Harry Potter and the Problematic Writer

Does J.K. Rowling’s problematic nature make her series’ contribution to the young adult genre obsolete?

By: Nina Afremov

Since its release, Harry Potter has been a cultural icon. It captivated audiences with its array of dynamic characters, its mystical lore, and the magic it brought across the world. Harry Potter is special because it was a call to action; it encouraged young people to read again. It is a series that evolved with its audience and chronicled the journey of growing up—a timeless story for all. This is why when I saw that HBO had released “Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts,” a bookworm friend and I raced to watch it. 

Though lighthearted and nostalgic, there was a detail that stuck out to me. J.K. Rowling was only featured twice for less than a minute in total and there was a disclaimer at the top of the screen with each piece of footage that read, “Filmed in 2019.” This is perhaps the result of her transphobic tweets. Her words were isolating and hateful, and since they go against the meaning of Harry Potter (the power of love to collectively overcome violence), she has become distanced from her own franchise. 

In regards to her bigotry, this isn’t the first time she’s been problematic. In fact, there are many problematic details in Harry Potter. Maybe the following are enough for us to reconsider how we feel about the series: how come Professor Quirrel, the villain in the first book, wears a turban? How come Seamus Finnigan, the only Irish person, always blows things up? How come Harry Potter’s first love interest, Cho Chang, one of the only Asian people in the series, has a Korean surname for her first name and a Chinese one for her last name? There are so many more questionable details that add up. It’s not only about transphobia, but also about insensitive stereotypes and a lack of cultural sensitivity.

So, should we as responsible consumers distance ourselves not only from the writer, but the franchise?