Awkward! JK Rowling Left Out of Harry Potter HBO Max Special
Harry (Daniel Radcliffe), Hermione (Emma Watson) and Ron (Rupert Grint) are all set to reunite with other cast and crew for the "Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts" special on HBO Max. But noticeably absent from the TV event's promos is the creator of the beloved "Harry Potter" series, JK Rowling.
As reported by The Daily Mail, Rowling will reportedly be left out of the special. No official reason has been given why but it might have something to do with Rowling's documented history of transphobic comments.
Several former Harry Potter cast members have criticized her for her ill attempts to compare transgender identities to erasing women. Then in 2020, she faced controversy after one of the characters in her mystery novel "Troubled Blood" was described as "a man in a dress."
An early review for the book by The Daily Telegraph, a critic said the moral of the book seems to be "never trust a man in a dress."
Rowling has attempted to clarify her comments about trans people in interviews, saying that she respects "every trans person's rights to live any way that feels authentic and comfortable to them." At the same time, Rowling told the Associated Press that her life has "been shaped by being female."
"I do not believe it's hateful to say so," she said.
Watch a preview for the HBO Max special below. Will you be watching?
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