Six the Musical writers Marlow and Moss pull-out of appearance after finding out they shared the same bill as JK Rowling
Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss pulled out of an appearance on Graham Norton’s BBC Radio 2 show after they learned that JK Rowling was due to appear (Mike Marsland/Karwai Tang/WireImage)
Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss, the writers of the West End musical Six, have pulled out of a radio slot after they learned that JK Rowling was also being interviewed.
The duo had been scheduled to appear on Graham Norton’s BBC Radio 2 programme on Saturday (November 14), but they opted to pull out over the Harry Potter author’s anti-trans views.
“We want to apologise to anyone who was looking forward to hearing us being interviewed on the radio today,” Marlow and Moss wrote on Twitter.
“Sadly, we had to withdraw as we didn’t feel comfortable being on the same billing as JK Rowling. We strongly disagree with her transphobic views and statements, and we don’t want to feature as guests on a show where she is promoting her work until she has made significant efforts to make amends with the trans community.”
Marlow and Moss cancelled radio slot on Graham Norton’s BBC Radio 2 show over JK Rowling interview.
The pair continued: “We are so grateful to the producers of the show for inviting us on and we are very sad to have had to decline.”
Marlow and Moss went on to share details of children’s books written by trans and non-binary authors, saying they would make “fabulous Christmas presents”, and urged people to donate £10 to trans children’s charity Mermaids.
The writers have been commended by LGBT+ people on Twitter for taking the stand, with many praising them for showing solidarity with the trans community following Rowling’s comments about the trans community.
good on you guys for saying No and taking a stand! Keep being the wonderful inspirational people you are
— Elle Sutcliffe (@brave7singing) November 14, 2020
https://twitter.com/NickyFlynn/status/1327620757707509761
This is how it's done 👏👏 https://t.co/QOu4PyY36P— Gus Gowland (@GusGowland) November 14, 2020
I’m a Six stan now 🏳️⚧️ https://t.co/AVyLd44juH— music-loving nun (uncredited) (@WinonaStryder) November 14, 2020
The Harry Potter author has faced significant backlash over her comments about transgender people.
JK Rowling faced significant backlash from the LGBT+ people and organisations when she took issue with the inclusive term “people who menstruate” on social media.
She later doubled down on her views in a controversial and lengthy essay, which she posted to her own website in June, in which she conflated being trans with having mental health issues and suggested gender dysphoria was just a part of growing up.
Months later, she came under fire yet again when she platformed an anti-trans shop that sells “lesbians don’t have penises” and “f**k your pronouns” merch.
We strongly disagree with her transphobic views and statements, and we don’t want to feature as guests on a show where she is promoting her work.
Rowling’s views were condemned by 1,800 literary figures including Stephen King, Margaret Atwood and Neil Gaiman in a recent open letter, while feminist writer Roxane Gay suggested the author had been “rightly vilified” for trying to turn her anti-trans views into a “grand statement on gender”.
Despite this, Rowling has remained steadfast in her views.
A spokesperson for JK Rowling declined to comment when contacted by PinkNews.
