JK Rowling shuts down Twitter trolls

JK Rowling has hit back at abusive online twitter users. Photo / Supplied

Twitter users have rallied to show their support for JK Rowling after she became a target for online abuse in the wake of Britain's general election result.

The Harry Potter author, who has previously donated money to Labour, received nasty internet comments after the party suffered a heavy defeat at the polls, ending in a virtual wipeout of its MPs in Scotland.

I'd be delighted for you to show me where I've 'spewed venom' at anybody. https://t.co/pzVXaLcMMv

— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) May 4, 2015

The writer was branded, among other things, a "traitor to Scotland" and "Blairite scum".

But Rowling has since received numerous tweets from well-wishers offering her their support.

One person wrote: "Don't let them get you down. There are still some civilised people left in Scotland, honest."

Another Twitter user wrote: "Just know that for every person that insults or attacks you, there is someone out there who stands with you!"

One other supporter said: "I love you and support you all the way! I apologise for the idiots out there who just don't know how to keep their awful comment to themselves."

The author has also retweeted a number of photographs from fans all around the world, inviting her to visit their country.

@jk_rowling France is beautiful but it will be perfect if you come here! La France est belle, we're waiting for you 😏 pic.twitter.com/jl97XqAL30

— moonchild 🌟 (@frxnketeen) May 8, 2015

Rowling revealed yesterday that she had been "invited to relocate to France, Ireland and Brazil!" and joked: "I've got to be honest, if I'm leaving Scotland, the climate is something I probably wouldn't want to replicate first!"

The author said she was overwhelmed by the amount of "love and support" she had received, and thanked those who had given her their backing, writing: "Looking at those beautiful pictures reminds me how big the world is and how many more decent people there are than not, so thank you xxx."

And she received praise for a withering put-down she dished out to the writer of some notably offensive messages.

She wrote: "The internet doesn't just offer opportunities for misogynistic abuse, you know. Penis enlargers can also be bought discreetly."

.@sjosiah0 The Internet doesn’t just offer opportunities for misogynistic abuse, you know. Penis enlargers can also be bought discreetly.

— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) May 8, 2015

The Casual Vacancy author suffered a flood of criticism on Twitter last year after it emerged she had donated £1 million (NZ$2.8 million) to the campaign for a No vote in the Scottish independence referendum.

- AAP