J.K. Rowling has finally broken her silence over her controversial absence from the Harry Potter reunion special released on New Year’s Day. The author revealed it was her decision not to join the event, even though she was invited.
Titled Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts, the reunion featured an all-star cast seen in the movie series. As the creator of the iconic fantasy novels on which the eight movies were based, it surprised many that she only appeared through archived footage. Now, Rowling told Graham Norton’s Radio Show Podcast the reason behind it.
Reason Behind J.K. Rowling’s Absence from Harry Potter Reunion Special
Rowling revealed she was asked to do the special but decided not to. She cleared that she wasn’t excluded from the event after many thought she was sidelined due to her controversial comments about transgender people, ComicBook noted.
"I was asked to be on that," she told Norton. "I decided I didn't want to do it. I thought it was about the films more than the books, quite rightly."
"No one said, 'Don't come.' I was asked to do it, and I decided not to,” she added.
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J.K. Rowling Allegedly Told Not to Join Harry Potter Reunion Special
Back in January, Entertainment Weekly reported that Warner Bros. Unscripted Television and Warner Horizon, which produced the special, invited Rowling to join the reunion.
However, she allegedly declined after her team “determined the archived comments from the writer were adequate.”
The report stressed that Rowling’s controversial remark about trans people had nothing to do with her team’s decision.
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Rowling’s comment was heavily condemned by GLAAD, the Human Rights Coalition, and The Trevor Project.
J.K. Rowling’s Relationship with Harry Potter Stars
Rowling also touched on the issue of her relationship with Harry Potter stars. So, does she manage to maintain a relationship with them despite talking about her?
“I have. Yes, I do. I mean, some more than others, but that was always the case. You know, some I knew better than others,” she said.
Aside from Emma Watson, who has openly disagreed with Rowling’s remarks, Daniel Radcliffe and Ruper Grint also voiced their support for the trans community.
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The Harry Potter Reunion Special
The Harry Potter reunion special features the appearances of the movie series’ major characters, like Tom Felton, Matthew Lewis, Bonnie Wright, Evanna Lynch, James and Oliver Phelps, and Alfred Enoch.
It also shows Helena Bonham Carter, Ralph Fiennes, Jason Isaacs, Gary Oldman, Mark Williams, Ian Hart, and Toby Jones. It also includes the franchise’s producer and directors.
The Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts special is available to stream on HBO Max.
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