Percy Jackson author goes viral with the perfect comeback to an anti-trans troll
Riordan tore the troll’s logic apart (Amy Sussman/Getty and Twitter)
Bestselling author Rick Riordan has gone viral after surgically destroying a troll who wanted “less gender dysphoria” in his books.
The man behind the incredibly successful Percy Jackson series blew up the anti-trans commenter’s logic by using his writing skills to take apart his logic, piece by piece.
His gloriously insightful, spot-on deconstruction of the hateful tweet comes at a time when the opposition to trans equality is influencing The Sunday Times – among many other publications – and ‘hijacking’ the Pride in London march.
Riordan has sold hundreds of millions of copies of his books worldwide (Amy Sussman/Getty)
It all started when Riordan, 54, saw a tweet posted in response to him by a user called Kristina Toddy, which read: “If you had less gender dysphoria in your ‘kids books’ you might sell more … remember, it is parents who buy them.”
This seems ironic, since many intolerant people accuse those who ask for kindness and acceptance of being ‘snowflakes,’ but this was not the focus of Riordan’s response.
Instead, he took Toddy’s tweet and reworded it until it made sense, showing off his excellent editing skills.
Riordan meets a fan (Amy Sussman/Getty)
The new version, created by the Texan father of two, read: “If you had zero acknowledgement that some kids are not straight and cisgender in your books that include marginalised people I don’t want my children to know about until they are eighteen you might appease homophobic adults who think gender identity is contagious … remember it is parents who model bigotry for their kids.”
Much better.
He posted the reworked tweet with the message: “Here you go, random commenter. I fixed it for you! And thanks for your concern, but I am quite happy with my sales! #allkidsdeserverepresentation.”
Here you go, random commenter. I fixed it for you! And thanks for your concern, but I am quite happy with my sales! #allkidsdeserverepresentation pic.twitter.com/jG8oUN6KCa
— Rick Riordan (@camphalfblood) July 28, 2018
Fans were delighted with the response, with one writing: “I love his sass. I see where all his characters get it from.
Riordan has never shied away from writing trans characters (Amy Sussman/Getty)
Also, I applaude him for this .”
I love his sass. I see where all his characters get it from.
Also, I applaude him for this— Megan Bechtold (@Megan_Marie_20_) July 28, 2018
Another said: “This parent recently overheard her 11yo, who’s read all your books this summer, discussing gender fluid and bisexual characters that she loves, using those terms, and felt grateful she’s seeing positive representations and is prepared to understand herself/be an ally ♀️.”
This parent recently overheard her 11yo, who’s read all your books this summer, discussing gender fluid and bisexual characters that she loves, using those terms, and felt grateful she’s seeing positive representations and is prepared to understand herself/be an ally ♀️
— Leanne Schwartz (@lifebreakingin) July 28, 2018
One tweeter said: “I admittedly haven’t actually paid much attention to your books (my kids aren’t quite old enough for Percy yet). But after seeing this epic tweet, I know what I’m picking up next! ”
I admittedly haven’t actually paid much attention to your books (my kids aren’t quite old enough for Percy yet). But after seeing this epic tweet, I know what I’m picking up next!
— Geoffrey Sperl (@geoffreysperl) July 28, 2018
And another wrote, succinctly, that “our favorite author SNAPPED.”
our favorite author SNAPPED
— ً (@stayhdrated) July 28, 2018
Last year, Riordan snubbed an honour from the Texas state legislature over a proposed anti-LGBT bathroom law.
The author has long been a supporter of trans rights (Janette Pellegrini/Getty)
He tweeted: “Just turned down an invite to be honoured by TX state legislature as a Texas author.
“If they want to honour me, they could stop this nonsense.”
