Nicola Coughlan has taken a swipe at JK Rowling after the Harry Potter author celebrated this week's Supreme Court gender ruling with a self-congratulatory social media post.
A landmark Supreme Court hearing on Wednesday ruled that the definition of a woman is based on biological sex, meaning transgender women are no longer considered women in the eyes of the law.
Following the decision, Rowling, who has been unapologetically vocal with her views about gender in recent years, took to X to celebrate.
Captioning a picture of her sat smoking a cigar on a superyacht with a drink in-hand, the Harry Potter creator wrote: 'I love it when a plan comes together.'
Today however, Bridgerton star Nicola Coughlan, who was left 'completely horrified' by Wednesday's ruling, hit back at Rowling's public celebration with a post on Instagram.
The actor shared an article headlined: 'This is a new low for JK Rowling' before taking a dig at HBO's new Harry Potter series, writing: 'Keep your new Harry Potter lads. Wouldn't touch it with a 10ft pole'.
Earlier this week, 38-year-old Coughlan also shared a video voicing her disgust at what she called a 'stomach-churning' Supreme Court ruling.
'To see an already marginalised community being further attacked and attacked in law is really stomach churning and disgusting, and to see people celebrate it is more stomach-churning and disgusting,' she said.
After the Supreme Court hearing on Wednesday, JK Rowling posted the above photo with the caption: 'I love it when a plan comes together'
Today however, Bridgerton star Nicola Coughlan, who was left 'completely horrified' by Wednesday's ruling, hit back at Rowling's celebrations with a post on Instagram
'Make your voice heard and let your trans and non-binary friends and the community at large know that you are there for them and will keep fighting for them.'
The video was shared to announce the launch of a new fundraiser - which has already raised more than £100,000 - spearheaded by the actor in support of trans charity Not A Phase.
Wednesday's ruling that the words 'sex', 'man' and 'woman' in the Equality Act must mean 'biological sex' sparked jubilant scenes outside London's Supreme Court, with women's rights groups and MPs celebrating the 'common sense' decision.
Tory leader Kemi Badenoch also lauded what women's rights campaigners have dubbed a 'victory for women'.
'Saying "trans women are women" was never true in fact, and now isn't true in law either,' she said, adding: 'The era of Keir Starmer telling us women can have penises has come to an end.'
It means the legal definition of a 'woman' only applies to those who were born female, and trans women do not have the right to use single-sex women-only spaces such as toilets or changing rooms.
The ruling has caused much controversy amongst other groups, with transgender activists left furious.
Thousands of outraged campaigners took to the streets of London today to protest - waving flags and chanting throughout the afternoon.
Protestors targeted a number of statues in the capital. Notably, a statue of the suffragette Millicent Fawcett was defaced with a banner reading 'F** rights'.
The Metropolitan Police said they are investigating the incidents as criminal damage after the statues were daubed with graffiti.
Tory leader Kemi Badenoch also lauded the 'victory for women'
Campaigners gathered in London today to campaign against the Supreme Court ruling, with a significant police presence in place
Trans activists defaced a statue of the suffragette Millicent Fawcett as part of their protest against the Supreme Court ruling on the definition of a woman
At least two statues in Parliament Square were daubed with graffiti during the rally, with 'f** rights' and a heart painted on the banner held by suffragette Millicent Fawcett, and 'trans rights are human rights' sprayed on the pedestal bearing a memorial to South African military leader and statesman Jan Christian Smuts
Among the groups supporting the London protest are Trans Kids Deserve Better, Pride in Labour, the Front for the Liberation of Intersex Non-binary and Transgender people (Flint) and TransActual
In a long-awaited judgment delivered on Wednesday, the UK's highest court confirmed the terms 'woman' and 'sex' in the 2010 Equality Act 'refer to a biological woman and biological sex'. Pictured: Trans activists stand on a platform as they protest the Supreme Court ruling in London today
Pictured: A protestor holds a banner up supporting trans rights with Big Ben in the background
One protestor paraded a banner reading: 'Our existence is not up for debate'
A campaigner told the PA news agency that the protest has been organised to 'put pressure on the Government'
Chief Superintendent Stuart Bell, who was leading the policing operation for the protest, said: 'It is very disappointing to see damage to seven statues and property in the vicinity of the protest today.
'We support the public's right to protest but criminality like this is completely unacceptable.
'We are now investigating this criminal damage and urge anyone with any information to come forward - call 101 quoting 01/7396927/25.'
The 'emergency demonstration' has taken place in the capital's Parliament Square, which is home to 12 statues of political figures including Winston Churchill, Abraham Lincoln and Mahatma Gandhi.
Police are yet to have made any arrests, Scotland Yard said.
Activists demanded 'trans liberation' and 'trans rights now', with some waving flags and holding banners.
At least two statues in Parliament Square were vandalized during the rally, with 'trans rights are human rights' spray-painted on the pedestal bearing a memorial to South African military leader Jan Christian Smuts.
Among the groups supporting the London protest are Trans Kids Deserve Better, Pride in Labour, the Front for the Liberation of Intersex Non-binary and Transgender people (Flint) and TransActual.
Avery Greatorex, co-chair of Pride in Labour, told the PA news agency: 'Not a single trans person or trans organisation was represented in that case, and so we weren't given an opportunity to have a seat at the table, which is obviously a very concerning thing for our community when decisions are being made without us.
'So the protest was organised to put pressure on the Government, on the public to act.
'To be able to secure the rights of transgender people and to secure those protections, we need legislative power and we need lobbying power.'
The protest took place in the London sun this afternoon as protestors marched through Broadway
'I'm a human not an ideology' read one powerful banner
Pictured: Activists hold signs that read: 'Life feels like a black mirror episode right now' and 'Don't hate me because I'm beautiful'
Another banner paraded by protestors read: 'Feminism must include trans women'
Trans activists have been left furious by Wednesday's ruling, which a Labour spokesperson said was a 'common sense position'
A spokesperson for Trans Kids Deserve Better said: 'The transmisogyny that led to this court ruling is unacceptable.
'Though this ruling has brought another wave of fear to the trans community, we will continue to fight for our rights and freedoms.
'When you attack trans women you attack all trans people and all women. Our rights do not oppose each other, they go hand in hand, and we will keep fighting until we're all free.'
Thousands of trans rights protesters also took to the streets of Edinburgh this afternoon following the Supreme Court ruling.
Demonstrators waved flags and signs and chanted slogans as they gathered at the foot of the Mound, in the heart of the Scottish capital, before marching to the UK Government offices at Queen Elizabeth House.
Speakers addressed the crowd using megaphones, and led the demonstrators in chants that included 'Trans rights are human rights' and 'When trans rights are under attack, what do we do? Fight back'.
Protestors also took to the streets of Edinburgh this afternoon
Demonstrators waved flags and signs and chanted slogans as they gathered at the foot of the Mound, in the heart of the Scottish capital, before marching to the UK Government offices at Queen Elizabeth House
Speakers addressed the crowd using megaphones, and led the demonstrators in chants that included 'Trans rights are human rights' and 'When trans rights are under attack, what do we do? Fight back'
Protestors brought drums to the march through the centre of the Scottish city this afternoon
Lauren Yeoman, 38, said she was taking part in the demonstration because she was 'disgusted' at what she said amounted to the removal of trans people's human rights.
Describing how she felt when she learned of the Supreme Court ruling she said: 'I felt sick to be honest. I think we're taking a lot of backward steps.
'It feels like every day women are being attacked, minorities are being attacked, and the real problem is being ignored, and we're pointing fingers at people who aren't harming anybody, such as trans people, while ignoring the real problems.'
Earlier this week, the Government said the unaninmous ruling made by five judges brought 'clarity and confidence' for women and service providers, while a Labour Party source said Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer had brought the party to a 'common sense position' on the subject from an 'activist' stance.
Activists demanded 'trans liberation' and 'trans rights now'
'F*** the Supreme Court,' one read
LGBTQ+ flags were also on-show in Edinburgh
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