Hogwarts Legacy controversy: Why are boycott calls for J.K. Rowling books based Harry Potter game?

The transphobic nature of J.K. Rowling has made fans to boycott the upcoming Harry Potter based game, Hogwarts Legacy.


Hogwarts Legacy controversy: Why are boycott calls for J.K. Rowling books based Harry Potter game?

JK Rowling's Harry Potter based game

The long-awaited open-world Harry Potter game, Hogwarts Legacy has found itself under heavy backlash after all the ruckus created by J.K. Rowling. While many players are eager to play the Avalanche Software game, which is expected to hit sales records, many gamers are choosing not to buy it to boycott Hogwarts Legacy.

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J.K. Rowling is one of the most popular writers of the current time. She’s popular for her Harry Potter novel series and gathered quite a fanbase. But, she has been criticized heavily for her transphobic comments. Millions of Harry Potter fans have been forced to reevaluate their attachment to the realm of witchcraft and wizardry as a result of the author’s persistent use of harmful rhetoric against trans rights in public throughout the intervening months and years.

J.K. Rowling has written essays and tweeted messages that are critical of the trans community and support the TERF (trans-exclusionary radical feminist) ideology. Her opinions reflect the idea that trans women aren’t actually women and that defending the rights of the transgender community harms women.

Back in 2020, her novel Troubled Blood also drew criticism. The novel features a transgender man who dresses like a lady to seduce victims. The Mermaid Org, which does charity for the upliftment of the LGBTQ+ community, released a statement for J.K. Rowling and told her “meet with transgender young people and listen to them with an open mind and an open heart before speaking about them”

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Related – Hogwarts Legacy early access: Start date and how to get?

Fans’ Reaction to Hogwarts Legacy – J.K. Legacy controversy

Fans Reaction to Hogwarts Legacy J.K. Rowlings controversy
Hogwarts Legacy (image via Warner Bros. Games)

Jessie Earl, a youtube content creator tweeted that supporting Hogwarts Legacy is harmful to Trans people.

Later, J.K. Rowling herself mocked Jessie on Twitter.

MF Diamond Doom, a Twitter User also asked players why to support a game that is right-wing propaganda.

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The famous Twitch streamer, HasanAbi tweeted out that he might invite some of the other streamers to play Hogwarts Legacy and do a charity event for trans. But one user said that this idea of hosting a game party will just influence more people to buy this game.

In response to Rowling’s remarks, several Harry Potter cast members, including Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Bonnie Wright, and Eddie Redmayne, have come out in support of the trans community. Daniel Radcliffe who plays Harry Potter in the Harry Potter franchise once said in an interview.

“To all the people who now feel that their experience of the books has been tarnished or diminished. I am deeply sorry for the pain these comments have caused you, I really hope that you don’t entirely lose what was valuable in these stories to you.”

Even though The developers have denied any involvement of J.K. Rowling in making Hogwarts Legacy, she would benefit from the game release. Either in the way of royalty or the awareness it will spread about Harry Potter. The game will feature the original story, meaning the story is not from her. Hogwarts Legacy is all set to drop on 10 February.

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