Universal Parks has responded to Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling’s anti-trans tweets. With her global fan base having grown extensively since publishing the first Harry Potter novel back in 1997, Rowling is one of the biggest celebrities on the planet. Thanks to the massive success of the entire franchise, Rowling was once said to be worth over a billion dollars – a claim the author denied. In the years following her initial astounding success, she was known to have given away a great deal of her wealth to various charities, but that hasn’t stopped her from retaining the title of the United Kingdom’s best-selling author.

Beyond the Harry Potter books there has been a monstrously popular film series starring Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint, as well as a stage production, video games, theme parks, and just about any sort of merchandise that can be thought of. The spinoff franchise, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them was just about to begin filming its third installment when the COVID-19 pandemic struck, forcing production to be cancelled. Now, in addition to this setback, recent comments Rowling made on Twitter regarding trans women have cast her in a particularly troubling light.

Related: JK Rowling Anti-Trans Controversy Explained: What The Harry Potter Author Said

In the wake of the contentious tweets, numerous celebrities including Radcliffe have taken the opportunity to distance themselves from Rowling. What’s more, fans from around the world have also expressed their dismay and anger over the issue. Even one of the biggest components of Rowling’s Potter empire, Universal Parks, has made it clear via official statement that their Harry Potter theme parks are places of inclusion and tolerance – a direct rebuke of Rowling’s stance on trans people. The statement comes via THR, and can be read in full below:

Our core values include diversity, inclusion and respect for all our guests, as well as our team members. Our theme parks are places where people and families of all types are welcome to enjoy their time together. Beyond that, we have no further comment.

Hogsmeade at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter

The statement is to the point and comes at a time when Rowling’s popularity is in serious jeopardy. Radcliffe’s statement on the author’s comments emphasized that Harry Potter fans who have found something helpful or special in the books and films have their own bond with the series, which can’t be tarnished by anyone else’s opinions or comments. With Universal Parks making it clear their Wizarding World of Harry Potter theme parks are inclusive and diverse, the process of damage control over Rowling’s opinions continues to unfurl. Whether or not Potter fans – especially trans and non-binary identifying people – will still feel comfortable visiting Universal Parks’ Wizarding World is a difficult question to answer. At the very least, however, Universal Parks has done what it can to state in no uncertain terms that it does not take a similar stance to Rowling on this issue.

With the rise of resistance to Rowling’s comments growing, Rowling recently took the opportunity to write a letter in which she explains her opinions. Unfortunately, this still fails the trans community in a big way and has only intensified the backlash against her. At this point, the best thing Rowling can do is apologize for what she’s said, but even if she did, there’s a very good chance it’s too late. The damage has been done and unfortunately, many people around the world will never view Rowling or Harry Potter in the same light again.

Next: Harry Potter: The Character J.K. Rowling Almost Played Herself

Source: THR