‘Hogwarts is always there to welcome you home’. As I write this piece and sip my coffee, that quote is printed across my mug. Today, however, the wholesome magic of Diagonally seems lost in a thread of transphobic tweets from JK Rowling, creator of the Wizarding World. Although Warner Brothers have tried to fan the flames of the franchise by touring a walkway of huge wands belonging to various characters around UK cities ahead of the new film Fantastic Beasts the Secrets of Dumbledore, it will be interesting to see how successful the film becomes. Will it burn through to the end of its proposed five-film series? How will Fantastic Beasts fare in the classic ‘to what extent can you separate the art from the artist’ debate?
Since 2020, Rowling has been spurting trans-exclusionary radical feminist opinions on Twitter: ‘If sex isn’t real, there’s no same-sex attraction. If sex isn’t real, the lived reality of women globally is erased. I know and love trans people, but erasing the concept of sex removes the ability of many to meaningfully discuss their lives. It isn’t hate to speak the truth.’
She uses words under the façade of an alliance with the LGBTQ community to fool people into believing that trans people are a threat to women and queer people. Given the expanse of her platform, and the influence she has over young and old generations, this is particularly worrying.
It feels like a fever dream, but Vladimir Putin has even related himself to Rowling when discussing how both Russia and the author are ‘victims’ of cancel culture. Rowling and the Harry Potter franchise are considered a quintessential part of British culture; it is disgraceful that she is using this influence to spread such prejudice.
As if this isn’t enough controversy, the Fantastic Beasts series still carries a lingering stench since lead actor Johnny Depp was fired from the film after losing his libel case over allegations of assault toward ex-wife Amber Heard, despite later evidence that these allegations were false, and recurring actor Ezra Miller was charged with disorderly conduct and harassment following his alleged actions in a Hawaii bar just last week.
Alongside many Harry Potter cast members who have condemned Rowling’s actions, members of the public are taking to Twitter to confess: ‘It sounds so great to say ‘separate the art from the artist’ but I’m stuck here watching Fantastic Beasts and all I can think about is how much JK Rowling hates trans women‘.
It will be interesting to see whether the nostalgia and comfort of Harry Potter will persuade people to see past the problematic views of its creator.