Two-time RuPaul’s Drag Race winner and Broadway star Jinkx Monsoon has taken aim at JK Rowling, calling out what she sees as hypocrisy in the author’s gender commentary — particularly in light of Rowling’s own past decision to present herself under a masculine pen name.
During a new interview with comedian and writer Ziwe, Monsoon — who is currently starring in Doctor Who and opened up last year about her gender-affirmation journey — was asked whether Rowling would make a good Roxy Hart in the musical Chicago.
The question sparked Monsoon’s sharp-tongued response, complete with purposeful misgendering of the author.
“Who is Jake? Who is he? Jake Hay Rowling?” she quipped, leaning into the masculine play on Rowling’s initials.
When Ziwe corrected her by noting that Rowling uses she/her pronouns, Monsoon replied:
“Oh dear. That is not a feminine name in the slightest.”
The Satire: Transition by Pen Name?
Monsoon continued, turning the spotlight on Rowling’s own authorial choices — including her use of a gender-neutral pen name when publishing Harry Potter, and a male pseudonym (Robert Galbraith) for her crime series.
“I know that oftentimes, female authors use initials so that people assume it’s a male writer,” Monsoon said, smirking.
“I have to presume that JK Rowling was unsatisfied with the way that the world saw her, and then she transitioned herself into a new personality so that the world would perceive her the way she wanted to be perceived.”
Rowling has previously stated that she adopted the initials “JK” (short for Joanne Kathleen) to make her name gender-neutral so that the Harry Potter books would appeal to both boys and girls. Later, she created the Robert Galbraith persona to, in her own words, “take my writing persona as far away as possible from me.”
Monsoon’s comments underscore a growing critique from LGBTQ+ voices that Rowling’s past choices — particularly around public identity — appear inconsistent with her current stance on gender identity and trans rights.
Rowling’s Controversies Continue
Rowling’s views on transgender rights have been a point of fierce debate for years. Most recently, the author made headlines again after suggesting that women’s toilets in the UK should be policed by photographing those who use them, in response to trans-inclusive bathroom policies.
She also applauded a UK Supreme Court decision that narrowed the legal definition of “woman,” and confirmed financial support for the gender-critical group responsible for the case.
