So… about J.K. Rowling. And the Cornell Seven, but we will get to that.
Here’s the thing: I liked Harry Potter growing up. It was the first and only chapter book my mom read to me, and I learned to read so I could read the second on my own after she refused to so so (for my own benefit).
Each year I was in school, there was a new book. I loved that they grew in depth as the characters aged. Yes, there were problems and problematic characters, but that’s a later subject.
I soured on Harry Potter when JKR kept adding things from the Pottermore website as canon: making Dumbledore gay was fine and easy to see in the book (see Grindelwald!), but the thing I hated was making Dumbledore in love with Harry
The greatest wizard of an age, hero and mentor to our protagonist… was revealed to be a pedophile in the post-script.
That’s shitty. My appreciation for the series soured after that, because suddenly the only “gay” representation is predatory and a heinous crime at that.
Fast forward a few years, and we see JKR’s anti-trans stance. Why? “Because she’s protecting real women!” She’s a TERF (derogatory) at best, but I think she’s actually much worse than that.
You see, she views those who support her works as synonymous with supporting her views, so to engage with her beloved franchise is to embolden her anti-trans and pro-billionaire crusade.
She recently bullied Amnesty International into apologizing to her for simply stating facts (look it up!)
She wields real power in many ways, but what does she use it for? Oppression of the marginalized.
Now we come to the latest, and in many ways most concerning, activity or, rather, lack thereof; the Cornell 7.
Not once has she spoken or tweeted about the Cornell 7 (see attached image), a subject which would be *directly in support of women,” her alleged championed-cause.
She could speak out on this cause with ease, reaching millions. She could, at a stroke, fund all of Jane Doe's legal costs. But she doesn't. When there's actually a genuine case of harm of women but one that doesn't have the desired effect of harming marginalized communities she's as silent as the grave.
So no. I can’t in good faith engage with the franchise i used to love BECAUSE of the author, and JKR needs a real wake-up call before she does more harm.
“Talks on behalf of women” my ass. She’s almost as bad as Trumplestien.