‘She who must not be named’: Harry Potter fans’ identity change amid the author’s transphobia

We examine how Harry Potter fans negotiate their identities after the author, J. K. Rowling, wrote multiple transphobic posts on X. We answer the questions of (1) whether Rowling’s social media posts about gender impacted fans’ identities and behaviour and, if so, (2) what factors relate to fans’ choices to remain a fan. We present findings from survey data collected between 2022 and 2023. Using t-tests and logistic regression, we analyse changes in respondents’ identification as Harry Potter fans and their engagement with the Wizarding World. The data show our respondents were less likely to identify as Harry Potter fans and less likely to consume or participate in media or activities after Rowling’s transphobic social media posts. Our analysis shows that fans’ disengagement from the fandom is largely driven by the importance of Harry Potter to their identity, perspective of cancelling, familiarity with gender issues and demographics. Our results build upon scholarship on cancellation, identity and fandom by describing why people may disengage from a fandom.