JK Rowling has publicly supported Riley Gaines following criticism from Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez over her comments regarding trans athletes. The controversy began when Gaines posted a photo of AOC, Zohran Mamdani, and Bernie Sanders at a campaign event, which AOC responded to by mocking her fifth-place finish in a swimming championship against trans-identifying male athlete Lia Thomas. AOC remarked, ‘Maybe if you channe than all this anger into swimming faster you wouldn’t have come in fifth.’ This sparked a broader debate on social media, with Rowling defending Gaines’ stance on women’s rights, stating, ‘She doesn’t defend women’s rights for attention or money, any more than I do.’ Gaines also responded, asserting that ‘Moral conviction is a foreign concept to some.’ Both Rowling and Gaines have stood firm against criticism, highlighting their shared resolve against what they perceive as virtue signaling within the political sphere.