JK Rowling issues swipe at David Tennant as she mocks actor over Kemi Badenoch election

JK Rowling has issued a savage swipe towards David Tennant after the Doctor Who star began a war of words back in June.

While accepting the Celebrity Ally award at the British LGBT Awards, Tenant made a speech which combated Badenoch’s views on LGBTQ+ rights.

Badenoch previously pledged to make biological sex a protected characteristic in the Equality Act, with gender reassignment currently being a protected characteristic.

During his acceptance speech, Tenant slammed: “If I’m honest, I’m a little depressed by the fact that acknowledging that everyone has the right to be who they want to be and live their life how they want to live it as long as they’re not hurting anyone else should merit any kind of special award or special mention – because it’s common sense, isn’t it?

“It is human decency. We shouldn’t live in a world where that is worth remarking on. However, until we wake up and Kemi Badenoch doesn’t exist any more.

“I don’t wish ill of her, I just wish her to shut up – whilst we do live in this world, I am honoured to receive this.

My thoughts and prayers are with David Tennant at this very difficult time. https://t.co/5zM8WmyGSx

— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) November 2, 2024

At the time, Badenoch posted on her X account: “I will not shut up. I will not be silenced by men who prioritise applause from Stonewall over the safety of women and girls.

“A rich, lefty, white male celebrity so blinded by ideology he can’t see the optics of attacking the only black woman in government by calling publicly for my existence to end.” (sic)

Badenoch was recently elected as the new leader of the Conservative party, which left Rowling to take to her social media and hit out at the Doctor Who actor.

She simply penned: “My thoughts and prayers are with David Tennant at this very difficult time.”

One user replied to her post and said: “J.K. Rowling mad af right now that black people are running the Conservative Party. First trans, now this! The world is collapsing in front of her eyes.”

Leaving the Harry Potter writer to reply: “On the contrary, I’m delighted a woman who’ll stand up for sex-based rights is now leading the opposition and while there are definitely things we disagree about politically, I admire her brains and her bravery.” (sic)

On Monday, September 2, Badenoch launched her campaign to become the new leader of the Conservative Party in a video, in which she said she is “not afraid of Doctor Who”.

She railed against the “cultural establishment trying to keep Conservatives down” and promised to “take the fight to Doctor Who or whoever and not let them try to keep us down”.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer recently commented on Tennant’s comments and said he “wouldn’t have engaged” in the discussion in the same way.

“In politics, as in life, it’s important that we are able to robustly disagree with others – obviously that happens a lot in the general election campaign,” the Labour leader told reporters on a visit to a GP surgery near Nottingham.

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“But we should do it with respect for everybody involved in that robust discussion.

“I wouldn’t have engaged in the way that he did. I think it’s right that we have these robust discussions, but we must do it respectfully.”