Ever since I was a kid, I was told that Harry Potter is a story about love and acceptance, and certainly, that was what I thought as well when I first watched the movies, that it was indeed a story about misfits finding their place in the society, but that message seems to have escaped not only the series’ author but also the people involved in the upcoming Harry Potter series.
It’s 2024, and somehow, we are still here; the fight for equality and inclusion feels more urgent than ever. And amidst all of that HBO’s unwavering support of J.K. Rowling, despite her documented history of anti-trans rhetoric, feels not just tone-deaf but fundamentally harmful. You just can’t preach about how Harry Potter is about love and acceptance and then say Rowling’s involvement is going to benefit the project when she spends most of her time being hateful towards the trans community and denying their rights as well as their existence as a whole.
Since 2020, Rowling has transformed her public persona from someone who once was a beloved creator of a cherished wizarding world to a polarizing figure whose persistent attacks on transgender rights have alienated vast swaths of her audience. Her stance, which reduces gender identity to subjective feelings, has become her whole personality; her hateful conduct has completely consumed her.
She has since been denounced by LGBTQ+ advocates, prominent actors from the original franchise, and even longtime fan communities like MuggleNet and The Leaky Cauldron, who severed ties with Rowling years ago.
HBO, under Warner Bros. Discovery’s leadership, however, has doubled down on its partnership with Rowling. Announcing her “very, very involved” role in the new series, HBO chief Casey Bloys downplayed concerns, stating that Rowling’s anti-trans statements haven’t impacted the show’s hiring or casting. A spokesperson further described her contributions as “invaluable,” adding that her involvement will “only benefit” the series.
Over 200 unique tweets in 60 days about a single issue – much less an issue that doesn’t directly affect her life whatsoever – really puts the obsession into perspective though… Yet the streamer’s have decided to put Rowling at the forefront of its forthcoming Harry Potter reboot—while dismissing her divisive views as mere “personal beliefs.
One also has to wonder how her anti-trans stance doesn’t affect the show; how anybody involved in this series will feel knowing that if you ever voice your support in the slightest for trans people, the EP of your show will be ready to publicly harass you? Maybe the auditions would not only require you to recant some spells, but you would probably also have to express your thoughts on Olympic Gold Medalist Boxer Imane Khelif.
We can certainly be sure that there won’t be any trans actors in the show since she feels so strongly against them. Isn’t that discrimination?
This defense of Rowling really underlines a stark disconnect between corporate decisions and the values of inclusivity and acceptance that Harry Potter fans once celebrated.
Rowling’s Rhetoric vs. The Fandom’s Values
Rowling’s anti-trans activism has become the dominant theme of her public discourse. From deriding trans identities on social media to opposing trans-inclusive policies, she has openly dismissed the existence and rights of trans individuals. Her rhetoric has fractured the Harry Potter fanbase, which historically included a large LGBTQ+ contingent who saw the series as a haven celebrating diversity and acceptance.
Fans and advocates argue that aligning with Rowling directly contradicts the series’ core themes. “The fandom of 10 years ago was a utopia,” says Kat Miller of MuggleNet, emphasizing how inclusivity once defined the community. Now, she adds, “the fanbase has fractured,” with Rowling at the center of this division.
Melissa Anelli, author of Harry, a History, highlights how Rowling’s actions have tainted fan engagement. “Every conversation about Harry Potter turns angry and depressing,” she says. “The person at the center of it believes a certain faction of the population isn’t real.”
By giving Rowling a platform and a prominent creative role in the new series, HBO is not just endorsing her as a storyteller but legitimizing her harmful views under the guise of creative freedom. Fans have rightfully argued that this is not just a matter of respecting “personal beliefs” but a failure to stand against hate and uphold basic human rights.
For fans who oppose Rowling’s views but still cherish the series, the choice becomes agonizing: continue engaging with the Harry Potter world and inadvertently support its creator’s platform, or disengage entirely and lose the community they’ve built.
The stakes extend beyond the fandom though. Rowling’s influence amplifies a broader cultural war against transgender rights, which are under attack globally. From legislation targeting trans youth in the U.S. to debates over gender-affirming care, the harm of anti-trans rhetoric is tangible and immediate.vvvz
For many, HBO’s decision to partner with Rowling is more than a misstep—it’s a betrayal. In 2024, when trans rights are under siege, platforming someone who actively campaigns against those rights is not just “irrelevant,” as Bloys suggested, but profoundly damaging.
As fans wrestle with how to reconcile their love for the Harry Potter universe with their rejection of Rowling’s beliefs, one thing is clear: the values of inclusivity and acceptance that once defined the fandom now feel like an empty promise.
Are the rights and dignity of trans people really this easily negotiable? HBO certainly makes a case for that. HBO may have secured Rowling’s involvement, but at what cost to its audience and its moral standing?
Trans rights are human rights. If there were this much hard evidence of her remarks being racist or anti-semite, she would probably not have even been considered for this role, but I suppose transphobia is probably not the kind of bigotry which is on HBO’s list of priorities. After all, why should anyone care about minorities and the rights of those less privileged than them?