Warner Bros. Discovery condemns threats against JK Rowling

When Salman Rushdie was attacked on stage in Chautauqua, New York on Friday, the entire creative community went into shock. The writer, who famously received a fatwa from Iranian leader Ruhollah Khomeini in 1989 for his controversial novel The Satanic Verses, was stabbed repeatedly and immediately underwent urgent surgery and was put on a ventilator. Although the author is now off a ventilator and is expected to survive, many are still nervous about the idea of ​​physical violence being used against artists.

Many authors took to social media to support Rushdie, including Harry Potter author JK Rowling. She called the attack “dreadful” and wrote that she was “sick” with concern for Rushdie. Soon after, she shared threats in her responses telling the author that she is “next”. She turned to Twitter for support and later revealed she had called the police.

While it’s unclear if the Twitter threats had any connection to the attack on Rushdie, Warner Bros. Discovery issued a public statement on Sunday condemning both the violence against Rushdie and the threats against Rowling.

The company’s full statement reads: “Warner Bros. Discovery strongly condemns the threats against JK Rowling. We stand with her and all writers, storytellers and creators who are bold in expressing their creativity and opinions. WBD believes in freedom of expression, peaceful discourse and support for those who voice their views publicly. Our thoughts are with Sir Salman Rushdie and his family following the senseless act of violence in New York. The company strongly condemns any form of threat, violence or intimidation where opinions, beliefs and thoughts may differ.”

Rowling has been a lightning rod for controversy lately, as the author tends to fight online battles with the trans community over issues related to sex and gender. But it’s not the first time that the studio behind the Harry Potter films has stood by her. In June, the company released a statement stating, “Warner Bros. has had a creative, productive and fulfilling partnership with JK Rowling for 20 years. She is one of the most accomplished storytellers in the world and we are proud to be the studio bringing her vision, characters and stories to life now – and for decades to come.”

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