J.K. Rowling apologizes for anti-Trump tweets, but not to Trump

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Seeing is believing? Probably not in a world where photos and videos could all be edited.

J.K. Rowling, one of the world's most renowned fantasy writers and author of the "Harry Potter" books, now may have a better understanding of how the online "facts" could be deceitful, after she wrongfully tweeted and then withdrew a series of tweets accusing US President Donald Trump for his gesture towards a child in a wheelchair.

The author raged in a string of tweets on Friday over a video which suggested that President Trump ignored Montgomery Weer, a three-year-old boy who sat in a wheelchair, stretching out hands in want of a handshake during a health care event at the White House.

Screenshot of US President Donald Trump attending the health care event at the White House. /Photo via White House

She called Trump "monster of narcissism," and accusing that he "values only himself and his pale reflections," adding that the "disabled, minorities, transgender people, the poor, women are treated with contempt" by the US president.

Unfortunately, the video she watched was later proved to be an edited one, and in the raw material, the president was seen not only greeting the boy but crouching down to talk to him.

Screenshot of Donald Trump crouching down to greet the disabled boy. /Photo via White House‍

The boy's mother also posted a piece of a message on Facebook, explaining that her son was not willing to shake hands with the president, and said that she hopes the message could be delivered to Rowling.

Two days after the friction, the British author finally apologized on Monday, also in a series of tweets. However, her apologies went only to the boy and his family, rather than the US president.

"I very clearly projected my sensitivities around the issue of disabled people being overlooked or ignored onto the images I saw and if that caused any distress to that boy or his family, I apologize unreservedly," Rowling tweeted. And she also deleted her previous critical tweets.

Screenshot of J.K. Rowling's tweets of apologies to the boy and his family. /Photo via Twitter

Does President Trump deserve an apology?

However, the story did not end with the author's apologies to the boy.

Piers Morgan, a British journalist who has been in a long-time war of words on Twitter with J.K. Rowling, has reignited the feud again upon the online debate.

In his column in the British newspaper Daily Mail, he said the author's not apologizing is "telling her millions of young impressionable Potter fans that it's fine to lie and never correct or apologize for a lie."

Meanwhile, opinions polarized over whether Rowling should apologize on Twitter.

File photo of J.K. Rowling, author of "Harry Potter" books. /Reuters Photo

"What about apologizing to the other person you wrongly accused? I was taught to show grace to all no matter if we like them or not," Twitter handle @JoeRiderJr tweeted.

"You have no business commenting on a President from another country! Have some respect! Model it, encourage it but don't teach kids disrespect," @Burn1Lynn tweeted in reply to Rowling.

But there are also many voices showing support for Rowling.

File photo of President Donald Trump speaking to departing White House interns at the White House. /Reuters Photo

Twitter handle @astonpittman apparently believed that Rowling has done much better than Trump by saying that "You did something Trump has NEVER done in his life: You publicly admitted you were wrong. And apologized."

"She's a human and has the right to her opinion. You have the right to disagree. Welcome to the world," tweeted @ChasandCurls.

The online friction has also been reported by news outlets in China, where there are quite a number of Potter fans as well. Despite that there are also comments debating over whether an apology is necessary, many have also been taking it just as an anecdote between two "web reds," or internet celebrities.

Screenshot of comment on Sina Weibo from Chinese netizen. /Photo via Weibo

"Auntie Rowling is indeed a writer, she is such a keyboard superwoman and has maintained her consistent style. Luckily she doesn't understand Chinese, otherwise, I'll never dare to complain a line about her," a Sina Weibo user commented under the news.

Another Weibo user @Juyueersiqi posted by quoting Trump's tweet in a screenshot, saying that "I think it is time to post the Trump quotations." In the screenshot was a tweet of President Trump, "Remember, when you hear the words 'sources say' from the Fake Media, often those sources are made up and do not exist."

Despite all the dramas, Rowling never hides her dislike of the US president, even before he took office. According to New York Times, she wrote two years ago that Trump was worse than Lord Voldemort, the evil dark wizard in the "Harry Potter" novel.