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Newsweek
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
Pulling Harry Potter's Legacy
I discovered Harry Potter as an adult, when a coworker of mine pressed books 1-3 into my hands and told me I absolutely had to read them. I devoured them in the space of a long weekend; book 4 came out the same day as my husband's great-aunt's funeral. We emerged from the train station and faced a bookstore with its lights on, then immediately went in and splurged on two hardback copies so we could both immerse ourselves in a world of magic for a little while. Twenty years later, though, the magic feels like a trick, and one that now feels both evident and vindictive. J.K. Rowling, Harry's creator, has vocally and financially supported anti-trans activism. As early as 2018, she claimed to have mistakenly "liked" a social media post calling trans women "men in dresses" and chalking it up to an accidental "middle aged moment." Her insistence on denying trans identity and trans rights, however, has escalated in the years since; she referred to this year's U.K. Supreme Court ruling limiting legal recognition of women to those biologically female at birth as "TERF VE Day," comparing it to the European conclusion to World War II. J.K. Rowling speaks onstage at the 2019 RFK Ripple of Hope Awards at New York Hilton Midtown on December 12, 2019, in New York City. J.K. Rowling speaks onstage at the 2019 RFK Ripple of Hope Awards at New York Hilton Midtown on December 12, 2019, in New York the parent of a trans woman, I naturally detest this position: Rowling's refusal to acknowledge my daughter's identity is harmful and hateful. She has continually used her platform to denigrate and deny trans women, justifying her statements via her own experience with abusive men. However, I've long held that the art and the artist should be regarded separately, when possible. Pablo Picasso was a domestic abuser, but we don't see advocacy for abuse within his art. Margaret Wise Brown, the author of Good Night, Moon, reportedly had an intense dislike for children, but that's not reflected in her work. Rowling's prejudice, however, extends beyond her personal anti-trans stance and into her work itself: the sole East Asian-identified character in the Harry Potter series is named Cho Chang; the goblins running the bank are described with stereotypically Jewish traits; the house-elves who Hermione seeks to rescue from enslaved labor speak with distinctly Jar Jar Binks-esque grammar (described in an article on as "[reminding] us of creole [sic] languages"), fat is coded as evil (as in the Dursleys; Aunt Marge is also described as large, beefy, and possessing a mustache). Many were also skeptical about Rowling's de facto announcement of Dumbledore's homosexuality in October 2007, which felt toothless as it followed the completion of the book series (Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows was released in July of that year). San Francisco's Booksmith recently chose to no longer stock the Potter books to avoid contributing to Rowling's stated intentions of using her money to create the J.K. Rowling Women's Fund, providing legal support to those "forced to comply with unreasonable inclusion policies regarding single sex spaces and services," or who "have lost their livelihoods or are facing tribunals because of their expressed beliefs." As an English teacher, I understand why San Francisco's Booksmith might have chosen to no longer carry the books for their messaging and as a trans parent, I understand the anger fueling a decision to deny any contribution to Rowling's already considerable Potter-derived wealth. In this case, the art and the artist are both complicit and deserving of refusal. The books, movies, amusement park, et cetera will, of course, all remain available to the public. Those who believe that Rowling is correct or, if nothing else, that the Potterverse is blameless may continue to support as they see fit. But it feels like time to push back and refuse to contribute any further to the Rowling and Potter legacies. Booksmith's choice to make space for better, more tolerant books and better, more tolerant authors is a salvo in that direction, and one I encourage others to follow. Madeleine Deliee is a writer and educator in the Washington, D.C., area. Her bylines include CNN, The Washington Post, Pacific Standard, and others. Follow her on Bluesky @ The views expressed in this article are the writer's own.
Yahoo
19-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
JK Rowling does victory lap following UK Supreme Court ruling that trans women aren't legally women
Author JK Rowling is celebrating the UK Supreme Court's ruling that transgender women aren't legally women in celebratory posts on X. "I love it when a plan comes together. #SupremeCourt #WomensRights," Rowling posted Wednesday on X, along with a photo of herself holding a drink and smoking a cigar by the water. On Wednesday, the Supreme Court of England ruled unanimously that a woman is defined as a person who was born biologically a female, and that transgender women are no longer included in the legal definition of a woman. Jk Rowling Fires Back At Liberal Comedian After He Doubles Down On Trans Athlete Stance "We toasted you, @ForWomenScot," Rowling, who is the author of the "Harry Potter" series, said in another post with two champagne glasses and referenced her husband celebrating like it's Victory in Europe Day. "Neil says it's TERF VE Day 🤣#SupremeCourt #WomensRights." The term TERF stands for Trans Exclusionary Radical Feminists which is meant to be a dig at women who don't believe in transgenderism. Read On The Fox News App The organization For Women Scotland, a Scottish women's advocacy group working to defend women's and children's rights which brought the case, also celebrated the ruling. "Now there's legal clarity on what 'woman' means," Trina Budge, director of For Women Scotland, said in an interview with Sky News posted on X. "Trans [males] never had the right to access women-only spaces — that was an overreach," Budge said. The ruling allows single-sex spaces like changing rooms, homeless shelters, swimming areas and medical or counseling services to be open only to biological women. Click Here For More Coverage Of Media And Culture Kemi Badenoch, the leader of the UK's Conservative Party, also celebrated the win on X. "Saying 'trans women are women' was never true in fact and now isn't true in law, either," Badenoch said. "A victory for all of the women who faced personal abuse or lost their jobs for stating the obvious," she added. "Women are women and men are men: you cannot change your biological sex. The era of Keir Starmer telling us that some women have penises has come to an end. Hallelujah! Well done @ForWomenScot!"Original article source: JK Rowling does victory lap following UK Supreme Court ruling that trans women aren't legally women
Fox News
19-04-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
JK Rowling does victory lap following UK Supreme Court ruling that trans women aren't legally women
Print Close By Rachel del Guidice Published April 18, 2025 Author JK Rowling is celebrating the UK Supreme Court's ruling that transgender women aren't legally women in celebratory posts on X. "I love it when a plan comes together. #SupremeCourt #WomensRights," Rowling posted Wednesday on X, along with a photo of herself holding a drink and smoking a cigar by the water. On Wednesday, the Supreme Court of England ruled unanimously that a woman is defined as a person who was born biologically a female, and that transgender women are no longer included in the legal definition of a woman. JK ROWLING FIRES BACK AT LIBERAL COMEDIAN AFTER HE DOUBLES DOWN ON TRANS ATHLETE STANCE "We toasted you, @ForWomenScot," Rowling, who is the author of the "Harry Potter" series, said in another post with two champagne glasses and referenced her husband celebrating like it's Victory in Europe Day. "Neil says it's TERF VE Day 🤣#SupremeCourt #WomensRights." The term TERF stands for Trans Exclusionary Radical Feminists which is meant to be a dig at women who don't believe in transgenderism. The organization For Women Scotland, a Scottish women's advocacy group working to defend women's and children's rights which brought the case, also celebrated the ruling. "Now there's legal clarity on what 'woman' means," Trina Budge, director of For Women Scotland, said in an interview with Sky News posted on X. "Trans [males] never had the right to access women-only spaces — that was an overreach," Budge said. The ruling allows single-sex spaces like changing rooms, homeless shelters, swimming areas and medical or counseling services to be open only to biological women. CLICK HERE FOR MORE COVERAGE OF MEDIA AND CULTURE Kemi Badenoch , the leader of the UK's Conservative Party, also celebrated the win on X. "Saying 'trans women are women' was never true in fact and now isn't true in law, either," Badenoch said. "A victory for all of the women who faced personal abuse or lost their jobs for stating the obvious," she added. "Women are women and men are men: you cannot change your biological sex. The era of Keir Starmer telling us that some women have penises has come to an end. Hallelujah! Well done @ForWomenScot!" CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Print Close URL
Yahoo
18-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
J.K. Rowling celebrated UK Supreme Court ruling with a cigar. Backlash was swift.
"Harry Potter" author J.K. Rowling is once again sparking controversy after her social media posts and actions in support of a recent U.K. Supreme Court ruling against trans women. The U.K.'s highest court ruled April 16 that the definition of a woman under equality legislation referred to "biological sex" and that trans women with gender recognition certificates are not protected from discrimination as a woman under Britain's Equality Act. In several posts on X, Rowling celebrated "terfs" and referred to the ruling as "TERF VE Day," a play on V-E Day, the formal end of World War II and Nazi occupation in Europe. Since 2019, Rowling has been labeled a "terf," or trans-exclusionary radical feminist, for her anti-trans views that conflate sex with gender and suggest that changing one's biological sex threatens her own gender identity. "I love it when a plan comes together," Rowling posted to X alongside "#SupremeCourt" and "#WomensRights" while beachside with a drink and a cigar. Rowling reportedly donated £70,000 (about $93,000) to For Women Scotland, the campaign group that argued the case, according to U.K. news outlet The Times. While the court said trans people would not be disadvantaged by the decision, critics worry it could lead to discrimination, especially regarding employment issues. Stars in the "Harry Potter" film universe like Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, Eddie Redmayne and David Tennant have denounced the author's anti-trans views. Radcliffe told The Atlantic last year that the comments made him "really sad" and that he hasn't had contact with her since her 2020 posts. "Trans people are who they say they are and deserve to live their lives without being constantly questioned or told they aren't who they say they are," Watson tweeted in 2020. "Bridgerton" actor Nicola Coughlan is the latest celebrity to speak out against Rowling, sharing an article from The Cut with the headline "This Is a New Low for J.K. Rowling." "Keep your new Harry Potter lads," Coughlan wrote in an Instagram story April 18. "Wouldn't touch it with a ten foot pole." Coughlin also posted a video to her Instagram with her thoughts on the Supreme Court ruling, saying she was "completely horrified" and would match donations to trans charity Not a Phase. "To see an already marginalized community being further attacked and attacked in law is really stomach-churning and disgusting. And to see people celebrating it is more stomach-churning and disgusting," Coughlin said. Rowling also faced backlash April 6 after her disparaging comments about other members of the LGBTQ+ community on International Asexuality Day, calling it "International Fake Oppression Day." Asexuality is under the LGBTQ+ umbrella and is a sexual orientation defined as not experiencing sexual attraction. Just under 1% of U.S. adults identify as asexual, pansexual or queer, according to a 2025 Gallup poll. And during the 2024 Olympics, Rowling repeated a false narrative that Algerian Olympic boxer Imane Khelif was transgender, even though she is a cisgender woman. Rowling's high-profile comments, as well as those from now-Vice President JD Vance and President Donald Trump, had Khelif publicly "transvestigated," which refers to an unfounded conspiracy theory that tries to prove that notable people, especially athletes, are secretly trans. "Transvestigating" athletes like Khelif heightens risk of disqualification and threatens safety, experts have previously said. Rowling serves as an executive producer on the series and was "very involved in the process of selecting the writer and the director," Variety and Entertainment Weekly reported in November. HBO has defended Rowling's involvement with the show amid backlash. The new TV adaptation of Rowling's landmark fantasy novels is currently casting child actors to play Harry, Ron and Hermione. Much of the adult cast is set, including John Lithgow as the new Albus Dumbledore. Clare Mulroy is USA TODAY's Books Reporter, where she covers buzzy releases, chats with authors and dives into the culture of reading. Find her on Instagram, subscribe to our weekly Books newsletter or tell her what you're reading at cmulroy@ Contributing: Alyssa Goldberg and Barbara VanDenburgh, USA TODAY; Reuters This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 'Harry Potter' author JK Rowling faces backlash to anti-trans comments
USA Today
18-04-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
J.K. Rowling celebrated UK Supreme Court ruling with a cigar. Backlash was swift.
J.K. Rowling celebrated UK Supreme Court ruling with a cigar. Backlash was swift. Show Caption Hide Caption JK Rowling responds to 'Harry Potter' stars' support of trans people Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint have opposed the "Harry Potter" author's anti-trans rhetoric in recent years. unbranded - Entertainment "Harry Potter" author J.K. Rowling is once again sparking controversy after her social media posts and actions in support of a recent U.K. Supreme Court ruling against trans women. The U.K.'s highest court ruled April 16 that the definition of a woman under equality legislation referred to "biological sex" and that trans women with gender recognition certificates are not protected from discrimination as a woman under Britain's Equality Act. In several posts on X, Rowling celebrated "terfs" and referred to the ruling as "TERF VE Day," a play on V-E Day, the formal end of World War II and Nazi occupation in Europe. Since 2019, Rowling has been labeled a "terf," or trans-exclusionary radical feminist, for her anti-trans views that conflate sex with gender and suggest that changing one's biological sex threatens her own gender identity. "I love it when a plan comes together," Rowling posted to X alongside "#SupremeCourt" and "#WomensRights" while beachside with a drink and a cigar. Rowling reportedly donated £70,000 (about $93,000) to For Women Scotland, the campaign group that argued the case, according to U.K. news outlet The Times. While the court said trans people would not be disadvantaged by the decision, critics worry it could lead to discrimination, especially regarding employment issues. 'Bridgerton' star Nicola Coughlan slams JK Rowling Stars in the "Harry Potter" film universe like Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, Eddie Redmayne and David Tennant have denounced the author's anti-trans views. Radcliffe told The Atlantic last year that the comments made him "really sad" and that he hasn't had contact with her since her 2020 posts. "Trans people are who they say they are and deserve to live their lives without being constantly questioned or told they aren't who they say they are," Watson tweeted in 2020. "Bridgerton" actor Nicola Coughlan is the latest celebrity to speak out against Rowling, sharing an article from The Cut with the headline "This Is a New Low for J.K. Rowling." "Keep your new Harry Potter lads," Coughlan wrote in an Instagram story April 18. "Wouldn't touch it with a ten foot pole." Coughlin also posted a video to her Instagram with her thoughts on the Supreme Court ruling, saying she was "completely horrified" and would match donations to trans charity Not a Phase. "To see an already marginalized community being further attacked and attacked in law is really stomach-churning and disgusting. And to see people celebrating it is more stomach-churning and disgusting," Coughlin said. Rowling also faced backlash April 6 after her disparaging comments about other members of the LGBTQ+ community on International Asexuality Day, calling it "International Fake Oppression Day." Asexuality is under the LGBTQ+ umbrella and is a sexual orientation defined as not experiencing sexual attraction. Just under 1% of U.S. adults identify as asexual, pansexual or queer, according to a 2025 Gallup poll. And during the 2024 Olympics, Rowling repeated a false narrative that Algerian Olympic boxer Imane Khelif was transgender, even though she is a cisgender woman. Rowling's high-profile comments, as well as those from now-Vice President JD Vance and President Donald Trump, had Khelif publicly "transvestigated," which refers to an unfounded conspiracy theory that tries to prove that notable people, especially athletes, are secretly trans. "Transvestigating" athletes like Khelif heightens risk of disqualification and threatens safety, experts have previously said. Is J.K. Rowling involved in the new 'Harry Potter' show? Rowling serves as an executive producer on the series and was "very involved in the process of selecting the writer and the director," Variety and Entertainment Weekly reported in November. HBO has defended Rowling's involvement with the show amid backlash. The new TV adaptation of Rowling's landmark fantasy novels is currently casting child actors to play Harry, Ron and Hermione. Much of the adult cast is set, including John Lithgow as the new Albus Dumbledore. Clare Mulroy is USA TODAY's Books Reporter, where she covers buzzy releases, chats with authors and dives into the culture of reading. Find her on Instagram, subscribe to our weekly Books newsletter or tell her what you're reading at cmulroy@ Contributing: Alyssa Goldberg and Barbara VanDenburgh, USA TODAY; Reuters
