Oxfam faces backlash over cartoon resembling J.K Rowling

Social media users described the cartoon as a ‘disgusting piece of propaganda’ and some threatened to stop donating to the Oxford founded organisation.

The Daily Mail even reported that Oxfam could face an investigation by the Charity Commission.

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The video shared by the charity on social media showed three figures with evil looking red-eyes – including a woman wearing a ‘terf’ (trans-exclusionary radical feminist) badge which many said looked like the outspoken writer.

Ms Rowling, author of the immensely popular Harry Potter books, has regularly spoken out on the issue of gender identity and has previously strongly denied accusations of transphobia.

The charity insisted any likeness was coincidental and quickly removed, edited and reposted the video.

Maya Forstater, the co-founder of the Sex Matters campaign, told Times Radio she was ‘shocked’ by the supposed portrayal of the author.

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She said: 'It cuts to a picture which clearly looks like JK Rowling. It looks like it was traced from a picture of her at a premiere. Imagine working in Oxfam and sharing the same views as J. K. Rowling and seeing that. The message would have been approved by Oxfam staff.

'People who are ringing up to complain are being told by Oxfam GB are being told this is broadly what their values are.

'Yes there is a right to offend but there is not the right to make the work place hostile. Anyone who thinks sex is real and sex is important will fear for their job.

'If you look at the volunteer in Oxfam shops they are often older women that would be described as TERFs in that video.'

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Kathleen Stock, a gender-critical academic whose speech at the Oxford Union last week was greeted by protests, also criticised the video.

She posted the cartoon on Twitter and said: 'This has shocked me - a still from an Oxfam video, made in support of Pride month.”

This has shocked me - a still from an Oxfam video, made in support of Pride month. https://t.co/J3S4Ne5zhf

— Kathleen Stock (@Docstockk) June 6, 2023

Another social media said it was an 'utterly disgusting piece of propaganda... using the word TERF on what is obviously meant to be JK Rowling'.

One poster said, ‘I hope JK Rowling sues Oxfam’, while someone else added, ‘I will never donate to these hypocrites again… and I will ask my family and friends to do the same.'

A statement from Oxfam International said: “Oxfam believes that all people should be able to make decisions which affect their lives, enjoy their rights and live a life free of discrimination and violence, including people from LGBTQIA+ communities.

“In efforts to make an important point about the real harm caused by transphobia, we made a mistake.

“We have therefore edited the video to remove the term ‘terf’ and we are sorry for the offence it caused. There was no intention by Oxfam or the film-makers for this slide to have portrayed any particular person or people.  

“We fully support both an individual’s rights to hold their philosophical beliefs and a person’s right to have their identity respected, regardless of their sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, and sex characteristics.”