Can you still love Harry Potter? I think so

In 2018, a snowball appeared online. Just a tiny little pellet rolling along. But over the years, that snowball turned into a massive avalanche. Yes, I’m talking about J.K. Rowling and her political views on trans people. Things really picked up in 2020, when actors like Eddie Redmayne (Fantastic Beasts) and Daniel Radcliffe (Harry Potter) publicly opposed the world’s most successful author. And over the years since, things haven’t calmed down—if anything, they’ve intensified.

Not a week goes by without me stumbling across at least one comment or message on Elbenwald’s social channels asking, “How can you still sell Harry Potter merch?” Usually the question is asked a bit less politely—but that’s beside the point. Since the reports on the topic are as constant as the questions we receive, I figured: Let’s take a closer look. However: I (Tim) am just using J.K. Rowling as a starting point to personally answer the real question: Should we separate art from the artist? If you’re looking for a (partial) breakdown of the controversy, I highly recommend the podcast series The Witch Trials of J.K. Rowling, which tackles the topic with a surprisingly balanced approach.

Can You Still…?

Let me give away my conclusion right away: The question of whether you should separate art from the artist is a case-by-case decision that everyone has to make for themselves. It’s easy to illustrate. Just swap out the subject in the question. Like this:

• Can you still read J.K. Rowling?

Judging by the thousands of comments I’ve read over the years, many people would answer with a clear “No,” or at least a “Yes, but…” But would the answer be the same for other artists?

• Can you still read H.P. Lovecraft or Neil Gaiman?
• Can you still listen to Michael Jackson or Richard Wagner?
• Can you still watch films by Bryan Singer or James Gunn?
• Can you still appreciate the acting of Kevin Spacey or Shia LaBeouf?

I hope your answers differ, just like mine do. Because muting every person who isn’t flawless or doesn’t align with majority opinion can’t be the solution. Where do you start? Where do you stop? Who gets to decide? Should we need a government permit to take the stage, like in the GDR? What about gangster rap? Or differing opinions in general? Wouldn’t that lead us into a world reminiscent of Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451?

Art vs. Justice

I honestly can’t imagine anyone wants that. Not even the biggest J.K. Rowling haters. There are just too many artists with issues—who maybe even became artists because of their issues. Because yes, terrible people can also create art.

But that doesn’t mean they get a pass. If someone breaks the law, spreads hate, or incites violence, they should absolutely face consequences. That’s what justice systems are for. A gripping novel or a killer beat doesn’t cancel out criminal behavior. Art exists in society, not above it.

The Person Behind the Work

One counterargument I totally get is this: Artists are people too. Their values influence their work. And I think it’s absolutely valid to keep the creator in mind when consuming art—be it a book, film, painting, or game. Especially since, thanks to the internet, all the necessary info is basically at our fingertips. A study from the Institute of Psychology at Humboldt University of Berlin even found that knowing about an artist’s problematic behavior leads to a more negative assessment of their art. Case closed, right?

I don’t know. Kind of, yes. But at the same time, I find it unreasonable to expect people to pull up Wikipedia every time they engage with a piece of media to check if they’re “allowed” to enjoy it. I, for one, couldn’t do that—even just time-wise. Sure, that’s a bit ignorant and maybe not ideal. But with the sheer volume of shows, films, books, and songs out there, it’s just not realistic. That’s why I only read up when I’m genuinely interested—usually after I’ve finished a book or movie. But I don’t grab my phone every time a song comes on Radio Paradise to find out whether I’m “allowed” to like it. Awareness of controversy shouldn’t be a prerequisite for enjoying something. But if you love it? Then by all means, dig deeper.

Another argument I can’t and won’t refute: That by consuming a problematic artist’s work, you’re financially supporting them—and they might do something harmful with that money. Not necessarily illegal, but questionable. Like Kanye West using his fortune to launch a bizarre presidential campaign. Or J.K. Rowling using profits—including from our wand sales—to support an organization that opposes transgender rights. That’s not cool. And if that’s your boundary, that’s totally valid. So why do I still think it’s okay to sell Harry Potter merch?

J.K. Rowling Is Not Harry Potter

Yes, J.K. Rowling created Harry Potter. The Boy Who Lived even shares her birthday. But the topic has grown so massive and touched so many people in so many different ways that—especially in this case—you shouldn’t equate the work with its creator. Even if George Lucas might disagree, Harry Potter belongs, to some extent, to all of us who read the books. After all, the interpretation of a work lies with the reader, not the author. Thanks, Roland Barthes.

Elbenwald wouldn’t be where it is today without Harry Potter. And Harry Potter is still incredibly important. Removing the franchise would directly endanger jobs—jobs held by people who have nothing to do with J.K. Rowling or her views. People who are simply passionate about Harry Potter and many other topics—and personally, I don’t know a single transphobic person at Elbenwald.

The same goes for the thousands of people who worked on the films. Or are working on the new series right now. Actors, writers, directors, producers, cinematographers, VFX artists, art directors, concept artists, costume designers, musicians, creature designers, graphic designers, hairstylists, editors, prop masters, set designers—so many names you only ever see briefly in the credits. They’re all doing their best to bring a great series to life. Should they lose their passion—or even their jobs—because one person holds a political view that, while problematic, has nothing to do with the story?

Behind the Credits

And let’s be real: Most of the time, we’re celebrating the work, not the person behind it. A fitting example: Johnny Depp. Without J.K. Rowling, he probably never would’ve played Gellert Grindelwald. But then the whole Amber Heard case happened—and we all know how that played out. Grindelwald was recast, and Rowling’s support for Depp caused a massive backlash. Ironically enough, Depp is now back on top! He made a comeback. But why is he so beloved? Not because he’s such a great guy—we don’t know him personally. We love him for his roles. For Jack Sparrow. Edward Scissorhands. Constable Ichabod Crane.

Is Harry Potter Ruined?

I’ve never read any book more times than Harry Potter. And I know a lot of people who feel the same. We loved the story. Practically memorized it. Theorized, analyzed, and discussed it. And it was awesome! A story that got so many kids into reading in the first place. A story that stands for love, acceptance, and openness. That made us laugh, cry, and think. Are we supposed to throw all of that out because one person disagrees with their (former) fans on one topic?

Is American Gods still a brilliant, inventive novel, even if Neil Gaiman behaved badly? Did the X-Men films help define the superhero genre, despite the accusations against Bryan Singer? Did Baby Driver rightfully elevate one of my favorite directors, even though Kevin Spacey was in it? Yes. Yes. And yes. Those are my answers. And I feel the same about Harry Potter. I love the story and firmly believe it still has great value today. And should be read. If some radicals out there want to burn their books, that’s up to them—even if it clashes wildly with the openness they claim to stand for.

Decide for Yourself, Not for Others

Like I said: In the end, everyone should decide for themselves whether to separate art from the artist. And ideally, revisit that question every time a new controversy comes up. You think it’s fine to read H.P. Lovecraft because he’s dead and can’t do anything evil with your money? Great! You don’t want to support J.K. Rowling because of what she does with her money? Also great! But please allow others to hold a different opinion. And because I still believe the Harry Potter story is fantastic, independent of Rowling’s politics, I’ll probably still be making videos about wands tomorrow. That are sold here. That pay my salary. Because I separate art and artist.