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J. K. Rowling has never been shy about her views on gender identity. But she may end up doing something even Lord Voldemort couldn’t—draining the magic from Harry Potter.
In May, Rowling launched the J. K. Rowling Women’s Fund, a legal initiative she says is designed to protect “sex-based rights.”
But some LGBTQ+ advocates see it differently, calling it a direct attack on transgender rights. And now, the J.K. backlash has reached a new level.
Two San Francisco bookstores—Booksmith and Fabulosa Books—have said they’ll no longer carry Rowling’s titles. Booksmith cited the fund in its decision, stating that Rowling is using “private wealth from the Harry Potter series” to advance a cause they describe as harmful to trans people.
Fabulosa was more blunt, saying Rowling is “devoting her life to nastiness.”
For Rowling, the financial impact is negligible. With an estimated net worth of $1 billion, she’ll hardly sweat the loss of a few shelf spaces. But the cultural impact is a different story.
Credit: Warner Bros.
Rowling remains an executive producer on HBO’s upcoming Harry Potter TV reboot, which is set to begin production soon. And that’s where things can get complicated.
Many fans who once lined up at midnight for Harry Potter book releases are now questioning whether they want to support a franchise that continues to be tied to her name.
This puts the new series in an incredibly delicate position—especially with a generation of fans that’s growing increasingly vocal about trans rights.
Even longtime cast members have already distanced themselves from Rowling.
Daniel Radcliffe and Emma Watson, who played Harry Potter and Hermione Granger respectively in the eight films, have publicly condemned Rowling’s views while showing solidarity with the trans community.
Credit: Warner Bros.
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More recently, Lucius Malfoy actor Jason Isaacs, who often speaks highly of Rowling with regards to her charitable work, now says he doesn’t recognize her behavior on X (Twitter).
Even Sir Stephen Fry recently criticized Rowling’s actions, calling her “a lost cause”.
With production beginning this summer, the Harry Potter TV series is a while away, but there’s time to repair some of the damage.
However, if Rowling continues to “kick a hornet’s nest” as Fry put it in his recent interview, she may turn one of the most beloved fantasy franchises in history into a Squib.
Where do you stand in all of this? Do you agree with J. K. Rowling or do you think she’s doing more harm than good? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!
