JK Rowling: Unveiling the Untold Controversies That Shaped Her Legacy
Delve into JK Rowling's captivating journey as an author and delve into the most thought-provoking and controversial moments she's encountered throughout her illustrious career
J.K. Rowling, known for her renowned fictional Harry Potter series, is widely regarded as one of the most prolific authors in history. However, her real-life viewpoints have faced scrutiny. In 2007, following the publication of the series' concluding book, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Rowling ignited controversy when she disclosed to fans at Carnegie Hall that Albus Dumbledore, during his teenage years, harbored romantic sentiments for his former companion turned adversary, Gellert Grindelwald.
Rowling's statement at the time revealed that Dumbledore's love for Grindelwald deeply perturbed him, especially when Grindelwald revealed his true nature. This revelation caused some fans to express dissatisfaction because Dumbledore's sexuality was never openly addressed in the book series.
In December 2019, the author of The Casual Vacancy faced criticism once more for publicly endorsing British researcher Maya Forstater, who faced termination for making transphobic remarks.
Scroll down to view Rowling's most controversial moments over the years.
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J.K. Rowling's Most Controversial Moments Through the Years
J.K. Rowling, renowned for her fictional Harry Potter series, is widely regarded as one of the most accomplished authors in history. Nevertheless, her personal beliefs have been the subject of intense debate and controversy.
The U.K. native faced criticism in 2007 when she disclosed at Carnegie Hall that Albus Dumbledore had romantic feelings for his childhood friend, Gellert Grindelwald. This revelation occurred shortly after the release of the final book in the Harry Potter series, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Some fans were dissatisfied because Dumbledore's sexuality had not been explicitly mentioned in the books.
In December 2019, the author of The Casual Vacancy encountered backlash once more for publicly backing British researcher Maya Forstater, who had been dismissed for making transphobic remarks. These remarks, which she subsequently defended in a comprehensive essay, prompted celebrities like Daniel Radcliffe, Eddie Redmayne, and Emma Watson to express their support for the transgender community.
Scroll down to see Rowling's most controversial moments throughout the years.
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Slamming 'Skinny-Obsessed World'
Rowling gained attention in 2006 for expressing her criticism of society's obsession with being thin.
In an op-ed for The Times, she questioned, "Is being 'fat' truly the most terrible thing a person can be? Is it worse than being 'vindictive', 'jealous', 'shallow', 'vain', 'boring', or 'cruel'? Personally, I don't think so. However, one might argue, what do I know about the pressures of maintaining a skinny appearance? As a writer, my profession revolves around intellect rather than physical judgments."
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Teasing Dumbledore's Sexuality
"Dumbledore's Sexual Orientation and his Relationship with Grindewald"In 2007, it was confirmed by Rowling that Dumbledore is gay and once had romantic feelings for his friend Grindewald. Furthermore, the author insinuated that the relationship of the Hogwarts headmaster would be depicted in the Fantastic Beasts franchise. Rowling stated in an interview with Time in 2016, "You will see Dumbledore as a younger man and quite a troubled man — he wasn’t always the sage... We’ll witness him during that important phase of his life. Regarding his sexuality... Stay tuned and keep an eye on future developments."
In the movie, the romance wasn't explicitly mentioned, but Rowling emphasized in the DVD commentary that there was a "sexual dimension" to the wizards' relationship. She explained that she found the emotional connection between them to be the most captivating aspect of human relationships, rather than solely focusing on the sexual side.
The director of the series, David Yates, revealed to Entertainment Weekly in January 2018 that the movie would not explicitly confirm Dumbledore's sexuality. Fans expressed their disappointment, leading Rowling to respond on Twitter, stating that Crimes of Grindelwald is just one installment of a five-movie series. Following the disappointing box office results of Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore in 2022, no additional Fantastic Beasts movies were announced.
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Championing Diversity for Hermione Granger
Rowling came under fire in 2015 after she gave her approval for a Black actress to play the character of Hermione Granger in the London play Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.
"Canon: Canonically, Hermione is described as having brown eyes, frizzy hair, and being very clever. Rowling made it clear that Hermione's skin color was never specified. In fact, she expressed her support and enthusiasm for casting Noma Dumezweni, a black actress, in the role. In response to racists claiming Hermione should be white because she 'turned white' after a shock, Rowling firmly stated her belief that Hermione can be portrayed as a black woman."
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Defending Madonna's Brit Awards Fall
Rowling stood by the "Like a Virgin" singer's side after she became the subject of memes for taking a tumble at the 2015 Brit Awards.
"Are you the sort of person who gloats when they see a woman fall, or the kind that celebrates a magnificent recovery? #TeamMadonna," Rowling tweeted at the time.
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Writing About Native American Wizards
In 2016, the author wrote a fictional essay for Pottermore, exploring the existence of Native American wizards from the 14th to the 17th centuries in North America. Rowling drew inspiration from the Navajo legend of the skin-walker, which she believed had some factual elements. The tweet criticized Rowling, accusing her of colonialism and appropriation by appropriating a marginalized people's living tradition.
Another fan added, "Imagine how many Native Americans are going to be gaslit about their own culture under the guise "well in canon it's actually like this...'"
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Championing Serena Williams
Rowling vehemently criticized a Twitter troll in 2016 for calling the tennis player "built like a man." The renowned author of The Cuckoo's Calling further exposed the troll's ignorance by posting two images of Williams in a form-fitting dress and retorted, "'She is built like a man.' Yeah, my husband looks just like this in a dress. You're an idiot."
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Feuding with Piers Morgan
Rowling engaged in a Twitter feud with the former host of America's Got Talent back in 2017. After witnessing Piers Morgan's appearance on Real Time With Bill Maher, she expressed her delight, stating that seeing him being told to "f--k off" on live television was just as satisfying as she had always imagined.
In response, Morgan declared that he had never bothered reading a single word of the Harry Potter series.
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Casting Johnny Depp in 'Crimes of Grindelwald'
Rowling faced criticism in 2017 after expressing her support for Depp's portrayal of Grindelwald, despite the allegations of domestic violence made by his ex-wife, Amber Heard, which he has denied.
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Anti-Transgender Opinions
In 2019, the author of the famous Harry Potter series openly showed support for Maya Forstater, a British researcher who was terminated from her job due to her transphobic remarks. In 2020, Rowling generated controversy with a series of tweets questioning the use of the phrase "People who menstruate," and asked for alternative words to describe those individuals. She suggested words like "Wumben," "Wimpund," or "Woomud."
She continued, stating that if the concept of sex is disregarded, it erases the lived experiences of women worldwide. While she expressed her support and care for transgender individuals, she argued that eliminating the concept of sex prevents meaningful discussions about their lives. Rowling defended her viewpoints in a lengthy essay in response to being labeled a "TERF," meaning Trans-Exclusionary Radical Feminist. In her essay, she emphasized that women should not only be allies to transgender individuals but must also acknowledge that there is no tangible difference between trans women and themselves. She emphasized that being a woman is not a costume and expressed concerns about the language used by some in the name of inclusivity, referring to terms such as "menstruators" and "people with vulvas." While she recognized the intent behind these terms, she stated that they can be degrading and demeaning for women who have faced derogatory slurs from violent men, explaining that these terms are not neutral but rather hostile and alienating.
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Coming Out as a Sexual Assault Survivor
Following her 2020 anti-transgender controversy, the screenwriter revealed herself as a survivor of domestic abuse and sexual assault. Rowling explained that her remarks were motivated by the recurrent memories of a severe sexual assault she endured during her twenties.
In a moment of vulnerability, an assault took place and a man took advantage. The memories of that attack lingered, and my anger and disappointment grew over the cavalier approach I perceive my government to have towards the safety of women and girls.
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Doubling Down
In August 2020, the author made the decision to return an award bestowed upon her by the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights organization. This move came after the organization's president, Kerry Kennedy, publicly denounced comments made by the author regarding members of the trans community. In a statement on her website, Rowling expressed her disappointment at the conflict of views between herself and RFKHR, leading her to return the Ripple of Hope Award. While she deeply regrets RFKHR's decision to take this stance, Rowling emphasizes that no award or honor holds such significance for her that she would compromise her own principles. It is important to note that despite the widespread criticism she faced, Rowling explicitly states that she does not harbor hatred or ill will towards trans individuals, and she does not consider herself responsible for causing harm to the trans community.
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Continuing the Debate
In December 2021, Rowling faced extensive criticism after posting another anti-trans message on social media. The post revolved around a report stating that the Scottish police planned to categorize rapes committed by individuals with male genitalia as being perpetrated by women if the offender identified as female. Rowling received backlash for her comment, which read, "War is Peace. Freedom is Slavery. Ignorance is Strength. The Penised Individual Who Raped You Is a Woman."
While some people expressed support, many Twitter users pushed back, questioning why Rowling persistently expressed her controversial opinions on such a public platform. One person responded, pointing out, "You literally own a castle, yet you choose to spend your time on this?" Another user wondered, "Why would you wish to be remembered for this? Why have you chosen this as your battleground? What do you hope to gain from this?"
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Museum Display Removal
In August 2023, the Museum of Pop Culture in Seattle made the decision to expunge any reference to Rowling from its Harry Potter exhibits as a result of her contentious remarks about transgender individuals. Project manager Chris Moore elucidated the motive behind this choice in a statement on the museum's website in March 2023, stating that "while her transphobic perspectives are currently in the spotlight, it is crucial to acknowledge the various other problematic aspects associated with her, including her endorsement of antisemitic creators, the creation of racially stereotypical characters, the predominance of a predominantly white wizarding world, instances of fat shaming, the lack of representation for the LGBTQIA+ community, and her nonchalant attitude towards bigotry and marginalization of those who do not conform to the conventional wizarding world norms, among many other concerns."
Rowling did not publicly respond at the time.
