This weekend played host to one of the most entertaining celebrity rows to grace social media.
Piers Morgan and J.K. Rowling spent most of Saturday embroiled in a knockdown, drag-out slanging match over Twitter. Much to the amusement of everyone else.
It started when the Harry Potter author retweeted a clip of the Donald Trump-supporting, ex-Mirror editor being told to ‘f*** off’ by comedian Jim Jefferies over his defence of the President’s Muslim travel ban.
Please enjoy this clip of @jimjefferies going to town on Piers Morgan on Real Time. pic.twitter.com/jKc5WgiiLI
— Dave Itzkoff (@ditzkoff) February 11, 2017
Yes, watching Piers Morgan being told to fuck off on live TV is *exactly* as satisfying as I'd always imagined. https://t.co/4FII8sYmIt
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) February 11, 2017
Piers was clearly piqued by the tweet and responded.
This is why I've never read a single word of Harry Potter. https://t.co/XUJBMs4KKm
— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) February 11, 2017
Which touched off this heated exchange (we’ll just relay it here in full for your perusal).
Because you had a premonition that one day the author would roar with laughter at seeing you called out for your bullshit on live TV? https://t.co/8rkKSqJTnG
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) February 11, 2017
Everything I said was factual.
If you think screaming 'FUCK OFF!!!' at me changes that, then you're mistaken. https://t.co/0U9fVoTjfc— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) February 11, 2017
.@piersmorgan Would you like a couple of hours to mock up some pictures of refugees carrying explosives to substantiate your position? https://t.co/sFj0kqIajd
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) February 11, 2017
The superior, dismissive arrogance of rabid Remain/Clinton supporters like @jk_rowling is, of course, precisely why both campaigns lost.
— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) February 11, 2017
The fact-free, amoral, bigotry-apologism of celebrity toady Piers Morgan is, of course, why it's so delicious to see him told to fuck off. https://t.co/4XNF4G0nlD
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) February 11, 2017
.@piersmorgan 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.
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) February 11, 2017
No bigger bullies right now than the shrieking, hysterical anti-Trump celebrity brigade.
You lost, so suck it up Dolores. https://t.co/RFQkyJWxZ5— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) February 11, 2017
As you can see it went the full 10 rounds and ended with these pointed sign-offs.
#StillHurts pic.twitter.com/28rUHy2McC
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) February 11, 2017
Right, time for a beer.
Luvvie-slaying is thirsty work. 🍻🍻— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) February 12, 2017
Needless to say, the Twittersphere was gripped by the clash and plenty of people were getting involved. Even Don Cheadle got dragged into the hostilities. Poor Don.
Et tu, Don? https://t.co/KyzUo7sKq6
— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) February 11, 2017
But then things took a more personal turn for the Good Morning Britain host when his son Spencer made an intervention.
He tweeted a picture of is Harry Potter-inspired tattoo of the ‘Deathly Hallows’ symbol. Which would lead one to deduce he’s probably a pretty big fan of J.K. Rowlings’ work. A bit awkward seeing as she now seems to be his father’s newest sworn enemy.
Well this is awkward @piersmorgan @jk_rowling pic.twitter.com/OHhkj8TWlM
— Spencer Morgan (@spencermorgan93) February 11, 2017
Spencer summed up the sightly awkward situation but tweeting that it was well, awkward. But his dad seemed to see the amusing side as he retweeted his son’s picture.
Still, what else are dads for if not to cause you overwhelming public embarrassment?