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“HBO Defends JK Rowling’s Right To Her Views”: Fans Outraged Over Harry Potter Series Involvement
HBO is at the center of controversy for supporting JK Rowling, the acclaimed author of the Harry Potter universe, stating that she has the right to express her “personal views” after confirming her involvement in the upcoming Harry Potter TV series.
The 59-year-old has been widely criticized by a large portion of the book’s fanbase for holding on to trans-exclusionary views and being, in their eyes, transphobic.
Highlights
- HBO supports J.K. Rowling's right to express views despite backlash.
- Rowling involved in new Harry Potter series as writer and director selector.
- Actors Daniel Radcliffe and Emma Watson publicly oppose Rowling's views.
- HBO faces mixed reactions over support for Rowling during show announcement.
The author has defended herself vigorously, denying the label and stating that her opinions are intended to protect and support human rights.
“HBO is very proud of continuing its history of bad choices,” said one user. Others echoed similar sentiments and predicted the downfall of the upcoming production due to her involvement.
RELATED:
HBO is receiving backlash from Harry Potter fans for defending JK Rowling’s right to “express her views” on Transgender Day of Remembrance
Image credits: AA / ABACA / Vida Press
Far from backing off, the network reaffirmed its support for the author, stating that it has “been working with J.K. Rowling and in the Harry Potter business for over 20 years,” calling her contributions “invaluable.”
The ambitious series, announced during the company’s Q4 earnings call on February 23, 2024, is expected to debut in 2026 and will run for seven seasons, corresponding to each book.
Image credits: Ester Marie Doysabas / Unsplash
“JK Rowling has a right to express her personal views,” the statement continued, which coincided with Transgender Day of Remembrance (November 20). “We will remain focused on developing the new series, which will only benefit from her involvement.”
Image credits: Variety
Referring to the extent of her participation, HBO chief Casey Bloys revealed at a press event that Rowling had a great deal of power when it came to selecting the show’s writer and director, but assured the audience that her personal views had no effect on said selection process.
The protagonists of the Harry Potter movies, Daniel Radcliffe and Emma Watson, have been at the forefront of criticism directed at the author
Image credits: sbstryker
Criticism towards Rowling has not been limited only to the fans of The Wizarding World but also to its protagonists. Emma Watson and Daniel Radcliffe have been outspoken in the past about their conflicting views towards the author, with the latter stating that her remarks make him “really sad.”
Rowling, on the other hand, wrote a tweet on April 10, 2024, mentioning the Harry Potter alums as part of several “celebs who cozied up to a movement intent on eroding women’s hard-won rights and who used their platforms to cheer on the transitioning of minors.”
Her statement is in accordance with the values of a movement called Trans-Exclusionary Radical Feminism (TERF), which refers to individuals or groups within feminism who exclude transgender women from their definition of womanhood and feminist spaces.
Image credits: jk_rowling
The exchanges are the latest in a conversation that started in 2020 when Rowling expressed her views surrounding gender in a 3,600-word statement on her website, sharing her story as an abuse victim and stating that “if gender isn’t real, the lived reality of women globally is erased.”
Raddclife subsequently issued a statement reaffirming his belief that “transgender women are women” and reassuring his fanbase that Rowling’s views “are not the views of everyone associated with the Potter franchise.”
The series’ announcement was received with promises of a boycott by Rowling’s detractors, with the author subsequently mocking their intentions
Image credits: Warner Bros. Pictures
This isn’t the first time fans have expressed concern about Rowling’s involvement in the upcoming show. A group announced its intentions to boycott the production after its announcement on April 12, 2023.
Rowling took to social media to mock their attempt, writing: “Activists in my mentions are trying to organize yet another boycott of my work, this time of the ‘Harry Potter’ TV show. As forewarned is forearmed, I’ve taken the precaution of laying in a large stock of champagne.”
Image credits: Warner Bros. Pictures
Aside from HBO, the author has received the support of other film actors, including Helena Bonham Carter, who played Bellatrix Lestrange, and Jim Broadbent, who portrayed Horace Slughorn. The former said that the backlash was a “horrendous” attempt at “hounding” the writer, while the former expressed that Rowling is “amazing” and that he supports her.
For the TV network, the adaptation presents an opportunity to portray the Harry Potter books with accuracy only allowed by the extended format of a multi-season series.
HBO’s comments elicited mixed reactions among viewers, with one side wishing for the show’s downfall and Rowling’s cancellation and the other congratulating the network
Image credits: Giles Anderson / Vida Press
“Gradually, this nonsense is ending. I’m happy companies and individuals are fighting back,” one reader wrote.
“The show is gonna tank, and it’s gonna be awesome,” another said.
“They have every right to show it,” a reader expressed. “You have the right not to watch it, so don’t. If the viewership is abysmal, then HBO and her will get the message.”
“Yes, we need to ban the production of all movies and films that are not from pure, flawless people or simply someone who doesn’t conform to popular opinion,” another said sarcastically.
“I’ve been meaning to cancel my subscription,” wrote one viewer, with others joining in to voice their displeasure at Rowling’s involvement in the upcoming series
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What do you think ?
Aboredpanda 1 month ago (edited)
I know I'll only be downvoted brutally, but I think this is all bordering on hysterical. There's a comment here comparing a childrens book author to Hitler... I remember a time where people having apparently opposing views didn't mean so much; where we could talk calmly with eachother and try to understand eachother. Accepting that sometimes we disagree and that it was ok. Sex is a fact. Gender is a construct. These things can exist at the same time. The world is not black and white, and if it's seen as such, there will be so much conflict and pain. Look at the USA these days. So polarized the rest of the world is watching in stunned horror. Why does this need to be the cross people die on? We really don't know enough about the effects of gender change to make any decitions about what is good or bad here. It's perfectly normal to care for and accept that someone exists and feels a certain way, without agreeing with them. OR agreeing it's right for them, but not feeling the same.
AR 1 month ago
A difference of opinion is something like how you like your coffee versus how I like mine. When it comes to human rights and treating people decently, you are either defending human rights or you’re not. Trans people don’t hurt anyone. Any changes are done only to themselves and their bodies. This ridiculous idea that they’re out to destroy anything is pure ignorance, and a severe lack of understanding what sex is and what gender is.
Load More Replies...
DrBronxx 4 weeks ago
Sure, she's entitled to express her own personal views. I don't think anyone is disputing that. She is absolutely entitled to her shitt-y, shitt-y opinions. But when a public figure makes bigoted comments, that is bound to create a backlash. And making this statement on the Trans Day of Remembrance, a day when people can come together and mourn those who have been lost as a result of transphobia, is so unbelievably tone deaf that it cannot be an accident.
Surly Scot 1 month ago
I'd leave a comment, but as a genetically born female it's illegal for me to have an opinion by public consensus.
AR 1 month ago
Only if you’re not going to s**t on a group of people just trying to live their lives as themselves. It’s really not hard to do, but if you think it is, you need to question your morals. - another genetic cis gender female.
Load More Replies... Aboredpanda 1 month ago (edited)
I know I'll only be downvoted brutally, but I think this is all bordering on hysterical. There's a comment here comparing a childrens book author to Hitler... I remember a time where people having apparently opposing views didn't mean so much; where we could talk calmly with eachother and try to understand eachother. Accepting that sometimes we disagree and that it was ok. Sex is a fact. Gender is a construct. These things can exist at the same time. The world is not black and white, and if it's seen as such, there will be so much conflict and pain. Look at the USA these days. So polarized the rest of the world is watching in stunned horror. Why does this need to be the cross people die on? We really don't know enough about the effects of gender change to make any decitions about what is good or bad here. It's perfectly normal to care for and accept that someone exists and feels a certain way, without agreeing with them. OR agreeing it's right for them, but not feeling the same.
AR 1 month ago
A difference of opinion is something like how you like your coffee versus how I like mine. When it comes to human rights and treating people decently, you are either defending human rights or you’re not. Trans people don’t hurt anyone. Any changes are done only to themselves and their bodies. This ridiculous idea that they’re out to destroy anything is pure ignorance, and a severe lack of understanding what sex is and what gender is.
Load More Replies... DrBronxx 4 weeks ago
Sure, she's entitled to express her own personal views. I don't think anyone is disputing that. She is absolutely entitled to her shitt-y, shitt-y opinions. But when a public figure makes bigoted comments, that is bound to create a backlash. And making this statement on the Trans Day of Remembrance, a day when people can come together and mourn those who have been lost as a result of transphobia, is so unbelievably tone deaf that it cannot be an accident.
Surly Scot 1 month ago
I'd leave a comment, but as a genetically born female it's illegal for me to have an opinion by public consensus.
AR 1 month ago
Only if you’re not going to s**t on a group of people just trying to live their lives as themselves. It’s really not hard to do, but if you think it is, you need to question your morals. - another genetic cis gender female.
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