Rowling, Rushdie, dozens of others join in open letter opposing cancel culture

J.K. Rowling, Salman Rushdie and dozens of other writers, artists and academics have joined against so-called cancel culture, which they say has jeopardized public debate and weakened the free exchange of ideas. 

They argued against ideological conformity and the rise in what they call “illiberalism,” in an open letter in Harper’s Magazine. 

Others who have joined Rushdie and J.K. Rowling, author of the “Harry Potter” book series, include Margaret Atwood, Noam Chomsky, Gloria Steinem and Malcolm Gladwell, according to the Associated Press.

The letter states that “the forces of illiberalism are gaining strength throughout the world,” and argues that supporters of the movement have a powerful ally in President Trump, “who represents a real threat to democracy.”

Trump, however, has spoken out about elements of cancel culture, in which prominent people and others face attacks for sharing opinions. 

The president has opposed efforts by liberal-leaning groups and others to dismantle statues of early American leaders whose past, they say, includes social injustice that should not be memorialized. 

Rowling has attracted criticism over her views on transgender issues, which have angered many activists. In a series of tweets, Rowling said she supported transgender rights but did not believe in “erasing” the concept of biological sex, the wire service also reports.

The comments prompted Daniel Radcliffe and other cast members of the Potter films to publicly disagree with her. Rowling was unmoved, but was attacked for weeks online.