JK Rowling has launched a blistering attack on the former Scottish First Minister’s newly published autobiography, employing profanity and harsh language in an extensive critique posted on her website yesterday evening.
The celebrated author of the Harry Potter series’ assessment of Frankly emerged on the same day as the memoir’s official launch at the Edinburgh International Book Festival, where Mrs Sturgeon appeared alongside broadcaster Kirsty Wark.
The review features expletive-laden passages in which Mrs Rowling brands Mrs Sturgeon a “f***wit”.
She also accuses her of inflicting “real, lasting harm” through her positions on transgender issues.
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Mrs Rowling alleged in the piece the former SNP leader fostered an environment where women faced “silenced, shamed, persecuted” treatment.
She also wrote that they were subjected to “degrading and unsafe” situations for opposing what she terms Mrs Sturgeon’s “luxury beliefs”.
The author draws parallels between Mrs Sturgeon and Donald Trump, describing her as “flat out Trumpian in her shameless denial of reality and hard facts” regarding transgender policies.
The writer also maintained that Mrs Sturgeon continues to support allowing transgender women access to female-only facilities based solely on self-declaration, despite what she characterises as clear evidence of predatory males exploiting such policies.
The critique highlights a Supreme Court decision that ruled against the Scottish government’s interpretation of equality legislation, which Mrs Rowling argues stripped women of single-sex provisions and their legal recognition as a protected category.
According to Mrs Rowling, Mrs Sturgeon shows no contrition following this ruling and persists in denying any dangers associated with self-identification policies, despite what the author describes as numerous documented instances of abuse.
The author also went on to single out the case of Isla Bryson, a convicted double rapist, as a pivotal moment that exposed what she views as Mrs Sturgeon’s flawed reasoning on gender identity.
Mrs Rowling claims that when questioned about whether Bryson was male or female during a television appearance, the typically articulate former First Minister appeared utterly lost for words, making herself look “like a complete f***wit”.
In an unusual literary comparison, Mrs Rowling likens Mrs Sturgeon to Bella Swan from Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight series.
She described both as beginning as “shy, awkward, bookish” girls who transform into “monomaniacs” consumed by singular ambitions.
She wrote: “In Nicola’s case, it’s independence for Scotland. In Bella’s, it’s having loads of hot sex with Edward Cullen without getting accidentally killed. Spoiler alert: only one of these ambitions is realised.”
Mrs Rowling’s critique extends beyond gender issues to highlight significant gaps in Mrs Sturgeon’s memoir, including Scotland’s position as Europe’s leader in drug-related fatalities, a matter she notes holds personal significance as her physician husband previously operated a methadone treatment facility.
The author identifies several contentious matters absent from Frankly, including missing government WhatsApp communications from the pandemic period.
She also noted declining educational standards, the CalMac ferry procurement controversy, and the disappearance of £500,000 in independence referendum funds.
The Twilight of Nicola Sturgeon
My review of Franklyhttps://t.co/p158nlJnpW pic.twitter.com/8pXc5IakUm
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) August 14, 2025
Mrs Rowling challenged Mrs Sturgeon’s characterisation of the 2014 independence campaign as neither “unpleasant” nor “divisive”.
The scathing piece comes days after Mrs Sturgeon spoke about her well-publicised feud with Mrs Rowling on BBC Breakfast.
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When presenter Sarah Campbell raised the fact that Mrs Rowling is mentioned in her book for wearing a t-shirt saying “Sturgeon: The destroyer of women’s rights,” Mrs Sturgeon replied: “There are two sides to almost every story in life, and I think we hear a lot about women’s safety from, if I can use the term loosely, the anti-trans rights lobby.
“I’m making the point that it goes both ways. I face some of the most horrific abuse on this issue than I have on any other issue, and I’ve been involved in a few controversial issues over the years.
“Look, I’m not going to get into… there are some people on this debate who definitely seem to spend a lot more time thinking about me than I spend thinking about them.”