Author and creator of the Harry Potter universe J.K. Rowling spoke on the record for the first time about her lack of appearance on the much-ballyhooed HBO Max Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts special that debuted at the beginning of the year. The 57-year-old writer, who also served as producer on the final two Harry Potter films, was notably absent from the television event.
While promoting her latest “Robert Galbraith” mystery, The Ink Black Heart with Graham Norton in an interview for Virgin Radio UK, the host referenced her “being excluded” from the show. The author quickly corrected him, saying “I wasn’t, actually—I was asked to be on that, and I decided I didn’t want to do it. I thought it was about the films more than the books, you know? Quite rightly, as that is what the anniversary was about, so, no one said ‘don’t come.’”
Norton followed up, asking if she still has a relationship with “the young actors,” to which she said “yes, I do, some more than others, but that was always the case. Some I knew better than others.”
In the two decades since Daniel Radcliffe’s Boy Who Lived first leapt onto Platform Nine and Three Quarters, Rowling has become a divisive personality due to her vocal views about gender. The controversy has brought much dismay to many deeply involved in Harry Potter fandom.
While those who were close watchers of Rowling’s tweets were already aware of what many call “gender essentialist” opinions, the issue grew more prominent in June 2020, after the author mocked use of the term “people who menstruate.” Soon thereafter, Radcliffe responded, voicing support for the transgender community in an essay published on The Trevor Project’s website.
Emma Watson also made it clear she disagreed with Rowling on Twitter. Facing backlash, Rowling wrote a 3,700 word essay explaining her position.
Days before the HBO Max special aired, Rowling’s team told Emma Watson that the author declined participation, and stated that the controversy over trans rights was not part of the decision-making. However, the Norton interview is the first official statement. Rowling was represented on the reunion show via archival footage.
This story has been sourced from a syndicated feed and edited as per ENW editing guidelines. Author : Jordan Hoffman Image credit: www.latimes.com