New Delhi, India

JK Rowling is very much part of the much-talked Harry Potter upcoming series. The famous author, who is known for writing the famous book series Harry Potter, has become the subject of controversy over her transphobic comments. 

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As the show got underway, many were curious to know how Rowling, who is the producer and creator of the Harry Potter world, would be involved in the show. 

As per the recent report by Variety, HBO chief Casey Bloys shared that they are not distancing themselves from Rowling, saying, “J.K. Rowling has a right to express her personal views.”

Adding further, Bloys told reporters that Rowling was “very, very involved in the process of selecting the writer and the director,” and her anti-trans statements “haven’t affected the casting or hiring of writers or production staff” for the show. 

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A spokesperson for the network has said in a statement to the American outlet that Rowling has been working with its parent company for over two decades now and her "contribution has been invaluable" to the company.

“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 continued. 

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“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,'' they said. 

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Harry Potter's new series has been joined by showrunner Francesca Gardiner and director Mark Mylod. The casting of the show is currently underway.

Warner Bros. has confirmed that the upcoming series will be released over 10 years, with each season based on one of the seven books written by Rowling. 

How did JK Rowling's controversy on transgender remarks start?

Rowling faced a huge backlash for her controversial statement against trans rights. Several actors, including Harry Potter movie stars such as Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, and Eddie Redmayne, spoke out against her anti-transgender remarks. 

In 2020, she first angered the trans community and its supporters with a series of posts after she slammed the op-ed using the term “people who menstruate.''

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“‘People who menstruate. I’m sure there used to be a word for those people. Someone help me out. Wumben? Wimpund? Woomud?,” she wrote back then.

After a backlash over her re-tweeting opinion piece, she went on to share a series of posts, reading, "If sex isn’t real, there’s no same-sex attraction. If sex isn’t real, the lived reality of women globally is erased. I know and love trans people, but erasing the concept of sex removes the ability of many to meaningfully discuss their lives.” 

Despite a huge backlash, Rowling continues to stand by her views.