Taking Down Twitter Trolls: A New Pastime for J.K. Rowling?

If you thought “Harry Potter” author J.K. Rowling only dealt with trolls in her books, you were wrong. The bestselling author first showed a knack for putting online trolls in their place with witty responses when she hilariously mocked Rupert Murdoch’s anti-Muslim tweets in January. Now she’s at it again, but this time it’s in response to some hateful tweets she’s received due to her public support for the U.K’s left-leaning Labour party.

Conservatives haven’t been too happy with her, especially after Rowling decided to donate a reported  £1 million to the “No” campaign, a group which campaigned for Scotland to stay in the the United Kingdom. So when Ed Miliband resigned recently as Labour Party leader following his loss to the conservative party at the 2015 general election, the haters came out in full force to trash Rowling and her political beliefs.

For showing unbelievable guts in the face of impossible odds, @JimForScotland, get in Gryffindor. #NotMuchBloodyComfort

— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) May 8, 2015

According to the Independent, after the results were declared, some online trolls began calling her a “traitor to Scotland” and “Blairite scum.” Rowling apparently reached her breaking point after one person reportedly went as far as tweeting at her “Go f*** yourself you disgusting slimy Labour c***. All you lefties are finished in this country, especially you JK b****face.” That’s when she decided to begin writing back to some of her online haters, and her responses are downright hilarious.

.@sjosiah0 The Internet doesn’t just offer opportunities for misogynistic abuse, you know. Penis enlargers can also be bought discreetly.

— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) May 8, 2015

The best thing about her Twitter beefs were the constant Hogwarts houses references, because anytime you can get a few Slytherin jabs in there, it’s bound to be a good time.

@ChrisDarroch2 and you can’t spell “Slytherin”. — J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) May 8, 2015

.@ChrisDarroch2 Chris, if you’re this angry in victory, you must really need a hug. — J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) May 8, 2015

Luckily, not every person tweeting at the author had something negative to say. A few fans showed their support with some heartfelt tweets that are proof that humanity still exists.

.@JoHorrocks1 All abuse I’m getting is UKIP or Scottish Nationalist. All Tories here saying ‘freedom of speech.’ Credit where credit’s due.

— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) May 8, 2015

.@TalieDelemere Of course I do! If we forget our common humanity, we’ve lost something far more important than an election X

— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) May 8, 2015

Let’s hope J.K. never stops standing up for what she believes in, and never backs down from a chance to silence her haters with a few clever remarks.

Alexis Evans

Alexis Evans is an Assistant Editor at Law Street and a Buckeye State native. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism and a minor in Business from Ohio University. Contact Alexis at aevans@LawStreetMedia.com.