Piers Morgan, J.K. Rowling in Twitter fight over politics
Harry Potter author first tweeted after seeing the British TV personality on talk show discussing Trump ban
Brits may be known for politeness and restraint, but two of England's best-known exports aren't holding back in a Twitter war. Or should we say row.
TV personality Piers Morgan and Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling sparred back and forth over American politics Friday and Saturday after Rowling expressed her satisfaction at a talk show clip in which Morgan had an expletive directed at him.
He said, she said
It all started when Morgan, a former CNN host and judge on Britain's Got Talent, defended the U.S. government's travel ban during an appearance on HBO's Real Time with Bill Maher on Friday.
Morgan faced off with Australian comic Jim Jefferies on the episode during a discussion of the executive order. Morgan, who has described Donald Trump as a friend in the past and appeared on Trump's former reality show Celebrity Apprentice, said it was "not a Muslim ban."
That's when Jefferies dropped the F-bomb and Rowling dropped her first tweet, writing, "Yes, watching Piers Morgan being told to f--k off on live TV is *exactly* as satisfying as I'd always imagined."
Rowling's 'arrogance'
What followed was a flurry of exchanges between Rowling and Morgan, many of which used explicit language.
Morgan responded to Rowling, saying he'd never read a word of her uber-popular fantasy series. He also slammed her "superior, dismissive arrogance."
In return, Rowling called Morgan a "celebrity toady" who is "fact-free and "amoral" with "bigotry-apologism."
The superior, dismissive arrogance of rabid Remain/Clinton supporters like <a href="https://twitter.com/jk_rowling">@jk_rowling</a> is, of course, precisely why both campaigns lost.
—@piersmorgan
.<a href="https://twitter.com/piersmorgan">@piersmorgan</a> If only you'd read Harry Potter, you'd know the downside of sucking up to the biggest bully in school is getting burned alive.
—@jk_rowling
No bigger bullies right now than the shrieking, hysterical anti-Trump celebrity brigade. <br>You lost, so suck it up Dolores. <a href="https://t.co/RFQkyJWxZ5">https://t.co/RFQkyJWxZ5</a>
—@piersmorgan
Get the popcorn
Judging from the number of responses and growing attention, people just couldn't look away or resist chiming in, including Silicon Valley actor Kumail Nanjiani, Star Trek legend George Takei and House of Lies star Don Cheadle.
. <a href="https://twitter.com/jk_rowling">@jk_rowling</a> vs. Piers Morgan<br><br>It's like having to choose between donuts & the flu.
—@kumailn
No, it's because you lack imagination, and small children instinctively fear you. <a href="https://twitter.com/jk_rowling">@jk_rowling</a> <a href="https://t.co/TIPg8POLQ6">https://t.co/TIPg8POLQ6</a>
—@GeorgeTakei
Delicious!! <a href="https://t.co/xORi9K5T4t">https://t.co/xORi9K5T4t</a>
—@DonCheadle
Morgan has maintained a fighting spirit with his retweets and replies but looks like Rowling did a mic drop.
<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/StillHurts?src=hash">#StillHurts</a> <a href="https://t.co/28rUHy2McC">pic.twitter.com/28rUHy2McC</a>
—@jk_rowling
With files from the Associated Press