Open Letter from Autors and Entertainers in Support of JKR

[Igneococcus]

In the Times:

www.thetimes.co.uk/article/d714149e-003d-11eb-a6ce-737681864bdd?shareToken=522b280f5312e063be007bba64a0e96d

Here is the letter (a few down the list):
www.thetimes.co.uk/article/2e240198-fe6a-11ea-a6ce-737681864bdd?shareToken=8bcca8afb981c27e32894e05e7776f41

And the signatories:

We wish JK Rowling well and stand in solidarity with her.
Ian McEwan, author; Lionel Shriver, author; Griff Rhys Jones, actor; Graham Linehan, writer; Maureen Chadwick, writer; Andrew Davies, writer; Frances Barber, actress; Craig Brown, writer; Alexander Armstrong, actor; Amanda Craig, writer; Philip Hensher, writer; Susan Hill, writer; Jane Thynne, writer; Ben Miller, actor; Simon Fanshawe, writer; James Dreyfus, actor; Frances Welch, writer; Francis Wheen, writer; Arthur Matthews, writer; Aminatta Forna, writer; Joan Smith, writer; Nick Cohen, journalist; Kath Gotts, composer & lyricist; Ann McManus, writer; Eileen Gallagher, writer & producer; Jimmy Mulville, producer; Lizzie Roper, actress; Stella O’Malley, author; Nina Paley, animator; Julie Bindel, journalist; Abigail Shrier, journalist; Rachel Rooney, author; Jane Harris, writer; Tatsuya Ishida, cartoonist; Lisa Marchiano, author; Zuby, musician and author; Debbie Hayton, journalist; Gillian Philip, Author, Jonny Best, musician; Manick Govinda, arts consultant; Russell Celyn Jones, writer; Magi Gibson, writer; Victoria Whitworth, writer; Dr Mez Packer, writer; Grace Carley, producer; Sam Leith, journalist; Malcolm Clark, television producer-director; Shirley Wishart, musician; Charlotte Delaney, writer; Nehanda Ferguson, musician; Justin Hill, writer; Trezza Azzopardi, writer; Birdy Rose, artist; Jess de Wahls, textile artist; Mo Lovatt, writer; Simon Edge, novelist; Tom Stoppard, playwright; and Amanda Smyth, writer

I can understand people in some positions not wanting to step into politics publicly. I see speech and freedom of conscience issues as transcending that however, especially for writers.

Childrens and YA lit is in a total state these days.

All I can think about is Victorian Improving Tales for Children.

Itsinthetreesitscoming I didn't know that. Policing people's Twitter following, how pathetic.

The latest is this (being Tweeted and on FB):

If you are a professional creative and want to add your signature to the JK Rowling letter, please send your name and how you wish to be described - e.g. "Jean Doe (artist)" - to the following email address:
[email protected]
For the moment, the letter is still from writers, artists, actors etc. but it's possible (due to demand) that the brief will soon widen to everyone else - so watch this space.

Good luck if you decide to go for it Malahaha

@teawamutu

Pullman's done this before then backtracked so not holding my breath or upgrading him in my estimation just yet...

Possibly bad form to quote oneself, but CALLED IT.

What. A. Cockwomble.

Yeah I think there's a reason he wasn't invited in the first place.

There's quite a few who've swiftly backtracked after saying something. I think I include Robert Webb, Ricky Gervais, and Stephen King in there.

I think I sometimes feel more annoyed and sad about them than the ones who don't dare speak up at all.

I very much doubt the organisers would expect (or want) anyone to sign a letter they hadn't read - presumably they'll send PP the text. So that's a bit of an odd response. OTOH it means if he signs it he can't pretend he didn't know what it was about. On the other other hand.... I find it somewhat hard to believe he couldn't find out what it said anyway.

Pullman is just a complete arse! this isnt the first time he's done this so all the "oh no I didnt really know" stuff is so much BS!

afaik Robert Webb has never backtracked, he just went quiet on it because it co incided with other personal issues.

"I would have signed it if I'd been asked."

"Actually, I haven't even read the letter so don't know whether I'll sign it or not."

It almost seems deliberate at this point.

Fucking hell, Pullman's arse must be sore from sitting on that fence for so many months. I hate the whole doddery old bloke shtick he pulls too

He's not technically backtracking yet, this is just a pre-backtrack.

Although saying "I haven't seen the text" after "I would have signed it" just makes you look like an idiot.

A cynical view would be that one might do something that daft in the hope of getting abuse, and you can then justify not signing on grounds of the abuse - evidence of "both sides".

As someone on Twitter said, if only there was some way of getting from 'i haven't seen it' to 'i don't know if I would have signed it'.

Love Lionels work read all her books and Amanda Craig too. Can’t say how relieving am things are moving this way I was really scared there for a minute.

Reading and enjoying jkr new book which I purchased in hard back from independent book shop. It’s great if a little physically heavy

Forget PP, at least we have John Cleese. Not seen him refer to the letter, but yesterday on Twitter:

It is sad that those who believe themselves to be purer than they are, always end up being outstandingly nasty

Thus the Inquisition burned people alive

Witch hunting flourished during the period in England, when Puritanism was at its strongest

Nazis prized racial purity

And woke people, who can hardly believe how spotlessly moral they are, are mindlessly spiteful towards those who do not agree with them

Like those who give JKR's book one star ratings without having read it

It's pathetic that they wear such dumb viciousness as a badge of honour

Herself responds

twitter.com/jk_rowling/status/1310575086014009344?s=21

It's all good

I suspect the PP is genuinely unaware of a lot that goes on. He comes over as a bit otherworldly sometimes....

He comes over as a bit otherworldly sometimes....

(not sure if that was intended as humour but it's a nice little joke anyway)

oh Judy Finnigan! wonderful!

There's an awful lot of support for her which is very nice to see

Where the fuck is Baddiel?

I'm an author (not a celebrity though!) and have emailed asking to sign it. One never knows...

I think you've probably hit the nail on the head.

@NecessaryScene1

He's not technically backtracking yet, this is just a pre-backtrack.

Although saying "I haven't seen the text" after "I would have signed it" just makes you look like an idiot.

A cynical view would be that one might do something that daft in the hope of getting abuse, and you can then justify not signing on grounds of the abuse - evidence of "both sides".

Sorry, I meant to quote you, Necessary.