Harry Potter's JK Rowling Problem

I didn't get into Harry Potter until a couple years ago, so it doesn't hold the same emotional place as it does a lot of people, but i can related to those feelings. for me making the decision to not do anything that financially supports Just Kidding Rowling is easy, and i agree continuing the fan discourse of these stories and worlds is important, apart from her. honestly, when i became aware of her expressing these views it baffled me, had she not read the books she wrote, because they seem antithetical to this very thing. Sad, really.

Chris Bird

Thanks yeah, I think it's better to look at actions as transphobic/mysognisitic/racist rather then people as transphobes/sexist/racist because it actually helps the conversation and enables more people to feel welcome into it, especially the people who need to hear it most.

Jessie Earl

Indeed. I totally understand. JKR has somewhat become a lightning rod for so many issues surrounding trans folks today, and I understand emotion around it.

Jessie Earl

RIGHT? They should at least try to promote trans voices if they want to keep working with JKR. That's the VERY least they can do

Jessie Earl

Agreed, it really really angers me that they don't seem to have any issues continuing to work with her.

Jessie Earl

I think it's very astute to not call out JKR as a "transphobe" by name. It reminds me about how Kate Mann doesn't call people "misogynists" anymore, she simply treats "misogyny" as a system, which actions can contribute towards or against. If we look at the Harry Potter universe in this light, it does create a structure to enjoy these works without contributing to transphobia. I read the entire book series of my daughters over the course of the pandemic (we had quite a bit of free time with everything being cancelled over summer!) and it's possible to convey these works to others without contributing to transphobia, since such bigotry doesn't come up in these books (unless I'm too far removed from the trans experience to detect it). We didn't discuss JKR, her views, or their impacts at all. Should they ask, we'll definitely have to have that conversation, and I'll have it with them honestly. That'll probably hurt at first, but the discomfort is important. Libraries and used book stores (or, in my case, borrowing the entire box set from your brother-in-law) mean you don't contribute financially either. Although thinking about this in real time, I'm certainly contributing to growing the fan base, so that uncomfy conversation might need to happen before my girls are old enough to start buying video games and movie tickets themselves.

Keith Morse

I used to love HP. I was already out of school when the first book came out, but barely into uni. The series brought me joy and it was a place of comfort, and it helped me get through when I was in a dark place. All this changed, though. At one point I couldn't get through the audio books anymore because of the body-shaming, of which there is indeed plenty. Just read just about any paragraph about Dudley, for example. So I effectively stopped reading the books because they made me uncomfortable. And then came the various JKR meltdown phases over the last two years. At this point, I can't even care anymore. I only know even mentioning anything related to JKR induces intense anxiety. I don't live in the UK, but the discourse here is not much better. Local media, if they mention 'controversies' at all, of course frame it as some "trans activists" being unreasonable. Because of course they do. And this callousness again makes me anxious and afraid. Trans and nonbinary people don't have more friends in German politics and media than they do in the UK. JKR is the focal point of much of what is going on today. And HP is the main source of her power, as its success is what keeps her relevant. I can deal with Roddenberry being awful. He's not shaping politics right now. But JKR makes me so angry and anxious I just can't.

Hannah F.

What really bugs me about this is that JKR is constantly harping on about cancel culture and boo hoo free speech I deserve a platform...on all the media outlets that allow her a platform. I don't see trans spokespeople given such a generous opportunity for exposure. The only good thing about this is now she and her ilk are exposing themselves for the hypocrites they are and showing their privilege.

The fact they're giving her a way of making more money despite the shit she's said is infuriating. Not like she's not still getting money for the books and films let alone the endless merchandise.

KSViper