"Can I Still Read Harry Potter?" BBC R4 Thursday 12th November 2020

I’ll read what I want I’m damned if as an adult to be told what to read,

Interesting that the BBC think to ask this question when they can still celebrate the athletic achievements of Oscar Pistorius, before he found himself at the centre of some unfortunate legal bother.

They did at least have the grace to not lie about or otherwise mischaracterise Rowling's statements, and state that she received a lot of support. I might listen to hear what Romano has to say about what exactly she disagreed with and why.

I think it's a legitimate question, can you enjoy a body of work if you dislike the views/actions of the author?

For example, Wagner was an anti-Semite but The Ring is still popular. I loved Michael Jackson's music but feel conflicted on whether I can still enjoy it.

I don't think JKR's opinions are comparable but they will be to some. Hopefully the programme will be balanced.

Although the media seem to be captured by this nonsense; it’s clear from sales of JKR’s books that the public are buying her books, and are not interested in TRA ideology.

A bookshop I follow on social media announced the arrival of copies of The Ichabog, with the usual lily-livered wittering about JKR being problematic.

There were the expected “she’s so transphobic” comments. I responded that I thought the people condemning her were only repeating what someone else had told them, and not actually read her Twitter stream or essay, (which was clearly true), I expected vituperation, but there were crickets from the woke, but ill-informed, and vigorous agreement from lots others. The vast majority of a lengthy thread were ordering copies of the book. The only person who disagreed with me, mustered a one-word argument from an anonymous account. Which is about as committed to reality as you might expect.

Are they going to make an announcement that others may disagree as the BBC chose to do had to be done on Woman’s Hour?

Aja is a woman too inept to destroy a T-shirt.

fanlore.org/wiki/Aja

I’d love to know where these writers and journos lurk if they honestly think that people will be turning away from the HP hype forever.

From my perspective, as a normal person with hair that isn’t blue and lives on planet earth, HP is gaining a new audience as it’s first readers grow up and share the books with their own kids.

Huge new range of HP kids clothes just released in M&S and H&M, there’s theme parks which get hundreds of thousands of international visitors a year waiting 3 hours + to get on the new HP ride that recently opened. Independent shops across the U.K., particularly in Edinburgh that sustain themselves selling HP memorabilia. The films are constantly being repeated, and the sets have become a tourist attraction themselves.

So yeah, I’m not sure JKR is shaking in her boots about her books becoming irrelevant.

The BBC sees determined to drive away people, like me, who were devoted R4 listeners. They need to succeed if their aim is to attract a younger demographic. Otherwise what will be the point of their existence be?

The BBC enabled one of UKs most prolific sexual predators for decades and created an atmosphere where it was completely normal.

But a woman speaking for women is a step too far

and yes you can still read Harry Potter, nobody is stopping you

Are they 12 years old or something?

Sickening that we have sports men and other celebrities accused and even convicted or rape or sexual assault and they don't get cancelled but a female author dares to speak about women's rights and she becomes off limits.

This sounds like something from twitter or tumblr not the BBC. And yes it sounds potentionally libellous.

I am generally so disappointed in R4.

I used to love their 6.30pm comedies - think Miranda, Elven Quest, Cabin Pressure, anything with John Finnamore or Milton Jones and Old Harry's Game.

Now their comedy isn't particularly funny and a shadow of what it used to be. Or it is ridiculously left wing - which I don't particularly object to, but I can understand anyone even slightly right of centre would be put off by.

They seem to have retreated into a navel gazing woke agenda. I used to love PM but, again it seems to have lost its sense of humour.

Sorry for this derail rant, but, it just makes me want to cry.

What a load of wank.

In other media profiles they describe themselves as an ex Harry Potter nerd so I think it’s pretty safe to assume it’s not exactly going to be a dispassionate examination of the case....

Sounds like she's already read the books, so it's really too late for Aja anyway

I am quite naive about such things, but this implies that the BBC is questioning JKRs character - is this potentially libellous ?

Premise based on assumption that she is a said something wrong/hateful/transphobic surprisingly no one has actually pointed out what that was

What a horrible premise for a programme.

Amazing how women are portrayed as evil just for questioning the more extreme aspects of gender ideology. She's researched, and she's written so gently and respectfully, but still is vilified. As PP has said, perhaps the Beeb could ask if we should still listen to the beeb? After all, child abuse and sex discrimination is worse than an essay exploring sex and gender, surely?

Just why.

they are considering closing the books for good. in reference to an individual

I’m out!