Bookstore employee fired after threatening to trash transphobic author’s books
Tilly Fitzgerald, a bookseller at the British bookstore chain Waterstones, was fired after she made a social media post criticizing a so-called “gender-critical author.”
Author Christina Dalcher posted a social media message in support of SEEN Publishing, a publishing company that touts itself as marketing to those “concerned about the impact of gender ideology on our sector and wider society.” Fitzgerald, who in addition to being a bookseller is also a book influencer on Instagram under the name Tillylovesbooks, responded to Dalcher’s message on X, writing, “Ooh I’ll enjoy tearing up your books and popping them in the bin today. Thanks for the heads up.”
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After posting the comment, Fitzgerald was fired by Waterstones. She posted about the situation on Instagram on July 8, saying “I’ve just been sacked from the only job I’ve ever loved.”
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“I told [Dalcher] on Twitter that I was going to throw away her books after I found out that she was a bigot. She tagged Waterstones and they have decided to fire me for my social media usage. It’s the first mistake I’ve ever made, I’ve been nothing but an exemplary employee there,” Fitzgerald said.
Fitzgerald said that the post was referring to her role as a book reviewer, not a Waterstones employee. She told The Guardian that “my intention [in] responding to Dalcher was only to let her know that I would no longer be supporting her books in my personal capacity as a reviewer.”
Waterstones told The Guardian, saying that Fitzgerald had been fired for “contravening Waterstones policies” and that it had “nothing to do with transgender rights.”
People have come strong in support of Fitzgerald. More than 500 authors and book industry professionals have signed an open letter that calls on Waterstones to rehire Fitzgerald.
“We are a group of authors and book industry workers deeply concerned about the recent events surrounding a much-loved member of the book community, known on social media as TillyLovesBooks,” the letter reads.
“We feel it is an egregious error to terminate the employment of a dedicated, passionate, and knowledgeable bookseller for expressing a personal opinion about an author and their work on their social media page,” it continues. “The page was not associated with Waterstones. Neither Tilly’s personal opinion nor what she chooses to do with her own private property, should have been grounds for her losing her work and livelihood.”
People have also been speaking out on social media, saying that her firing is a wrongful termination.
waterstones hires full-time booksellers for a pathetic 18k a year, and yet has the nerve to implement a social media useage policy stricter than that of the government's civil service— Emma Szewczak (@EmmaSzewczak) July 9, 2024
Hey @Waterstones, I am deeply concerned that you’ve reacted so harshly and lost, not only an incredible bookseller, but a genuine book lover. Tilly stands on the right side of history, it’s a shame you’re deciding not to. https://t.co/wR5rOMiqYF— Ryan Love (@RyanJL) July 8, 2024
I’m absolutely livid Tilly. @Waterstones you need to get a grip and see what that hateful woman Dalcher is doing and what on earth made you think it was good enough to sack Tilly for!! Anything you need Tilly, everyone is behind you xx https://t.co/fwZN946ikm— Dee (previously @GeordieDeeDee) (@Dees_Book_Blog) July 8, 2024
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