British Author J.K. Rowling Claims She’s ‘Misunderstood, Not Transphobic’

Harry Potter writer talks about the “misunderstood” anti-trans comments that could have destroyed her career.

J.K. Rowlings talks about the “misunderstood” anti-trans comments that could have destroyed her career. Photo by Kingkongphoto /Wikimedia Commons

Harry Potter’s writer, J.K. Rowling, made waves on social media in recent years for making a series of comments some people deem as anti-trans. Yahoo News reports that the author is speaking about her experience on a new podcast, The Witch Trials Of J.K. Rowling.

The podcast’s host, Megan Phelps-Roper, is a former Westboro Baptist Church member who left the church at age 26. In the trailer for the series, Rowling said she “never set out to upset anyone.” She expressed remorse for upsetting her readers but still stood behind her comments. The author doesn’t see her comments as anti-trans. She believes the public “profoundly misunderstood” what she was trying to say.

“What has interested me over the last ten years, certainly in the last few years, the last two, three years, particularly on social media… ‘You’ve ruined your legacy. Oh, you could have been beloved forever, but you chose to say this,’” Rowling said, “And I…