A Jordan Peterson post about JK Rowling has gone viral, following rumors that the British author could be investigated under Scotland’s new hate crime law.
Rowling, who lives in Edinburgh, dared Scottish police to arrest her after the Hate Crime and Public Order Act came into effect on Monday.
The Harry Potter writer has faced fierce backlash in recent years for her views on transgender people, as well as for misgendering public figures such as English newsreader India Willoughby.
Speculation that Rowling could face a police inquiry followed comments by Siobhian Brown, Scotland’s minister for victims and community safety, who suggested the author could be investigated for deliberately misgendering transgender people.
“It could be reported and it could be investigated. Whether or not the police would think it was criminal is up to Police Scotland for that,” Brown told The Daily Telegraph.
“There’s a very high threshold, which is in the act, which would be up to Police Scotland, and what would have to be said online or in person would be threatening and abusive.”
In response to the rumors, Peterson shared one of Rowling’s recent posts blasting trans activist Beth Douglas.
Rowling shared screenshots of past tweets from Douglas, in which she held an axe and a knife, along with the caption: “I heard yall hate trans women, knives and axes. Love from Glasgow.”
Douglas was suspended from the Scottish Green Party in February 2023 over the posts, but was later reinstated.
“Scotland’s Hate Crime Act comes into effect today,” Rowling wrote alongside the screenshots on Monday. “Women gain no additional protections, of course, but well-known trans activist Beth Douglas, darling of prominent Scottish politicians, falls within a protected category. Phew!”
In his repost of Rowling’s tweet, Peterson said: “What in the world has happened in Scotland?
“Keep it up @jk_rowling. Let the fools have both barrels.”
Since being shared, Peterson’s post has received more than 598,000 views.
Douglas has since responded to Rowling’s post about her, writing: “I guess nothing says feminism like reuploading images that were used to promote an only fans knife play set and having no clue why a lesbian would pose with an axe.”
Like Rowling, Peterson has come under fire for his remarks about transgender people.
The Canadian psychologist was suspended from X in 2022 following a post about transgender actor Elliot Page.
Peterson deadnamed the Umbrella Academy star, writing: “Ellen Page just had her breasts removed by a criminal physician.”
Page came out as a trans man on social media in 2020, revealing his new name and “he/his” and “they/them” pronouns.
Netflix updated the 36-year-old’s name and metadata across the platform to reflect Page’s gender identity, with his Umbrella Academy character also transitioning in the show. The actor underwent gender-confirmation surgery in 2023, releasing a memoir on his journey.
Peterson also caused uproar after he misgendered YouTuber Jazz Jennings.
Quoting a Spiked Online article titled “The Tragedy of Jazz Jennings,” the 61-year-old said: “The plight of Jazz Jennings reveals the cruelty of gender-affirming care.
“This young reality-TV star will never have a normal life. Hormones and puberty blockers are doing irreversible damage to kids.”
Peterson was also accused of “spewing hate” in July after declaring “Trans women Are men” on social media.
“Enough is enough,” he wrote alongside an article about recent changes to Kansas state laws, which now require driver’s licenses and birth certificates to reflect the gender someone was assigned at birth.
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