Jade Thirlwall has made her views on Harry Potter author JK Rowling very clear as she led thousands of festival-goers in an explosive chant at Mighty Hoopla
Jade Thirlwall took aim at Harry Potter author JK Rowling in an explosive outburst. The former Little Mix singer who has now ventured out as a solo artist under the name JADE made her presence known as she took to the stage at Mighty Hoopla festival on Saturday.
The 32-year-old has always been a vocal ally of the LGBTQ+ community and often uses her platform to praise the community and raise awareness of causes around it. But as she took to the Mighty Hoopla stage on Saturday, Jade took aim at people whom she believes have voiced their opposition to the community.
While performing her track F*** You For Now (FUFN), Jade encouraged the sold-out crowd of 30,000 to join in with her chant. Speaking to the fans, Jade said: “I want you to put your middle fingers up in the air and I’m going to name some things and some people and I want you to shout, ‘F*** you’ back to me.”
She went on to list people who she claims are homophobic, transphobic and misogynistic. Turning to the crowd she yelled: “J.K. Rowling…” as the fans screamed: “F*** you.” Jade’s comments were met with a mixed response on social media.
One user said: “Nah Jade you’re wrong for this.” A second ask: “What did J.K. Rowling do?” Meanwhile, another penned: “What’s J.K. Rowling done wrong to Jade? What have I missed?”
But some leapt to defend Jade, with one writing: “Jade the icon you are.” A second supporter of Jade went on to say: “We love Jade!! A true North East girlie.”
“She is the biggest ally and I love her so much,” added another. J.K., whose real name is Joanne Rowling, has strongly denied being transphobic.
The author, 59, first made comments about trans people six years ago and has since stood strong in her belief that they pose a threat to women in same sex spaces, such as toilets.
Earlier this month, the author posted to her 14.3 million followers on X, formerly known as Twitter, that “nobody sane believes, or has ever believed that humans can change sex, or that binary sex isn’t a material fact.” Jade’s comments come after she joined 400 UK artists and music industry workers signing an open letter pledging solidarity with the trans community.
Following the UK Supreme Court’s ruling, the trans community and allies have stormed social media to protest the exclusion of trans people from single sex spaces.
Titled the ‘Open Letter of solidarity to the trans community from the UK Music Industry,’ the letter highlights the impact made on the trans, non-binary, and intersex communities following the Supreme Court ruling.
Last week, Jade performed her first solo festival slot – and headlined the Future Sounds Stage at BBC Radio 1’s Big Weekend in Liverpool’s Sefton Park.
A source at the event said: “Jade was blown away by how many people packed into the tent. She was a member of the biggest girl band from the UK after the Spice Girls and Girls Aloud, but as her first solo show, she told the crowd it was an ‘insane crowd’ and she couldn’t believe it.
“She thanked the crowd and herself, but not swearing. She told fans that Angel of My Dreams came after she was struggling”.
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