe that they deserve to live and that death threats are unwarranted. This is madness.
