Row as BBC Radio 4 presenter ‘brackets’ JK Rowling alongside sex offenders R Kelly and Eric Gill

A BBC Radio 4 presenter has been accused of ‘bracketing’ JK Rowling alongside sex offenders R Kelly and Eric Gill because of her views on gender.

Front Row listeners said they were ‘horrified’ and ‘dismayed’ at the way the writer was portrayed in the episode of the arts show broadcast last week.

Presenter Tom Sutcliffe held a discussion about a book that looked at whether it was ‘morally permissible’ to enjoy the work of artists when their views and lives were reprehensible or criminal.

Paedophile artist Gill and singer Kelly, a convicted sex trafficker and abuser, were mentioned. 

But the discussion sparked anger among listeners when Miss Rowling’s name was brought into the discussion.

Asked on Radio 4’s audience response show Feedback if he had ‘bracketed’ Miss Rowling with Kelly and Gill, presenter Tom Sutcliffe denied this, saying he and his guest on the programme Erich Hatala Matthes, an author, had made the point that this was ‘a different case’ and there was a ‘spectrum’ from crimes to having opinions that were not shared by all

Mr Sutcliffe asked Erich Hatala Matthes, author of Drawing The Line, if ‘there’s a major philosophical distinction between artists who have committed crimes, have been found guilty of crimes and artists who simply have unpopular opinions’. 

He cited Miss Rowling as having ‘a very unpopular opinion regarding gender identity’.

The Harry Potter author has been repeatedly attacked by trans activists for her defence of women’s rights.

One listener, who contacted Radio 4’s audience response show Feedback, accused Mr Sutcliffe of trying to ‘conflate’ the ‘entirely reasonable views’ of Miss Rowling with the life of Gill. 

Another caller to the show said: ‘I was horrified to hear Tom Sutcliffe repeatedly attack JK Rowling after discussing whether the art of R Kelly and Eric Gill should be viewed differently following their identification as sex offenders.

‘He bracketed JK Rowling with them and repeatedly referred to her in a way that clearly implied his negative feelings.’

Asked on Feedback if he had ‘bracketed’ Miss Rowling with Kelly and Gill, Mr Sutcliffe denied this, saying they had made the point that this was ‘a different case’ and there was a ‘spectrum’ from crimes to having opinions that were not shared by all.