J.K. Rowling Pays Emotional Tribute To Harry Potter Worker Killed In Orlando Shootings
J.K. Rowling is paying an emotional tribute to a young victim of the June 12 Orlando shootings.
Rowling, the author of the wildly popular Harry Potter book series, took to Twitter to admit that she couldn’t “stop crying” after learning that one of the victims of the horrific incident, that has so far claimed the lives of 50 people, worked at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at the Orlando, Florida, Universal Studios theme park.
“Luis Vielma worked on the Harry Potter ride at Universal. He was 22 years old,” J.K. wrote on the social media site on June 13, where she also attached a photo of the victim wearing what appeared to be his Wizarding World of Harry Potter uniform. “I can’t stop crying. #Orlando,” Rowling added.
Luis Vielma worked on the Harry Potter ride at Universal. He was 22 years old. I can't stop crying. #Orlando pic.twitter.com/Nz2ZCWxNsS
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) June 13, 2016
J.K. then retweeted a message from a fellow social media user who claimed that another worker from the popular attraction was also critically injured following the horrific incident that took place at Orlando’s Pulse nightclub.
Twitter user Victoria Bidorini, who told Rowling that she worked with Luis at the popular Orlando Harry potter attraction, replied to J.K.’s emotional tweet, “I worked with Luis he was a Gryffindor who would make you proud.”
Bidorini then added in response to Rowling, “We have a Slytherin who’s still in the icu. His name is Tony.”
“I’m praying Tony pulls through,” J.K. then wrote in reply on the social media site on June 13. “My thoughts are with all of you #LoveIsLove #Orlando,” Rowling added.
J.K. Rowling later took the time to retweet a slew of messages mourning the death of the late Luis Vielma on social media, including a number from Twitter users who claimed to have met Vielma while he was working at the Florida theme park.
“Trust me, you would have loved him. He was the guy in the breakroom you liked four seconds after walking in,” @melissagibbo tweeted to J.K., and @sarahBijouClub tweeted in reply to Rowling’s social media message that they “had the pleasure of meeting him last week on my holidays, he was SO nice to my son, such a lovely guy.”
“I remember him from my last trip. So lovely. I bet there are many of us all over the world crying for him today,” @KDoubleEwes added in reply to J.K.’s message, while Twitter user @AWreckingPaul recalled his encounter with Luis, writing on the site that “he complimented me on my @bendelacreme t-shirt at universal. I can’t believe such a kind soul is gone.”
“Thank you for your tweet about Luis. He was our friend and it is unbearable,” @JohnConnonActs told J.K. Rowling in another message posted on the 140-character site on June 13. “Your Wizarding World was his world. #LoveWins.”
“We are deeply saddened over the loss of our team member,” a statement from Universal Orlando issued to Newsweek read following J.K.’s social media tribute. “We are working to support his friends and colleagues here at Universal Orlando. Our thoughts and prayers are with Luis, his family, and all the victims of this tragedy.”
Luis died after falling victim to a mass shooting deadly at Pulse nightclub Pulse in Orlando, Florida, on June 12, which Newsweek is reporting is now “the worst mass shooting in U.S. history,” leaving 50 victims dead and more than 50 others injured.
What do you think of J.K. Rowling’s emotional social media tribute to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter worker Luis Vielma?
[Photo by Danny E. Martindale/Getty Images]
