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Original poster

Review of HP reunion in The Guardian…they just can’t help themselves

287 replies

OhDear2200 · 01/01/2022 17:42

www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2022/jan/01/harry-potter-20th-anniversary-return-to-hogwarts-review-perilously-close-to-emetic

I guess they at least note her absence. But can’t help say ‘widely considered as transphobic’. Just why? Why say anything.

OP posts:
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Marzipano · 01/01/2022 17:47

It says "widely denounced as transphobic", which is accurate. I think the overall tenor of the piece was clearly pro-JKR. As the closing sentence says: "Perhaps in another 20 years they will let Rowling back in, too."

letsallchant · 01/01/2022 17:49

I also thought the closing sentence indicated an expectation that Rowling will in time be vindicated.

Waftypants · 01/01/2022 17:50

My New Years Resolution is not to give the Gruniad any clicks so not read the article. I'm guessing it doesnt say she's got widespread support among feminists who are concerned about women's safety, privacy & dignity.

TheCountessofFitzdotterel · 01/01/2022 17:51

‘A void remains.’ I thought it was clearly on JKR’s side.

Marzipano · 01/01/2022 17:58

I think Lucy Mangan (who wrote the piece) is team JKR:

twitter.com/LucyMangan/status/1278791418673274881

AskingQuestionsAllTheTime · 01/01/2022 17:59

Sigh. A photograph with the caption "Like family ... Rupert Grint, Daniel Radcliffe and Emma Watson."

I assume that must mean that Daniel Radcliff is a woman, since the person in the middle (reading from left to right) is a woman.

What on earth is the justification for putting the woman last, there?

letsallchant · 01/01/2022 18:04

It's alphabetical by surname, which is what I assume has ordered the text. I can see your point about how it doesn't match with their position in the photo though.

Original poster
OhDear2200 · 01/01/2022 18:11

Ok happy to be corrected about article.

OP posts:
zanahoria · 01/01/2022 18:17

It says "widely denounced as transphobic", which is accurate

It would be if they added by people who have not read it

EmpressaurusWitchDoesntBurn · 01/01/2022 18:32

The thing that intrigues me is the use of ‘emetic’ - meaning ‘something that makes people vomit’. I bet she wouldn’t have got away with using ‘nauseating’ or ‘vomit-worthy’ but that’s what she’s saying.

rabbitwoman · 01/01/2022 18:37

I cannot honestly believe for one moment that jk Rowling doesn't have complete control over this situation. If she is not involved it's because she chose not to be, for whatever reason, but no one has the power or balls to exclude her from her own creation, she would have made sure of that.

At the very most, some of those actors could have refused to take part if she did, that's as much sway as they have.

Really honestly and with all my heart, I believe we are getting closer to the time when everyone is going to have to apologise and admit she was right. She's just holding on until the optimum moment. If she hadn't become a billionaire through her talent, she would have cleared up at poker.

(of course, I could be wrong. Can you imagine the phone call or meeting where they told her she would not be involved and her just saying OK, tho)

Mochudubh · 01/01/2022 18:41

To be fair, the phrase in the sub-heading "but there's also a conspicuous absence at it's heart" gives a hint. But then again, the Graun's sub-headings are often notoriously misleading, so who knows?

dropthevipers · 01/01/2022 18:47

Graun is a total basket case and has been for years.As more and more sunlight pours in on this batshittery i wonder what would need to happen for the Graun to change tack? They are going to look even more stupid than they already do when the tide changes.

Biscuitsneeded · 01/01/2022 18:48

Lucy Mangan most definitely knows what's what.

Omicrone · 01/01/2022 18:50

@rabbitwoman

I cannot honestly believe for one moment that jk Rowling doesn't have complete control over this situation. If she is not involved it's because she chose not to be, for whatever reason, but no one has the power or balls to exclude her from her own creation, she would have made sure of that.

At the very most, some of those actors could have refused to take part if she did, that's as much sway as they have.

Really honestly and with all my heart, I believe we are getting closer to the time when everyone is going to have to apologise and admit she was right. She's just holding on until the optimum moment. If she hadn't become a billionaire through her talent, she would have cleared up at poker.

(of course, I could be wrong. Can you imagine the phone call or meeting where they told her she would not be involved and her just saying OK, tho)

Yep, I have been thinking about this and I think you are right. I think she knew that if she was actively involved in this it would cause a shitstorm and she has probably had enough of that for now. If she had really wanted to be involved in this she could have, or she probably could have just stopped it from happening. I also agree that she knows that the time will come when everyone will have to apologise to her, we are already hurtling towards that time, look at the swell of support that she has had in the last few months and also the general swell of support for women speaking out on this issue. Compare where we are now to where we were in 2018, or even 2020 when Joanne first tweeted on this.

She is playing a long game, she doesn't care what people think of her in the meantime, she knows that she is right on this Smile

Ereshkigalangcleg · 01/01/2022 18:51

I like Lucy. One of the few columnists I still occasionally read in it.

KimikosNightmare · 01/01/2022 20:10

The review in The Metro is much worse. I won't post a link- but take my word - you'll see red.

SantaClawsServiette · 01/01/2022 21:45

If she attended this sort of thing, I think it could be really awkward on a personal level. Having to play nice-nice with people who were basically a bit shit to you. Even if she has no ill will I can see a lot of opportunity for social embarrassment.

I think I might avoid something like that just to get out of what might turn out to be a horribly non-fun event.

NotBadConsidering · 01/01/2022 22:12

But while “widely denounced as transphobic” may be sort of accurate - widely denounced on Twitter is by no means representative of the world - it is not a neutral statement. If Mangan wanted to be neutral, or even pro JKR then it should have been qualified with “whilst also garnering widespread support for standing up for women’s rights”.

Every time a publication or journalist states JKR is transphobic, or considered transphobic, or has been denounced as transphobic, or publish anti-transgender views with or without quotation marks, without qualifying the huge level of agreement and support she has garnered, they are taking an ideological position against her, and against the basic tenets of journalism.

It’s bullshit.

HoyaSaxa · 01/01/2022 22:25

I’ve just watched it. Very telling that a few of the senior creatives such as producer/ directors make reference to Jo Rowling and the world that she created. The actress playing Luna also was positive.

And the more that the three main actors wittered on about how wonderful the world of Harry Potter is, the more it became glaringly obvious that it all came from the wonderful mind of one woman.

Justme56 · 01/01/2022 22:25

I imagine going to something like this full of self obsessed actors all fighting for the spotlight wouldn’t be JKRs thing anyway. I imagine a lot of this is all quite fake.

SusannaQueen · 01/01/2022 23:51

The Graun's FB post on this has some heartening comments. Was quite surprised as it's usually TRA central.

www.facebook.com/10513336322/posts/10160767806341323/

AllTheUsernamesAreAlreadyTaken · 02/01/2022 17:04

The comments are closed on this article.
Unusual for a tv opinion piece…

Blackbird1234 · 02/01/2022 17:57

@Justme56 Out of interest, what makes you say that the actors are self obsessed?

RoyalCorgi · 02/01/2022 20:52

Just had a look at the (inaccurate) Steerpike article on the Guardian's supposedly withdrawing its poll on JK Rowling and was drawn to the list showing the 10 most popular Steerpike articles of the year. The first was the one entitled Terf war embroils Guardian HQ. You can see why the Speccie is publishing so much on this subject - there's a lot of interest out there.

www.spectator.co.uk/article/the-ten-most-read-steerpikes-of-2021