HBO's Statement On J.K. Rowling's Involvement In The New "Harry Potter" Series Has Cemented Why I Won't Be Watching

Note: This post is an Op-Ed and shares the author's personal views.

HBO issued a new statement on J.K. Rowling's involvement in its upcoming Harry Potter series, and yikes.

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Earlier this year, news emerged that the company's adaptation of Rowling's book series was set to debut in 2026. Subsequently, the writer said in a statement, "Max’s commitment to preserving the integrity of my books is important to me, and I’m looking forward to being part of this new adaptation which will allow for a degree of depth and detail only afforded by a long form television series."

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This alone would be eye-roll-inducing at best, but now the company is back at it with more words that sure seem like they're saying Rowling's repeated anti-trans comments are simply not a big deal. As per Variety, HBO chief Casey Bloys recently said that Rowling was “very, very involved in the process selecting the writer and the director,” and that her anti-trans statements “haven’t affected the casting or hiring of writers or productions staff." Sure, Jan.

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HBO further said in a statement to the publication that they had “been working with J.K. Rowling and in the Harry Potter business for over 20 years” and “her contribution has been invaluable."

“We are proud to once again tell the story of Harry Potter — the heartwarming books that speak to power of friendship, resolve and acceptance,” the statement added. “J.K. Rowling has a right to express her personal views. We will remain focused on the development of the new series, which will only benefit from her involvement."

The masking of bigotry as “personal views” is nothing new (See: Trump voters who are supposedly incredulous that family members have cut them off). I couldn’t give two flying fucks what Rowling thinks in her personal life. Obviously, what I care about is the fact that she repeatedly refers to trans women as men and spreads hatemongering falsities. To her millions of followers. Constantly. And as we stare down the next four+ years of another Trump administration, it needs to be called out.

Rowling’s words do not exist in a vacuum; they have been backed by the likes of the U.K.'s previous Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, while he was in office. People like Rowling continue to push hysteria over trans people in bathrooms or in sports to the center of the political stage when in reality, the number of people they actually affect is minuscule. What else should we call this but scapegoating? Yesterday was Transgender Day of Remembrance: At least 350 transgender people have been killed in the past year, one of the highest death tolls since the project began.

So, why would I continue to contribute to the financial and cultural cache of such a figure? There are cases where one could argue that a separation of art and a (for lack of a better term) problematic figure is applicable, I would say this is not true with Rowling and new Harry Potter projects. The more money Harry Potter brings in and the more Rowling’s hateful actions are smoothed over, the more it A) Likely gives her incentive to keep going, B) Means people will actually listen, and C) Emboldens other anti-trans people. She's not just some hack on Twitter (sorry, X), she's at the helm of one of Warner Bros.' flagship franchises.

Yeah, no thanks. I’ll find my heartwarming stories of acceptance somewhere else. But what do you think? It's just a difference in personal opinion, right?