This website uses cookies for anonymised analytics and for account authentication. See our privacy and cookies policies for more information.





The voice of Scotland’s vibrant voluntary sector

Published by Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations

TFN is published by the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations, Mansfield Traquair Centre, 15 Mansfield Place, Edinburgh, EH3 6BB. The Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO) is a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation. Registration number SC003558.

Fury over charity comments on JK Rowling’s independence stance

This news post is almost 10 years old
 

A Scottish charity has found itself at the centre of a row after offensive language was used to lambast Harry Potter author JK Rowling because of her stance on Scottish independence.

A Scottish charity was plunged into a Twitter storm after it appeared to send an offensive tweet lambasting Harry Potter author JK Rowling over her stance on independence.

The multi-millionaire waded into the referendum debate on Wednesday, pledging £1million to the pro-union Better Together campaign.

A comment like that is a disgrace to the Yes cause and to the cause of social justice

However, hours after the news was announced, someone using the Twitter account of the Dignity Project tweeted: “What a #bitch after we gave her shelter in our city when she was a single mum”.

The comment was also reproduced on the charity’s Facebook page, but later removed.

William McDonald Wood, Dignity Project chairman, was unavailable for comment.

The project – which is based in Corstorphine, Edinburgh and is registered with the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator – claims to conduct child education projects in Africa.

The comment was immediately condemned.

Pro-independence Green MSP Patrick Harvie tweeted: “A comment like that is a disgrace to the Yes cause and to the cause of social justice.”

A statement on the charity's website later claimed its Twitter account had been hacked.

It stated: "We are not responsible for any tweets that have been sent. As a charity we do not take any political stance and our opinion is people are free to donate to whoever they choose.

"To the people who hacked our account - if helping African children to thrive and survive including single mums is bad thing that is their problem."

 

Comments

0 0
Heather Burns
almost 10 years ago
I am reminded of a character Dickens created, Mrs Jellyby, who had grandiose plans to become the saviour of poor African children while leaving her own family and community in tatters.
Commenting is now closed on this post