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By Sophie Lloyd
Pop Culture and Entertainment Reporter
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J.K. Rowling has come under fire for her remark about transgender soccer team manager Lucy Clark.
The Harry Potter series writer is being accused of bullying Clark, a 51-year-old former referee who was appointed manager of Sutton United, a women's team based in South London, in January.
Rowling has drawn a fierce backlash in recent years for her views on transgender people, including suggestions that she has "ruined her legacy" with her comments.
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Rowling, 58, has previously been called out for calling transgender people by the wrong pronouns, such as English news broadcaster India Willoughby, and for statements that some have considered transphobic.
On May 11, LGBTQ+ charity Pride celebrated Clark on X (formerly Twitter). The organization praised Clark for becoming the "first trans manager in the top five divisions of English women's football."
Rowling responded on X to the now-deleted post, writing: "When I was young all the football managers were straight, white, middle-aged blokes, so it's fantastic to see how much things have changed."
Newsweek has reached out to Rowling for comment via email and Lucy Clark via Instagram.
Rowling's remark, which has received 3.7 million views, has divided users on X. Some blasted her for the "cruel" comment.
"Shame on you!" wrote Beth Fisher. "You're a hateful hateful person," agreed Becky Taylor-Gill.
"You post pictures of trans women, just getting on with their lives, so that your followers will ridicule them," said Alexander Hamer.
"Why be so mean?" asked @LScoliose. "You're so privileged and yet so dedicated to spread cruelty."
"You have no idea how much [Lucy] has helped people, given people hope, spread positivity, and overall just been a better woman than you'll ever be," said Megan-Ellie.
Other users agreed with the author.
"Thank you for speaking the truth!" commented BrandyLynn.
"Imagine supporting this," said @bitcoin_brown.
"There is exactly ZERO chance I'd send my kids to any sports, if the coaches or 'management' looked like that," wrote Karlie Sims.
Rowling's comments don't seem to have affected Clark. Posting to X on Sunday, Clark said she is "living my best life."
"Wake up everyday with my beautiful family around me. Everyday I laugh and have things to look forward too. Who's winning at life...the one who's happy and smiling or those hating?" she wrote.
"So JK, Posie, Glinner [anti-transgender activist Graham Linehan], and the rest of you out there hating on my community and myself guess what [I don't care]."
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