Ann Widdecombe slams Oxfam for ‘focusing on JK Rowling’ in pro-trans cartoon
Former Conservative MP Ann Widdecombe has known as on individuals to cease donating cash to Oxfam after the charity was accused of demonising Harry Potter writer JK Rowling in a cartoon video it made to advertise Pride month.
The video posted on social media – which critics known as a ‘disgusting propaganda advert’ – included an angry-looking red-haired lady, with demonic purple eyes, carrying a ‘TERF’ badge (an offensive slur which stands for Trans-Exclusionary Radical Feminist and what Rowling has been labelled by a small minority), with two different evil people, sneering at a group of rainbow-coloured figures.
Many individuals say the girl pictured within the advert seemed suspiciously like Rowling, who has come below hearth from the trans group for her gender vital views and defending ladies’s areas.
After struggling an enormous backlash from the general public, the charity has since deleted the submit and re-edited the video, taking the girl out… regardless of claiming it by no means had any intention of portraying Rowling, with the picture trying similar to photos of the writer from a 2018 movie premiere.
In an announcement, Oxfam mentioned: “We have 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.”
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Widdecombe, like many, was dismayed on the charity’s choice to launch the video within the first place and has known as on donors to offer it a large berth.
When interviewed by Dan Wootton on GB News, the 75-year-old former authorities minister mentioned: “I would say very clearly now, to everybody who donates to Oxfam, one word: Don’t.
“They have so departed from their original role, that it’s difficult to recognise them. When they were set up they were an admirable organisation – they were set up to relieve poverty, especially in the Third World.
“That’s what they were meant to do and they were supposed to raise funds in order to do that and people give very generously to Oxfam because they want to help those in most need.
“But over a long period of time… first of all it went left and very noticeably so, and now it appears to be actively campaigning over political issues and the charity commission does not allow charities to do that.
“Indeed, when I was involved in the Life Charity, which is a pro-life, anti-abortion charity, it was very strict – it had two wings, one wing did the political campaigning and the other wing set up the life houses and care centres, and looked after women.
“The charitable wing was recognised by the commission, but the political wing certainly wasn’t and they could not mix the two.
“To me, Oxfam seem to be crossing a line.”
Wootton put it to Widdecombe that he couldn’t recall Rowling ever making any anti-trans feedback and was baffled as to why she retains getting such a tough time from a number of the trans group.
“No, nor can I and I can’t fathom it at all,” replied Widdecombe. “People like Germaine Greer are also in their sights, who is a feminist icon and fought for the rights of people.
“The idea that she would want to suppress people’s human rights is just a complete nonsense.
“So no, I don’t know where it’s come from, but I do think now it has to be fought and fought properly. Oxfam does not have a good reputation for some of its work abroad when some quite high profile workers – and senior workers – were engaged in sex exploitation.
“They’ve got a very besmirched reputation and it’s time now for the whole charity to dissolve, reform with a different leadership and clean out all that is wrong and concentrate on what it should be doing, which is helping – not exploiting – the poor.”