NFL
By: Rick O’Donnell
HBO might have a small problem on its hands with the new Harry Potter series. Before the show even starts filming, cancel culture is already doing its best to derail the whole series. Outrage has sparked on the internet over comments that series creator J.K. Rowling has made at the expense of the transgender community has fans ready to boycott the beloved series for HBO/Max. Even stars such as Pedro Pascal have weighed in. Yet, somehow, a boycott feels like the wrong approach.
Long-time fans calling for the boycott have gone online and harassed the social media of the new cast members causing a stir of negative response, even before the show had a full cast. I get it. Rowling has made some hurtful and hateful remarks that represent values you no longer wish to see in the world. Unfortunately, she is forever tied to this series.
But even if she were no longer a part of the series, the cries for boycott aren’t going to achieve the results you wish to see. She’s made over a billion dollars off the Harry Potter franchise, while still owning the rights to it. So even if you vow to never give her another dollar, she’s already won. She makes money off the studios, the theme parks, the books, and any merchandise. Harry Potter could cease to exist from the world at the very second you’re reading this, and off of interest from her wealth alone, she’d continue to profit, so yeah, that sucks.
Here’s the thing, though. No matter what you or I think of J.K. Rowling, she doesn’t deserve to take away anyone’s joy. People absolutely LOVE Harry Potter, and someone with that much hate in their heart doesn’t get the power to take away something we love. There’s so little whimsy and wonder in the world today that why let it get snuffed out by hate. Too many times we’re robbed of our joy and love because of terrible people, and they can’t keep winning.
No level of pettiness or hate is going to make me give up on something I enjoy simply because someone else has hateful values. You can never watch the movies again, but then you’re punishing the stars of the original movie, who have come out and spoken against those values. If you never watch the series, you’re being robbed of the joy and excitement of sharing something you love with your children as well. Rowling doesn’t represent the totality of Harry Potter or anyone involved with it.
Yes, people like J.K. Rowling may suck, but instead of being mad about it, let’s change the game a little. Can we boycott letting sucky people ruin our joy? We have no control over J.K. Rowling making more money on Harry Potter, but we can love the series despite her. You can still “cancel” Rowling without losing your joys.
Here’s the thing: her voice is still only heard because audiences continue to make it relevant. Her opinions may suck and she’s allowed to have them, that’s what free speech is. The good news is, we don’t have to listen. If you want to “cancel” someone, don’t take it out on the people trying to continue to spread the joy of something you love; take it out on the person spreading their hate.
Press makes runs of stories and makes money off of an audience just the same as movies and shows. If people stop watching the interviews, stop following the platforms of her social media, or if people don’t click the links of articles with her name attached, she no longer is the story.
Tune out of J.K. Rowling, and she becomes irrelevant and fades into obscurity to the point no one will hear those dated ideals again. What’s she going to do, spend money on a megaphone moment that no one is going to listen to? I doubt it.
No matter how you look at her views, Harry Potter is something that fans will always have a special place in their hearts for, and no amount of hate should be able to deny something you love. Watching the show doesn’t mean you support her views, you can still hate her while still loving the series.
