Why We Boycott Harry Potter

'said wizard defunds the dismantling of my rights'

Author

Sandy Allen
March 25, 2026

Welcome to What’s Helping Today, a newsletter about the everyday work of staying alive on earth — written by author and journalist Sandy Ernest Allen.

Hey folks,

Bla bla Harry Potter. Saw some truly unfortunate posts written by comedian Michael Ian Black this morning, sentiments I wanted to briefly address …

Michael Ian Black Yeah, I think that’s reasonable. I totally understand why people wuld boycott Harry Potter stuff but I don’t think it’s as easy as saying that if you don’t, you’re a “bad person”. Valerie In this case, JKR is specifically using the money she makes on this show to hurt trans people - she’s said as much. There’s no death of the author here. The author is alive and doing evil with the money from this show.

There is a fantasy that one can divorce ‘art from artist’. Such delusion is one only those privileged to not be affected by JKR’s transphobia can suffer from. Those of us targeted by her bigotry, her money going directly to trans persecution, we face a different reality. Types like MIB, who rather defend a bigoted author than adjust his behavior is telling on himself.

Nodding my head …

Craig Jenkins IP creator made consequential choices with the money and it’s absurd to look for much kindness in the shadow of that. “they hurt my fee-fees about the fictitious wizard of my youth” and “said wizard funds the dismantling of my rights” are not in the same ballpark of human adversity. Michael Ian Black Well within your rights. Also well within your rights to boycott whatever you see fit. My only objection is labeling somebody a “bad person” because they like Harry Potter.

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mattie lubchansky i think sometimes cis people truly have a hard time understanding that rowling is living person actively using her wealth to fund the international assault on trans lives. she’s some Complicated Author we can have a spirited debate about separating from the art with!!!!!!

Some stuff I said:

Sandy Ernest Allen It’s remarkable how some people turn off their brains, when engaging with the reality of transphobia. JKR’s toxic IP funds her anti-trans witch-hunt, actively, this isn’t conspiracy, it’s facts. The truth is, lots of cis people would rather enjoy Harry Potter than acknowledge the shameful truth. Michael Ian Black This isn’t an argument about trans people; it’s an argument about the way audiences choose to engage with or not engage with art.
To some cis people, the worst thing that can happen is somebody labels you a ‘bad person’ for enjoying nazi art. For trans people, we are fighting for our *lives* here. Hence the boycott. The hope is we can get the rest of you to actually wake the fuck up.

It’s telling, someone like MIB, who’s choosing to commit to a bad position rather than listening or learning or growing …

Rando replying: Oh boy you are gonna keep going huh?MIB Probably yes

Indeed:

Chana Prescod-Weinstein Replied to you The thing that mystifies me about it is that there is no reason to bug trans people with his opinion about this? Like fine, you have a tactical disagreement or whatever. No need to go into trans people’s mentions with a QP to make your point.

I finally wanted to re-share my long essay unpacking the ‘art and the artist’ when it comes to JKR and enjoying her now-toxic IP …

Burn Harry Burn: Reckoning With My Harry Potter Fandom as a Trans Person

During the spring of 2020, as the world locked down and people were dead and dying and breaking apart and mourning and afraid and hiding, the British author J.K. Rowling decided to publish an open …

lithub.com/burn-harry-burn-reckoning-with-my-harry-potter-fandom-as-a-trans-person

I’d encourage you to read it (if you haven’t yet) and to share it wherever you share things.

Trans people deserve life and rights. There are two sides here — those with us and those against. Boycott Harry Potter.

Sandy

p.s. Also re-sharing this podcast on cis allyship.

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