J.K Rowling really needs to shut up.
The entire Harry Potter world has been turned upside down by J.K. Rowling’s inexplicable tirades against trans men and women. Rowling’s views and the issue have always been controversial and she’s never made a secret of them, but for some reason she’s decided now (during a pandemic, global protests against police brutality and systemic racism and Pride month) was the time to crank up the volume and double down on her beliefs. To say much of her fandom has been taken aback would be a Hagrid sized understatement.
There are a few reasons she needs to cool it. Not dial it down but put the brakes on completely. The first is her fans, a group that grows smaller with every Tweet she sends.
The Harry Potter books were a once in a lifetime publishing phenomenon. They became a lifeline for millions of kids worldwide who were outsiders, struggling with being loners and outcasts while coping with their emerging identities. It’s small wonder that so many children and young adults who were coming to grips with the fact that they were gay or preparing to come out to friends and family (could there possibly be a more harrowing experience?) gravitated to Harry and Co. It was small wonder that so many lonely and struggling young souls found comfort and solace in the world of Hogwarts. Many others learned about tolerance and compassion from Rowling’s tales of a boy wizard. And many more just found warm escape within their pages, fleeing a cold, harsh world that too often seemed to belong to the bullies and the bigots.
All Rowling has done recently is disappoint millions of those fans. She has hurt millions more. And there is likely no small number who feel betrayed, fans who used her stories to find the courage to cope with an identity Rowling seems intent on demeaning.
Then there is the damage she has done to her own brand. Rowling has spent years championing the disenfranchised and marginalized. If someone, whether a celebrity or an athlete or someone unfortunate to be thrust into the never-ending culture war spotlight, was being bullied or the victim of racism, misogyny or homophobia, Rowling never hesitated to race to their defence, usually bringing her formidable social media presence to bear. But now she looks like a hypocrite. She has lost mountains of credibility not only in the eyes of the people she may stand up for, but to the people she will stand up to as well. She has begun to look like the bully she claims to hate.
And then there’s the dollars and cents. The Fantastic Beasts film franchise isn’t doing so hot. It isn’t hurting but it isn’t raking in the dollars either Warner Bros. or Rowling herself expected. And fan reception has been . . . mixed . . . to say the least. With the continuing controversy surrounding Johnny Depp giving way to one surrounding Ezra Miller and the fact that all of Hollywood is currently at the mercy of the coronavirus, the franchise has some severely troubled waters ahead. But Rowling’s statements have turned many fans off of everything Harry Potter, likely meaning fewer ticket sales on a global level whenever the next Fantastic Beasts movie comes out. But the movies are just the beginning.
Harry Potter merchandise is still a billion dollar business. Harry Potter’s e-books were worth millions of dollars in 2019 alone, and thats’ seven years after the last book was published. Lego stores have an entire wall devoted to Harry Potter merchandise and that’s just the tip of the iceberg. But with so many fans genuinely disappointed, hurt and betrayed, will those dollars continue to fill cash registers? Will people still buy (expensive) tickets to the Harry Potter theme parks? There are already boycotts being called for, with tens of thousands of fans signing up on social media.
And speaking of social media, many booksellers have taken to Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to announce they will no longer recommend the Harry Potter books to young readers, one of the largest book audiences on the planet. Could wee see Harry Potter books begin languishing on store shelves?
With so many companies cutting ties with American law enforcement over its current troubles, will we see some cut ties with Rowling over her views? Will we see some companies drop Harry, Ron and Hermione as a result of shrinking sales? Will the Harry Potter show Warner Bros. had planned for HBO Max still be a draw? Or will it be scrapped as a result of shrinking fan interest?
In fact we have an example here in the nation’s capital as Ottawa based pop culture travel agent Erin Novodvorsky (winner of the 2018, 2019 AND 2020 Ottawa Faces award for best travel agent) has stopped offering trips to various Harry Potter attractions and theme parks as a result. That’s already some precious dollars pout the window.
Whether you agree with Rowling or not, there is no good reason for her to keep talking. She wouldn’t be the first to lose her way after failing to know her audience or failing to read a room. But instead of trying to clarify, she insists on doubling down. Just a few days ago she deleted a Tweet supporting fellow bestselling author Stephen King after King tweeted a message supporting trans women.
Rowling isn’t doing anyone any good and is only hurting both herself and her legacy. Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Thompson and Eddie Redmayne all quickly condemned her comments, ensuring the next Harry Potter reunion party will be plenty awkward. It would be a shame to see all the good both she and her creation are responsible for tainted by her inexplicable outbursts. It would be a shame to see the Harry Potter juggernaut brought down by her biases and hubris. And while there may be no way to walk back what she’s said or apologize to her fans, her best bet at this point is silence.
Because right now she may well do to Harry what Voldemort never could and destroy him, not with a wave of a wand but instead with the send button on her phone.
