Twitter is roasting J.K. Rowling for her latest comments about Dumbledore and Grindelwald
Even though the Harry Potter books have been on shelves for years, J.K. Rowling continues to reveal new details about the wizarding world she created. One of Rowling’s most famous revelations? That Albus Dumbledore had a romantic relationship with the dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald. The relationship was not depicted on screen or on the page, but Rowling continues to provide information about it through interviews and social media. And now, the author is under fire for her latest comments.
In a recently released Blu-Ray extra for Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald, Rowling confirmed for the first time that Dumbledore and Grindelwald’s relationship had a “sexual dimension.” However, she said that she was “less interested” in it.
"So I'm less interested in the sexual side–though I believe there is a sexual dimension to this relationship–than I am in the sense of the emotions they felt for each other, which ultimately is the most fascinating thing about all human relationships," she said, U.K. magazine Attitude reports.
Many Twitter users are mad about Rowling’s comments.
Some felt that her retroactive description of Dumbledore and Grindelwald’s bond came too little, too late, since it’s not depicted in the books or movies.
J.K. Rowling Confirms Some Characters in Her Books and Movies Are Gay Everywhere Except in the Books or the Movies https://t.co/Y5gcbMWNB9
— Eric D. Snider (@EricDSnider) March 16, 2019
I'm sick of Rowling and her half-assed inclusivity. It doesn't count if she's telling us after the fact. That's not being an ally. That's trying to get brownie points. She loses nothing this way. Put it in the text or don't talk about it all. Same thing with Hermione's race.
— Anti-Lawn Account (@Femme_Queer) March 17, 2019
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reporter:
JK Rowling:
me, bursting in: a published book actually mentions Dumbledore’s sexuality
the 2016 election went differently
my childhood cat is still alive
reporter: wait do you think just saying something in an interview makes it real
me: …honeybees are thriving— Alexandra Petri (@petridishes) March 17, 2019
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Others pointed out that Rowling might not have said she was “less interested” in exploring a straight couple’s sexual relationship.
since everyone's tweeting about JK Rowling again, i want to point out that what she *actually said* is that she's "less interested in the sexual side" of Dumbledore & Grindelwald's relationship – something she'd never say about a straight couple. https://t.co/qXO5tDUHoZ pic.twitter.com/G5l2F2YUXf
— Gavia Baker-Whitelaw (@Hello_Tailor) March 17, 2019
Some even felt that her comments about Dumbledore’s sexuality were an attempt to be “trendy.”
Well, as an "intense" homosexual, and a fan of her books, I've quite had it with J. K. Rowling piggybacking on LGBTQ+ folk because it's trendy to do so now, when she wasn't prepared to make the sacrifices and fight at a time when it wasn't so easy.
Stop milking ££ our rainbow 🏳️🌈 https://t.co/O4e1yRomdG
— William G. Saraband 🏴🇵🇹🏳️🌈 (@wgsaraband) March 17, 2019
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According to Mashable, Rowling declined to comment on the backlash.
While Rowling’s attempts to make Harry Potter more inclusive are admirable, it’s one thing to say that something is true of the characters and another thing to actually show it. We’re ready to see her gay characters actually represented on screen. Maybe in the next Fantastic Beasts movie?
