Waterstones responds after bookseller 'sacked' over 'trans row'

Waterstones has responded after bookseller and book influencer Tilly Fitzgerald, known on social media as @TillyLovesBooks, claimed that she was "sacked" from her job at Waterstones following an online post she made about VOX author Christina Dalcher (HQ).

Last month, Fitzgerald had posted on X that she was "going to throw away her books" after Dalcher, in her own words, had "called out a marketing executive at HarperCollins UK about her blanket statement on anyone affiliated with @SEENPublishing".

The SEEN Publishing network launched in June for publishing professionals and authors “concerned about the impact of gender ideology on our sector and wider society”.

Following this interaction, where Dalcher tagged Waterstones asking whether the retailer was "okay" with the Fitzgerald’s post criticising her own, Fitzgerald was allegedly fired from her job.

Fitzgerald, in a video post on the social media platform, said that she had "told Dalcher on X that she was going to throw away her books" as she disagreed with some of her views, adding: "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."

In a thread, Fitzgerald said that the books she "was going to throw away" were her own personal copies of the author’s works, and not Waterstones stock.

Fitzgerald added: "I’ve never done anything but sell whichever books I was asked to in the shop."

A spokesperson from Waterstones told The Bookseller that the book retailer is "an inclusive employer and follows due process in HR matters".

The spokesperson added: "For obvious reasons we are unable to comment on the specifics of individual cases."

The Waterstones Help X account (@WstonesHelp) also posted on the social media platform yesterday: "We have received some messages about an employee who has been dismissed. This was on the grounds of contravening Waterstones’ policies and has nothing to do with transgender rights."

HarperCollins, Dalcher’s publisher in the UK, also declined to comment when approached by The Bookseller. 

When approached, Dalcher told The Bookseller: "Thank you for reaching out, but I am unable to comment on the situation between Tilly Fitzgerald and Waterstones."

The author Sara Gibbs launched an open letter from "a group of authors deeply concerned about the recent events surrounding a much-loved member of the book community, known on social media as TillyLovesBooks".

The letter states: "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 [...] We would like to express support and solidarity with Tilly, and to urge Waterstones to do the right thing and reinstate her."

Fitzgerald has appealed to independent bookshops in the Brighton and Hove and Worthing area as well as to publishers for job opportunities.