SOUTHEND'S Rachel Riley claims JK Rowling is targeted by social media trolls because she spoke out on antisemitism - and not because of her trans rights views. 

Ms Riley said she stood by the Harry Potter author in a recent interview where she said Ms Rowling had made "a real difference to the world".

Ms Rowling has been criticised for seemingly mocking the phrase "people who menstruate;.

But Ms Riley insisted the author was the subject of trolling and criticism due to her stance against antisemitism, particularly in the Labour Party. 

She told the Sunday Times: "I think a lot of the attacks on JK Rowling are really because she spoke out for Jews and against Jeremy Corbyn and antisemitism."

The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) ruled in 2020 that the Labour Party could have tackled antisemitism more effectively “if the leadership had chosen to do so”.

Former Labour leader Mr Corbyn responded to the findings by saying antisemitism was “absolutely abhorrent" but argued the issue had been overblown by political opponents. 

Ms Riley took to Twitter after her interview to insist she also stood by Ms Rowling's stance on trans rights.

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She wrote: "I support trans rights for people to live as they please and I support JK Rowling (who also does).

"We all know any mention of this subject whatsoever will result in a pile on for whoever dares comment.

"It’s horrible I’m so sorry for the people directly affected by this toxicity."

Ms Rowling has long insisted she supports trans rights despite her ongoing row with members of the trans community.

In June 2020, she wrote an essay explaining how she was partly motivated to speak about transgender issues because of her experience of domestic abuse and sexual assault.