Jedward (L) sparred with Piers Morgan on trans rights. (Getty)
Jedward clashed with Piers Morgan over the controversial new JK Rowling book and sent a touching message of solidarity to the trans community.
The X Factor stars turned Twitter icons found themselves in a row with Morgan after they joked that people should “burn” Rowling’s book Troubled Blood, which features a cis man who dresses up as a woman to commit crimes.
Emphatically declaring that “trans rights are human rights”, they asked: “Does anyone need firewood this winter?”
“JK’s new book is perfect to burn next to a romantic fire,” the brothers, individually John and Edward Grimes, continued. “Aww, get all cosy and comfy, can’t wait.”
Does anyone need firewood this winter! JK’s new book is perfect to burn next to a Romantic fire 🔥
Aww get all cozy and comfy can’t wait 😊— JEDWARD (@planetjedward) September 15, 2020
Morgan, whose own track record on trans rights isn’t, er, great, hit back: “If we’re going to start burning things — which we shouldn’t — I’d rather start with your entire musical back catalogue.”
It’s a joke Piers, you know like you’re life. lol.
Supporting a book about a serial killer man who dresses as a woman to kill his victims that’s being released when trans people are actually being targeted and killed isn’t a good look, even for you..
— JEDWARD (@planetjedward) September 15, 2020
“It’s a joke Piers” Jedward zinged, “you know like you’re [sic] life. LOL.
Jedward perfectly summed up the backlash that has engulfed Rowling’s book, adding: “Supporting a book about a serial killer man who dresses as a woman to kill his victims that’s being released when trans people are actually being targeted and killed isn’t a good look, even for you.”
Well, points were indeed made.
Jedward proceeded to prove how they really are our new saviours as they went onto torpedo Morgan again and again, even as he said he doesn’t “even like JK Rowling”.
Piers thank you for YOUR English lesson A+ for Grammar but you get a D for being a Dick 👍🏻Happy to hear you have our entire music back catalogue!
— JEDWARD (@planetjedward) September 15, 2020
Piers! What’s ridiculous is you fighting JK Rowling’s battles when she needs to reevaluate her actions and be aware of the consequences and damage her fictional book is inflicting on the transgender community!
— JEDWARD (@planetjedward) September 15, 2020
You’ve been kissing Donald Trump’s ass for years, now that’s pathetic! You look like the clown 🤡 you don’t even like JK Rowling and here you are attention seeking!!
— JEDWARD (@planetjedward) September 15, 2020
Honestly, each of their comebacks deserves to be hung in the Tate Modern.
Jedward say ‘trans rights are human rights’.
The dust-off between the pair began after Jedward fortified their enduring support for the trans community, writing: “Understanding is the first step to acceptance, JK Rowling, and only with acceptance can there be recovery.
Understanding is the first step to acceptance @jk_rowling and only with acceptance can there be recovery
It matters not what someone is born, but what they grow to be!
Every human life is worth the same, and worth saving!
— JEDWARD (@planetjedward) September 15, 2020
“It matters not what someone is born, but what they grow to be!
“Every human life is worth the same and worth saving!”
So, are we all booking flights to Planet Jedward?
JK Rowling prompts fierce backlash with new book.
JK Rowling has, with increasing voracity, yawned a gap between her and her once loyal readership by offering her comments on a wide range of topics, notably healthcare for trans youth, that she has no expertise or training on.
She was criticised once more after an early review of Troubled Blood, released under her penname Robert Galbraith, revealed the book features a cross-dressing serial killer.
GLAAD director of transgender representation Nick Adams noted that the book follows in a long tradition of “films, TV shows, and books using the ‘cross-dressing psychopathic killer’ trope”, which “have been created over and over by cisgender people”.
“This false and lazy storytelling device is based not in reality but in thinly-disguised homophobia and transphobia, and conflates gender non-conformity with evil,” Adams told PinkNews.
“Gender expression isn’t a danger to others. These false narratives put real transgender and gender non-conforming people in harm’s way.”