Judy Blume stands with JK Rowling.

"I just read a book that was wonderfully enlightening to me. It’s called 'Gender Queer.' It’s probably the No. 1 banned book in America right now.... And I learned a lot, and became even more empathetic. That’s what books are all about"—Judy Blume

Maybe having a read of this book could help some people on this thread, there's so much respect for JB here. Once you've got over your dismay.

Have you actually read the thread?

And I love her,” Blume immediately interjects. “I am behind her 100 per cent as I watch from afar.” Blume is referring to the abuse Rowling has received for speaking up in defence of women’s sex-based rights, and given that Blume has faced repeated attacks since the 1980s, for her books’ descriptions of adolescent sexuality and puberty, she knows what it’s like to be pilloried as an author.
If you read the article, it doesn't say that she agrees with JKs views, which was what was implied by some, it clearly says that she's referring to abuse sent.
Which is what she was clarifying in order to clear it up for anyone confused.
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/f5fa77f8-d890-11ed-b1e2-4c4ae98cfe2f?shareToken=d51b351d2917463f9456b578f6674f68

Ascribing words to people that they haven’t said seems to be your speciality!

Do you get paid for it or is it just a hobby?

Extreme trans activists have shown themselves to be bullies.
I suspect bullying, or fear of bullying.

Reasonable conclusion.

Her comments weren't taken out of context. If you read the interview in full (heaven forbid), Hadley provides the context. Hadley says something about how nice it is for once to see a film about ordinary children, who don't have magical powers. She gives Harry Potter as an example, but then adds that she does in fact like Harry Potter and JK Rowling. Judy Blume then responds: "I love her. I am behind her 100% as I watch from afar."

So Judy Blume volunteered her support for JKR. Hadley Freeman didn't even say, "So what do you think of the way JK Rowling has been treated?" Blume voluntarily came out with a clear and entirely unequivocal statement of support.

If Blume had meant "I disagree with JKR's views, but I think she's been treated badly," she could have said so. She didn't. She said "I am behind her 100%."

How can anyone seriously claim that statement means anything other than what it says?

I love JB 😍, so strong, successful & fiesty!

<JB clarifies her point>

Disgusting how they've bullied the elderly lady into saying things she doesn't mean.

I think her position made in the Hadley freeman times article was against bullying and broadly in favour of free speech and listening to others point of view, she just clarified this later. She may or may not be gender critical but nothing she has said confirms or negates this

Must be a coincidence.

Weird if happens so often though!

It's weird though, isn't it, how all these usually sharp and articulate people - usually women, but not always - only ever misspeak/are taken out of context - on this one particular topic? This one particular topic where anyone who disagrees with genderism is likely to be told to die in a fire/get raped/be submerged in acid? I'm sure it's nothing to do with that though.

Loved Judy Blume as a teen.
The idea that she must have been 'forced" to backtrack is both laughable and offensive -
Heaven forbid a woman has her own opinions on something, she must have been forced into them 🙄
Like she said, her original comments were taken out of context so she was just clarifying her views - because I mean, the media never takes things out of context do they?! 🙄

Considering she is deceased , too !

For me, it was the series of lovely Twitter ladies threatening to choke JKR and other GC women with their lady dicks.

Whereas men who publically disagreed with gender ideology, such as John Cleese, merely got a sorrowful, “do better, John”.

Her books are still an excellent choice for young readers - no gender distressed characters and no instructions for giving hand jobs. Plus the upcoming film is all about GIRLS entering puberty.

No regrets on my purchases. Bit sad that you are celebrating an elderly writer being bullied into a ‘u turn’ tho.

Look at Mystic Meg over here!
How does she do it??

I saw her clarification (that she doesn't really mean, obvs) and came here to read this thread from the beginning.

Watching everyone cheering, reminiscing & ordering her books, while waiting for someone to post the "I wholly support the trans community" follow up was brilliant!

Well done Judy! Fantastic news.

Tbh I find nothing helps me change my mind more than a horde of screeching perma-online shut-ins with anime PFPs telling me to die in a fire. Either that or the extensive body of literature that proves without doubt men can become women.

So you knew there'd be a U-turn...but you also knew that would come about totally naturally with no pressure involved? Wow, all these otherwise intelligent and assured women who end up U-turning after saying anything mildly critical of genderism - must be some sort of epidemic of either misspeaking or being taken out of context on this one particular topic. Bizarre!

I think she absolutely meant only the bit I agree with! 😁😁😁

It is disappointing - her original statement was unambiguous. I think it's a real shame that she's thrown Hadley Freeman under the bus, claiming that the quote was taken out of context, when it almost certainly wasn't.

I'm sure she has been pressured. But she hasn't been forced. She is free to say what she likes, so yes, it's disappointing.

Brilliant. I saw JB's statement on Twitter then read this thread. Watching all the celebrations, waiting for the U-turn 😂

Obviously, she's been pressured. No way this successful author just used her words and clarified her position in a way you didn't like😆

Thank the stars Judy sees sense and isn't afraid to say, love her.

JB hasn't been 'forced' into anything. She's a hugely successful author and she could have stood up for JKR and for her readers.

But she chose not to.

It's a fucking shame.