Shang-Chi star Simu Liu has expressed his “dislike” for Harry Potter author JK Rowling following her controversial comments about Taiwanese Olympic boxer Lin Yu-ting.
Yuting, along with Algeria’s Imane Khelif, was previously disqualified from last year’s world championships by the International Boxing Association (IBA) for failing gender eligibility tests.
Rowling, who has been vocal in her opposition to the transgender community, referred to the 28-year-old boxer as part of the “insanity” of trans athletes competing in women’s sports, despite Yuting being biologically female.
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“What will it take to end this insanity? A female boxer left with life-altering injuries? A female boxer killed?” Rowling tweeted.
In a response to a Buzzfeed thread asking, “what celebrity did you used to be a fan of but aren’t anymore — and why?”, Liu offered Rowling as his answer.
“im really not feeling jk rowlings online discourse. i think the internet often jumps to conclusions and piles on to people who do not deserve it… but she has been repeatedly doubling down on some really dangerous anti-trans rhetoric that has really affected people in my life including close friends. so, yeah – love harry potter, hate cyberbullying, but very much dislike what she’s become,” he said.
Yu-ting went on to secure her gold medal at the Paris Olympics 2024 in the women’s boxing 57kg final against Poland’s Julia Szeremeta on Saturday,
“I was emotional, there were mixed feelings, I felt it all,” she said. “Those scenes I had been through over the years flashed across my mind.
“The memories of me being knocked down, the unwanted noises, the moment I decided to grit my teeth and hold on, the willpower, the process of fighting with oneself, and to the ultimate victory.”
Her coach, Tseng Tzu-chiang said that attacking the International Boxing Association, which he likened to “a lunatic,” was pointless since they were already suspended by the International Olympic Committee.
“What’s the point of suing a lunatic after he hit you? We might as well just stay away from him,” the coach said, adding that Rowling had supported Lin with her comments.
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He described Rowling as the “pride of Taiwan and the key to our gold medal.”
“Her comments created unlimited volume on social media so that the entire world got to know about Lin,” he said.
