J.K. Rowling Urges Boycott Over M&S Trans Staff Bra Section Incident

J.K. Rowling has called for a boycott of the British retailer Marks & Spencer (M&S) after a transgender male employee approached a 14-year-old girl in the lingerie section, causing her distress. The mother of the girl described the interaction as "completely inappropriate" and said her daughter was "freaked out" by being approached by a "biological male" in the bra department. M&S apologized for the incident but clarified that the employee was not assigned to bra fittings and works across the clothing section. Rowling urged women to "vote with their wallets," criticizing M&S for allegedly ignoring the UK Supreme Court ruling that defines single-sex spaces based on biological sex rather than gender identity. Gender-critical groups also condemned the retailer, arguing that prioritizing the feelings of transgender men over the comfort of female customers is inappropriate. Despite the apology, M&S has not committed to preventing transgender staff from assisting female customers in sensitive areas, fueling ongoing controversy around the issue of sex-segregated spaces in retail.