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Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

Harry Potter and the Ongoing Spat

277 replies

JsmeLegie · 23/06/2025 21:57

I see she is now claiming that she was never actually friends with Fry.

Link here: https://www.standard.co.uk/showbiz/jk-rowling-stephen-fry-friends-b1234360.html

In support of Fry, barrister Jo Maugham stated “Really creditable this, from Stephen Fry. I've spoken to so many of JKR's once friends who now despair at her privately but won't do so publicly, which is very much the British way and why nothing ever changes for the better. So well done Stephen.”

Now Casey Bloys, CEO of the network working on a new HP series, has felt the need to clarify on a podcast that the forthcoming series won't be infused with her controversial views, insisting that her views are entirely separate to the show they're making.

And, as one of the latest celebrities to decide to speak out, Boy George weighed in at the beginning of the month with a few observations of his own (see attached image).

So the question here, really, is just how long are certain people going to blindly insist that JKR is an infallible saint when the (increasing) evidence from multiple sources is to the contrary?

Yes, she has funded a lot of good and charitable works for women, that is not in question, but at what point do we as a society finally agree that a human being is not absolved of horrendous behaviour in one part of their life simply because they compensate for it by doing a few good works in another?

Or perhaps you disagree entirely with all her detractors and feel she is unfairly treated / misunderstood / misquoted?
I'd like to hear your views. They are guaranteed to create an interesting dialogue.

Harry Potter and the Ongoing Spat
OP posts:
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CaptainFuture · 23/06/2025 21:59

Who are you accusing of horrendous behaviour and what are you saying they've done?

ShawnsLeftEyebrow · 23/06/2025 21:59

"Horrendous"?

I haven't seen her go beyond "mildly tactless".

She doesn't like India "shave yer legs" Willoughby, but then who does?

MrsTerryPratchett · 23/06/2025 21:59

Boy George convicted violent offender? That Boy George?

Megan1971 · 23/06/2025 22:01

I don’t think anybody should give a shit about what ‘celebrities’ think. What makes them better/ more knowledgeable than any of the women that post here on Mumsnet?

Answer: nothing.

MyAmpleSheep · 23/06/2025 22:02

Life is not a popularity contest. Per Victor Hugo (and not, apparently, Churchill) "Someone who has made no enemies has never stood up for anything."

A person who donates more than a quarter of a billion quid (all earned through her own endeavours) to charities and sticks to her principles come what may is someone to be admired. I don't care if they're rude or polite, ugly or beautiful, unpopular or fêted, tall or short.

Maugham, Fry, O'Dowd and the rest can go fuck themselves.

CaptainFuture · 23/06/2025 22:03

MrsTerryPratchett · 23/06/2025 21:59

Boy George convicted violent offender? That Boy George?

Not the one who held someone hostage? Chained to a wall?.. that saint?

corlan · 23/06/2025 22:03

Your final paragraph is very odd.Are you in training to host your own talk show?

RufustheFactuaIReindeer · 23/06/2025 22:04

Good god are you not bored of this yet?

fuck me what a life you must lead

NImumconfused · 23/06/2025 22:05

I'm not sure they've picked the best examples of fine upstanding human beings there to range against her - I mean, if Jolyon Maugham, Stephen Fry and Boy George all disagreed with me, I'd be more confident that I was right!

Cornishpotato · 23/06/2025 22:05

The sanctimony of The Jolyon Witnesses is getting boring now.

FrippEnos · 23/06/2025 22:05

Your quoting someone that kidnapped a man, chained him to a radiator and beat with him a chain.
And you are pitting him against a woman that said men cannot be women.

I think we all know who the cruel one is.

As for Casey Bloys, someone that stands by his convictions so much that he is happy to make money off someone that he dislikes. What an absolute fucking star he is (sarcasm if you didn't get it).

And if you didn't know Fry is a homosexual, someone that is attracted to their own sex. So he does know what a man and a woman are.

myplace · 23/06/2025 22:05

Boy George has more credibility than JKR?

Boy George the violent criminal drug addict?

you want me to value his opinion on JKR?
And Stephen Fry? A posh gay bloke who married partner that looks like a teenager?

Their opinions matter more than JKR?

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣.
🤣

JsmeLegie · 23/06/2025 22:06

And, whilst I hope it's unnecessary to clarify the obvious, this thread is neither pro nor anti JKR and has absolutely nothing to do with her creative works.

This thread is intended solely for open discussion about the ongoing controversies raised against her by others - including, but absolutely not limited to, Stephen Fry - and, perhaps more philosophically, about whether a person's good works in one field entitle them to misbehave with impunity in another.

OP posts:
borntobequiet · 23/06/2025 22:06

The title of the OP is quite good.
The rest is bullshit.

JazzyJelly · 23/06/2025 22:06

'Controversial views' that are held by the vast majority of people? Such as humans can't change sex and biological sex is important in some circumstances?

CaptainFuture · 23/06/2025 22:07

borntobequiet · 23/06/2025 22:06

The title of the OP is quite good.
The rest is bullshit.

Probably because AI is being used...

RufustheFactuaIReindeer · 23/06/2025 22:07

borntobequiet · 23/06/2025 22:06

The title of the OP is quite good.
The rest is bullshit.

Agree

myplace · 23/06/2025 22:08

JsmeLegie · 23/06/2025 22:06

And, whilst I hope it's unnecessary to clarify the obvious, this thread is neither pro nor anti JKR and has absolutely nothing to do with her creative works.

This thread is intended solely for open discussion about the ongoing controversies raised against her by others - including, but absolutely not limited to, Stephen Fry - and, perhaps more philosophically, about whether a person's good works in one field entitle them to misbehave with impunity in another.

whether a person's good works in one field entitle them to misbehave with impunity in another….

No, Stephen Fry being good at playing deadpan posh blokes does not mean he can misbehave with impunity.

TinselAngel · 23/06/2025 22:08

You seem to think JKR is our leader OP when many (most?) of us here were involved in this fight long before her.

EmpressaurusKitty · 23/06/2025 22:08

whether a person's good works in one field entitle them to misbehave with impunity in another.

It doesn’t matter how many good songs someone releases. That does not give them the right to chain someone up and beat him.

Boy George has no moral high ground to take.

EmpressaurusKitty · 23/06/2025 22:09

TinselAngel · 23/06/2025 22:08

You seem to think JKR is our leader OP when many (most?) of us here were involved in this fight long before her.

Edited

Excellent point.

murasaki · 23/06/2025 22:09

I'm not sure the fox botherer has any good works at all.

Retiredfromthere · 23/06/2025 22:09

Looked up the Casey Bloys quote. Its reprinted in Variety and its not quite as your abridged version presents it.

"“The decision to be in business with J.K. Rowling is not new for us. We’ve been in business for 25 years,” Bloys said, nodding to the mega-successful “Harry Potter” film franchise that spawned eight movies, grossed $7.7 billion worldwide and launched spinoffs, video games and more.

Bloys was asked if Rowling’s views on the trans community made him worried for the show, to which he continued: “We already have a show on HBO from her called ‘C.B. Strike’ that we do with the BBC. It’s pretty clear that those are her personal, political views. She’s entitled to them. ‘Harry Potter’ is not secretly being infused with anything. And if you want to debate her, you can go on Twitter.”

So he sounds reasonably sensible. Perhaps fed up of being asked and baited on this topic. Which leaves you with Stephen Fry, Boy George and 'Jo' Maugham as examples of people whose opinion we should give weight to? Nah.

crumpet · 23/06/2025 22:10

JsmeLegie · 23/06/2025 21:57

I see she is now claiming that she was never actually friends with Fry.

Link here: https://www.standard.co.uk/showbiz/jk-rowling-stephen-fry-friends-b1234360.html

In support of Fry, barrister Jo Maugham stated “Really creditable this, from Stephen Fry. I've spoken to so many of JKR's once friends who now despair at her privately but won't do so publicly, which is very much the British way and why nothing ever changes for the better. So well done Stephen.”

Now Casey Bloys, CEO of the network working on a new HP series, has felt the need to clarify on a podcast that the forthcoming series won't be infused with her controversial views, insisting that her views are entirely separate to the show they're making.

And, as one of the latest celebrities to decide to speak out, Boy George weighed in at the beginning of the month with a few observations of his own (see attached image).

So the question here, really, is just how long are certain people going to blindly insist that JKR is an infallible saint when the (increasing) evidence from multiple sources is to the contrary?

Yes, she has funded a lot of good and charitable works for women, that is not in question, but at what point do we as a society finally agree that a human being is not absolved of horrendous behaviour in one part of their life simply because they compensate for it by doing a few good works in another?

Or perhaps you disagree entirely with all her detractors and feel she is unfairly treated / misunderstood / misquoted?
I'd like to hear your views. They are guaranteed to create an interesting dialogue.

What the fuck is horrendous about not being friends with Stephen Fry?

I am not friends with many many many people - most of the world in fact outside my own family and friends. doesn’t mean I am not polite when I encounter a person who is not a friend, either in work or out.

Barbie222 · 23/06/2025 22:10

I don’t think BG, or anyone, can argue very well against what she’s said there, so what you’ve got is a kind of default response that’s all there is to fall back on.