
The Witch Trials of J.K. Rowling Chapter 3: A New Pyre
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Feb 28, 2023 J.K. Rowling, the best-selling author of the Harry Potter series, delves into the evolution of online fandom. She reflects on her early engagement with fans and the emergence of communities around her work. The conversation shifts to the darker side of online interactions, including bullying and the rise of cancel culture. Rowling discusses how Harry Potter served as a refuge for marginalized readers and shares concerns about today’s internet culture, authoritarianism, and the erosion of empathy in public discourse.
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First Encounter With Fandom
- J.K. Rowling described first discovering the Harry Potter internet fandom after avoiding it early on and then "falling into this universe."
- She said she had no idea what she was stepping into and became deeply engaged with fans online.
Books As A Gateway To The Internet
- Harry Potter arrived as many people were getting their first internet access, making the books a gateway to online life for a generation.
- Fans formed global friendships and communities centered on the series.
Author Rejected In Her Own Fandom
- Rowling recounted joining a fan chat anonymously and being brusquely ejected after offering a bland opinion.
- She left that room reflecting on how fandom could reproduce bullying she condemns in her books.








