During a live show, JK Rowling praised a BBC News presenter for turning down a line from her teleprompter.
Martine Croxall cited research on heat-related mortality during Britain’s heatwave. Croxall first read the word ‘pregnant individuals’ while discussing the categories that should be cautious in hot weather, but she halted and changed the line to ‘women.’
She said, “The London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine has issued data indicating that approximately 600 heat-related fatalities are likely in the UK.
“Malcolm Mistry, who was involved in the research, said the aged, pregnant people—women—and those with pre-existing health conditions need to take precautions.”
A clip from this segment of the show became popular on X (previously Twitter), and the terminally online contributor commented on Croxall’s apparent rejection of gender-neutral vocabulary.
In response to the event, the Harry Potter author, who now uses her platform to attack the transgender population, stated, “I have a new favorite BBC presenter.”
According to The Times, the gender-neutral phrase came straight from the study’s authors, not the BBC, which does not have particular restrictions on the usage of gender-neutral language.
However, the BBC News style guide encourages the use of ‘appropriate terminology’ when reporting on a person’s gender, including the pronouns preferred by the individual in question, unless there are editorial reasons not to do so.’
After the on-air incident became viral on social media, the journalist responded on X, saying, “A huge thank you to everyone who has chosen to follow me today for whatever reason.” “It’s been quite the ride…”
I have a new favourite BBC presenter. https://t.co/l2gkThccty
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) June 22, 2025
Croxall’s on-air phrase, ‘correction’ has sparked debate, with some users using it to speak out against individuals who identify as transgender or non-binary.
Earlier this year, Rowling lashed out against three Harry Potter stars who signed an open letter supporting transgender people in response to a recent UK Supreme Court verdict.
On April 16, UK justices noted that the legal definition of a woman was based on biological sex, emphasizing that a person who was not born as a biological female could not enjoy the legal protections provided by the Act by altering their gender with a Gender Recognition Certificate.
According to the BBC, the Act still protects transgender individuals from discrimination.
Eddie Redmayne, 43, who portrayed Newt Scamander in the Fantastic Beasts movie; Katie Leung, 37, best known for her role as Cho Chang in the Harry Potter films; and Paapa Essiedu, 34, who will play Severus Snape in the magical HBO revival, were among the celebrities who signed the open letter.
In an article uploaded on social media on Saturday (May 3), Rowling criticized her colleagues for signing the letter.
“In light of recent open letters from academia and the arts criticizing the UK’s Supreme Court ruling on s*x-based rights, it’s possibly worth remembering that nobody sane believes, or has ever believed, that humans can change sex or that binary sex isn’t a material fact.”