Rachel Rooney criticised by Philip Pulman

[HecatesCatsInXmasHats]

Rachel Rooney who wrote a delightful book about children feeling comfortable with their bodies has been described as 'hateful' by author Philip Pullman in response to a tweet by Clara Vulliamy. Rooney has written about this on Twitter. I'm so upset for her:

twitter.com/rooneyrachel/status/1335610842222653441?s=21

twitter.com/philippullman/status/1335523666847813632?s=21

Rachel Rooney’s taken so much foul abuse, it’s disgusting. Children’s publishing is riddled with TRA supporters searching for scalps. I’d have hoped for better from them but they never cease to disappoint.

Philip Pullman is utterly awful on this. He pulls the “oh I’m just an old man me I don’t know anything about it” when challenged but never misses a chance to stick the boot into female authors about it. Appalling hypocrite

Brilliant response from Rachel there. I don't know how these women remain so patient when dealing with these morons.

Is this about the 'My Body Is Me' book, that was also labelled 'terrorist propaganda' or some such nonsense?

Anyone who thinks that teaching kids body positivity is hateful or in any way comparable to terrorism needs to give their bloody heads a good wobble. It's such a weird, weird attitude that doesn't make them look good.

He’s such a douchebag. I don’t buy his phoney ignorance.
My Body is Me is a brilliant book and I highly recommend it to anyone with young children.

He jumps between the modes of "unpleasant", "faux-naïve", and "cowardly" in this issue.

I don't know who Clara Vulliamy is. I've never interacted with her and I'm blocked.

Is this about the 'My Body Is Me' book, that was also labelled 'terrorist propaganda' or some such nonsense?

Yes. It's a lovely gentle book about being happy with one's body. You'd have to completely buy into born in the wrong body theory not to find it charming.

Ditto Dido and all I tend to do in Twitter is like posts. 💁🏼‍♀️

Her Twitter bio states that she’s an illustrator. I think she should stick to drawing and leave the words to the grown ups, that thread is a rambling mess of nonsense.

On Twitter

Anyone who thinks that teaching kids body positivity is hateful or in any way comparable to terrorism needs to give their bloody heads a good wobble. It's such a weird, weird attitude that doesn't make them look good

Totally agree. It's a really positive kids book and I'd recommend it without qualms to any parent who wanted their child to grow up feeling confident in themselves. The opposite of that is...

I'm so disappointed in Philip Pullman - it won't stop me enjoying HDM series 2 but what a knob!

Clara is Shirley Hughes' daughter. Lacking in her mother's humanity I'd say

His position is so at odds with his writing. Why are people such idiots on this issue?

@Biscuitsanddoombar

Philip Pullman is utterly awful on this. He pulls the “oh I’m just an old man me I don’t know anything about it” when challenged but never misses a chance to stick the boot into female authors about it. Appalling hypocrite

Yes, this.

It makes me rage. Rachel doesn't deserve any of it. And I don't want to cancel him but I cant take his work seriously anymore because his actions are the opposite of his writing. A weak man.

Deeimng a book about kids being happy in their bodies hateful, is as ridiculous as claiming a ruling that stengthens safeguarding and affords the same protections in medicine for GNC kids is hateful tbh. Imagine being on that 'side' and claiming to be 'the good guys' who care abut such kids?! Its ridiculous.

My impression is that this all comes back to the fact that Transgender Trend published the book. I don't know if Rachel was unable to find a publisher so they stepped in, or if they commissioned it. TT is kryptonite to the TRAs. PP has accepted unquestioningly what CV has said about facing a horrible pile on after her last ill-judged attack on Rachel. As she has me blocked, I didn't see what she was sent, but I'd be amazed if it was as nasty as the stuff routinely thrown at Transgender Trend and Rachel. Perhaps he knows CV personally. He obviously doesn't know Rachel. He's shown before he knows sod all about the issues that have brought Transgender Trend into being. He's just made a lazy kneejerk response as a gesture of support to a friend/acquaintance/colleague without making the slightest effort to check whether there might be another side to the story, or to avoid the implication that Rachel is one of the hateful people. This is verging on libellous, so it's a very stupid thing for a published writer to do.

Rachel Rooney is a wonderful writer and has immense courage

I admire her ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

From Twitter

Phillip Pullman, who wrote a trilogy about ideologically rigid, obsessive adults cutting away essential parts of children before they'd had the chance to reach adulthood and settle into themselves.

I assume he is pals with the person who wrote the abuse? Because he certainly didn’t read the book did he?

iirc, Philip Pullman was one of those who signed a letter of support for JK Rowling and free speech earlier this year. I'm pretty sure that "no one has the right to never be offended" is a quote of his.
So condemning the book, which he doesn't seem to have read, as hateful seems a bit odd. It wouldn't excuse him, of course, but I do wonder if he's received online abuse for his prior views and this is a response to that?