The Witch Trials of J.K. Rowling

Chapter 3: A New Pyre

14 snips
Feb 28, 2023
J.K. Rowling, the best-selling author of the Harry Potter series, delves into the evolution of online fandom. She reflects on her early engagement with fans and the emergence of communities around her work. The conversation shifts to the darker side of online interactions, including bullying and the rise of cancel culture. Rowling discusses how Harry Potter served as a refuge for marginalized readers and shares concerns about today’s internet culture, authoritarianism, and the erosion of empathy in public discourse.
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ANECDOTE

Author Rejected In Her Own Fandom

  • Rowling recounted joining a fan chat anonymously and being brusquely ejected after offering a bland opinion.
  • She left that room reflecting on how fandom could reproduce bullying she condemns in her books.
INSIGHT

Trolling Preyed On Vulnerable Fans

  • Early internet trolling had outsized impact by preying on vulnerable fans seeking refuge in Potter.
  • Rowling became concerned watching trolls pick off people who felt like outsiders.
ANECDOTE

Author Intervened For A Fan's Safety

  • Rowling described long-term pen-pal relationships with fans and intervening when a child wrote a note suggesting suicide.
  • She and her assistant once called a school out of concern for a fan's safety.
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