Harry Potter writer J.K. Rowling, no stranger to social media, posted a rather impressive response to a fan who asked about Dumbledore being gay, The Independent is reporting .
In a tweet that’s since been deleted, Twitter user Ana Kocovic asked Rowling about why she wrote Hogwarts Headmaster Albus Dumbledore as gay.
“Thank you so much for writing Harry Potter. I wonder why you said that Dumbledore is a gay because I can’t see him in that way.”
Rowling’s response was short and to-the-point.
. @anakocovic21 Maybe because gay people just look like… people?
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) March 24, 2015
After the July 2007 release of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows , author J.K. Rowling confirmed that the beloved character of Albus Dumbledore was gay, according to BBC News . In the book, Rowling had broadly hinted that Dumbledore had romantic feelings for another wizard, Gellert Grindelwald, with whom he was best friends in his youth; after the book, Rowling confirmed that Dumbledore loved the other man.
“Dumbledore is gay.”
The revelation that Dumbledore is gay didn’t sit well with some Harry Potter readers and critics. Last fall, a Twitter user tweeted to Rowling that he would no longer be a fan now that she’d revealed that a major character was gay.
“Nice how u blindsided us with that one. Enjoy your billion $”
Writer Andrew Byrne, writing in Christian publication Mercator Net , took Rowling to task for celebrating what he believes is a character flaw.
“A consequence of this teaching is that it is wrong for people to make a virtue out of homosexuality, as it would be wrong to do so out of other shortcomings, such as deafness, blindness, weakness of character, bullying, irascibility, etc. So, Christianity does not encourage the present fashion of “coming out”, and making an open declaration of one’s homosexual leanings.”
Despite her critics’ opposition to her revelation that Dumbledore is gay, Rowling’s Tuesday response to a Twitter fan about the subject brought almost unanimous praise, according to The Hollywood Reporter .
@jk_rowling OMG I LOVE YOU — j-26 cdg (@AccioVifDor) March 24, 2015
@jk_rowling you are my favourite human ever — ellie (@alwayslovegood) March 24, 2015
@jk_rowling thats why you’re my role model — TYSM JUSTIN (@marbescos97) March 24, 2015
Rowling later responded to her fans, once again via Twitter, thanking them for their support.
If you’re waiting for universal popularity, you’ll be on Twitter a VERY long time. xxxx
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) September 6, 2014
Do you think J.K. Rowling handled her reader’s question properly? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
[Image courtesy of: Getty Images/Daniel Barry]
