Just when it looked like there was a flicker of hope for the rational, civilized humans on earth, along comes a bucket of cold water to douse the flame of hope. Young adult literature author Judy Blume voiced support for JK Rowling in an interview. How dare she! Now she has to clarify her remarks.

Imagine the damage the progressive woke world has done to society that one author of books for young people has to explain her support for a colleague. Blume was showing support for Rowling in the context that she, too, has experienced online abuse from critics. She was speaking with journalist Hadley Freeman in an interview for the Sunday Times. Freeman describes herself as a “gender critical feminist”, once termed TERF (trans-exclusionary radical feminism/feminist). I had to look it up. There seems to be a new term every day and I can’t keep up. Anyway, Blume agreed with Freeman on her love for Rowling. She said, ‘And I love her… I am behind her 100 percent as I watch from afar.’

She added that she hadn’t reached out to Rowling over the online backlash, saying: ‘I met her very early on in her Harry Potter career, and she said to me, ‘Oh, my sister and I used to read all your books,’ and she talked about Deenie.

‘I think once or twice we sent each other little notes. But I haven’t been in touch with her during this tough time. Probably I should.’

That is certainly harmless. She simply acknowledges she has interacted with Rowling early in Rowling’s career and hasn’t stayed in touch as perhaps she should. But, no, even that innocent amount of support is too much for the online mob. Blume has faced online attacks in the past over some of her books which deal with coming-of-age stories for adolescents. Her topics have included sexuality and puberty.

She tweeted that her remarks were taken out of context.

The New Jersey-born author said her comments to the Sunday Times were ‘taken out of context’ in a tweet today defending herself against criticism she received for the interview.

‘I stand with the trans community and vehemently disagree with anyone who does not support equality and acceptance for LGBTQIA+ people. Anything to the contrary is total bull****.’

pic.twitter.com/jaRYqNPJv1

— Judy Blume (@judyblume) April 16, 2023

That tweet was followed by this one:

Per my recent interview with Variety: pic.twitter.com/ncLSyYqfql

— Judy Blume (@judyblume) April 16, 2023

All of this kerfuffle is because Blume is doing publicity for the release of a movie made from one of her books. By the way, the “controversial” subject of this book is menstruation.

Last week, it was announced that a new Harry Potter series is being made for Max – formerly HBO Max.

Rowling is said to be closely involved in the series, although creators declined to comment on her stance on trans rights.

Meanwhile, Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret, starring Rachel McAdams, releases in theaters at the end of the month.

It’s a shame Blume felt obligated to defend her support of an acquaintance. She’s 85 years old now and likely didn’t realize what was coming for her from the JK Rowling haters. I confess that I never really thought of her as a controversial writer for young people. Her books have been hugely successful and I know my son read some of them in school. I just don’t really remember them. She has been criticized as far back as the 80s, though, as I discovered when I did a quick search. Blume is a liberal but, because of her age, she is more of an old-school liberal. That’s why she didn’t even hesitate to support Rowling, who is also a liberal but one who is opposed to the extreme transgender agenda. That isn’t something Blume was willing to do, I guess.