Nicola Sturgeon, former First Minister of Scotland, has accused author J.K. Rowling of being "obsessed" with her, following a series of public exchanges between the two. Sturgeon made the remarks during an appearance at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe on Saturday, a day after Rowling posted a critical message directed at the former Scottish National Party (SNP) leader.

In a post on social media platform X, Rowling described Sturgeon as a “world-class misogynist” and “profoundly disloyal” to the SNP. The criticism came in response to Sturgeon’s commentary on the SNP’s recent election campaign, which Rowling addressed in a new foreword to one of her books. The two figures have had a long-standing and highly publicized disagreement, particularly on issues related to gender identity and transgender rights.

Sturgeon acknowledged their deep differences during the festival event, stating, “We disagree on more than one thing – we disagree about independence, we clearly disagree on trans rights.” She added, “My god, that woman is obsessed with me,” referring to Rowling’s sustained public criticism.

The tension between the two has been ongoing for several years, with Rowling frequently voicing opposition to transgender-inclusive policies promoted by Sturgeon and the SNP government. Meanwhile, Sturgeon and her supporters have accused Rowling of promoting views they consider harmful to transgender people.

As both remain prominent figures in their respective fields—Sturgeon in Scottish politics and Rowling in literature—their public dispute continues to draw attention amid broader debates about identity politics and freedom of expression in the UK.