J.K. Rowling responds perfectly to Mail Online headline referencing judges's sexuality after Brexit High Court ruling

The government has already said it will appeal the High Court's ruling that the Prime Minister must get parliamentary approval before triggering Article 50

J.K. Rowling (Getty)

J.K. Rowling has mocked the Mail Online for running an angry headline about one of the High Court judges who ruled that Theresa May must seek parliamentary approval before triggering Article 50 and the UK leaves the European Union being "openly gay".

A number of Brexit-backing newspapers reacted predictably to the ruling and Friday’s front pages displayed headlines ranging from The Telegraph’s “The judges versus the people” to The Sun’s: “Who do EU think you are?” and The Daily Express’ rallying cry: “We must get out of the EU”.

The Daily Mail dedicated its front page to attacking the three judges who are behind the ruling, branding them “Enemies of the State”.

The Mail Online also introduced the three men to its readers under the following headline: “The judges who blocked Brexit: One founded a EUROPEAN law group, another charged the taxpayer millions for advice and the third is an openly gay ex-Olympic fencer”.

But, as Rowling pointed out, if the fact that you are gay and a former Olympian is the worst they can say then you must be doing something right.

Others reacted furiously, questioning why the publication thought necessary to use the Master of the Rolls, and thus the second most senior judge in England and Wales, Sir Terence Etherton’s sexuality as a “slur”.

Sir Terence qualified for the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow as part of the British Sabre team. The 65-year-old became the first gay man to be a senior judge when he was sworn in as Lord Justice of Appeal in 2008.

It is understood the outlet later changed their headline by removing the reference to Sir Terence’s sexuality.

Representatives from The Mail did not immediately respond to a request for comment.