The Hogwarts Legacy reviews are in and it looks like the long-awaited Harry Potter game might just have achieved what it set out to do: bring the Wizarding World to life for generations of fans.
However, despite being far and away the most talked-about game of the year (at least thus far), it isn’t necessarily all for the right reasons, as despite being highly anticipated by lots of gamers and Potterphiles alike, it has also deeply troubled just as many both within the audience and beyond.
With the reputation of JK Rowling and her books shifting in recent years — and that’s putting it lightly — both the love for the overall franchise and, ironically, the author’s own legacy have already been jeopardised and risk being tarnished even further.
Now, just three days out from the worldwide release and with plenty of people having already got their hands on an early access copy, we thought we’d look at why Hogwarts Legacy is so controversial.
JK Rowling and transphobia
The 57-year-old children’s author was once widely considered a national treasure and role model for working mums who turned a story for her kids into a global phenomenon, but in recent years her comments towards transgender people, in particular, has seen her become a problematic figure.
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Starting out with what many saw as just a series of ill-advised likes, shares and inflammatory tweets back in 2020, Rowling decided to double down on her opinions regarding the community and keep going in her supposed opposition, essentially rejecting the idea that trans people can identify as different from the sex from the one they were born or, indeed, as gender-neutral.
The idea that women like me, who’ve been empathetic to trans people for decades, feeling kinship because they’re vulnerable in the same way as women – ie, to male violence – ‘hate’ trans people because they think sex is real and has lived consequences – is a nonsense.
Receiving further backlash for comments, Rowling went on to assure that she “respect[s] every trans person’s right to live any way that feels authentic and comfortable to them”, adding that she’d even “march with [them if they] were discriminated against on the basis of being trans.”
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Regardless, she stood firm in her stance on how this relates to the experience of cis-gendered women (people who were born and identify as female) and if she wasn’t seen by many as transphobic already, she certainly was after the series of follow-up tweets just a few days later.
Sharing a lengthy article on her personal website entitled ‘TERF wars‘, Rowling proceeded to detail what she believes were “five reasons for being worried about the new trans activism.”
While she insists her life “has been shaped by being female and “[does] not believe it’s hateful to say so”, what she wrote in this now infamous piece was certainly perceived as such by the community it focuses on.
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Since JK Rowling has blocked any reply to this litany of half-truths and transphobic dogwhistles, I thought I'd catalogue them properly here: https://t.co/vo3AsrZJLz
— 🤦♂️ Andrew James Carter (@Carter_AndrewJ) June 10, 2020
What is a TERF?
The ‘TERF’ label, whether she likes it or not, is something that has now been part of her outward identity ever since. For anyone unfamiliar with the term TERF, it stands for trans-exclusionary radical feminist and essentially denotes a person who does not believe trans people and their experience exists.
While it started out with liking tweets reducing trans individuals to “men in dresses” — an incident one of her PR people called a “middle-aged moment” and said was done by accident — her perceived TERFdom spiralled into Harry Potter stars Daniel Radcliffe and Emma Watson issuing statements to distance themselves from her opinions.
Worse still, back in June 2022, Rowling was pranked by a Russian YouTuber into laughing rather inappropriately at the suggestion of Dumbledore sleeping with a transgender person.
Nevertheless, many obviously feel the issue isn’t cut and dry, especially when she presents paradoxes like writing essays which warn about campaigns for trans rights, but also say trans people “pose zero threat to others” and “deserve protection” in the same breath. She is, at the very least, wrapped in contractions.
The separation between her creation and the game
The issue then is how does the JK Rowling controversy relate to Hogwarts Legacy, specifically? While many believe the game itself is entirely divorced from her opinions, it is still based on an IP (intellectual property) of her own creation and purchasing it will see her financial benefit through receiving royalties.
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As a result, people are deeply torn over what message buying a copy would send: ‘Is playing it the same as endorsing someone’s opinions who are seen to be fundamentally harmful to an entire group of people?’, ‘Is boycotting it the only way to show you are an ally?’ and so on.
The biggest controversy in gaming right now is somehow people deciding to buy or not to buy Hogwarts Legacy because it’s supporting JK Rowling and her transphobic comments
It is worth noting that like several of the actors who played her characters in the films, Warners Bros. Studios themselves have seemingly distanced themselves from JK Rowling of late too and, obviously, the people working at Avalanche Software and WB Games, who are responsible for the game, don’t necessarily align themselves with her values either.
Moreover, large sections of the gaming community are also highlighting how the proposed boycotting of the game is unfair to the hundreds of developers who have simply worked hard for years and years to bring this much-loved world to life in a fully open-world game.
In fact, it looks as though the devs have even taken steps to make sure LGBTQ+ characters are represented in the game, even choosing to include a transgender character by the name of Sirona Ryan — the first-ever trans person to even be introduced to the Harry Potter/Wizarding World canon.
Ah, to be a fly on the wall when everyone who bought Hogwarts Legacy to support some kind of statement gets to this part. 🙂
On the other hand, many people have suggested that the name ‘Sir-ona’ is a dig on the part of the team and merely a “thinly-veiled attempt to make up for the negative publicity“. Equally to the contrary, others have noted that the name is taken from the Celtic goddess of healing, arguing it has no negative connotations and the ‘sir’ part is merely an unfortunate coincidence.
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If it isn’t abundantly clear already, the debate surrounding Hogwarts Legacy is not only massive but it’s going to run and run for a long time as people continue to wrestle with their love for the source material it draws from and what they feel the ramifications of playing the controversial game would be.
Not unlike the humanistic issue it centres around, the debate and the decision gamers have been left to make is far from a binary matter.
It goes without saying that we here at The Manc fully recognise and support the transgender community and the importance of the issues being discussed in this article.
Featured Image — WB Games/JK Rowling (via Facebook)
News
Bury FC manager steps down just two days after appointment following major backlash over history
Danny Jones
In case you missed the news over the weekend, Bury FC manager Michael Jolley stepped down just two days after joining the club following major backlash to his appointment.
The uproar and almost immediate U-turn came in response to his past conviction.
After learning of his history, the club were met with a significant amount of stick from Bury fans and other football supporters, leading Jolley himself to quickly resign. Confirming the outcome by mutual decision, the club revealed his departure on Sunday afternoon.
Bury Football Club can confirm that Michael Jolley has today been relieved of his duties as First Team Manager by mutual consent.
Sharing an official statement, The Shakers wrote: “The Board recognises the strength of feeling expressed in recent days by supporters, staff, partners and players, and the very real impact the Board’s decision to appoint Michael has had on individuals connected to the Club…
“We will also be engaging directly with players, staff and stakeholders to listen, learn and ensure that appropriate support is available. Our immediate priority is the welfare of our people and the stability of the Club and our community.
“We believe this step is necessary to help restore confidence, create space for reflection, and allow Bury FC to move forward in a way that reflects our values and responsibilities.
“Bury Football Club remains committed to acting with integrity, transparency and respect. Further updates will be shared when appropriate.”
Confirming that the assistant manager, Tim Lees (who helped lead the side to a 2-1 victory over Mossley AFC at home this weekend), will be leading the team as interim head coach for the time being, they also noted that Jolley insists he didn’t want his signing to place unwanted attention on the club.
Wishing them the best in their search for the next man to take them forward, and believe they have a “special connection” with their local community.
Jolley states he made higher-ups aware of his past conviction before being interviewed for the job, as he explains in a lengthy statement of his own, which was released before Bury’s own announcement.
Following a period of reflection, I have decided to relinquish the opportunity to become the Manager of Bury FC. Full statement attached. pic.twitter.com/bAHekBfnb5
Addressing the situation on social media, the Sheffield-born former Grimsby and Barrow boss said: ‘After a period of reflection over the weekend, it has become apparent that my appointment at Bury FC has become a distraction for the club and so I have decided to relinquish the opportunity to become first team manager…
“Additionally, I welcome the fact that every investigation into the incident, whether through the legal process, or the subsequent investigations by the UK government, The FA, all established through evidence that I was deceived and at no time did I act maliciously.
“All three organisations concluded that there was no evidence which should prevent me from continuing my career, and that is what I have done, periodically, since that time. I consider safeguarding a critical aspect of coaching and have always delivered safe practice 100% of the time throughout my career.”
As he explains in the full document, “16 and a half years later, [his] CRB check has long since shown as clear, but in the interests of transparency and openness”, he still ensures any prospective employers are made aware of the case.
He goes on to say that he has become used to the abuse inside stadiums and online, given the nature of football fan culture, but now that he has a young family, he makes it clear that they are a key factor in the decision as he looks to prioritise their safety and wellbeing before his own.
The local outfit is once again looking for a new steward to steer them back in the right direction and, hopefully, away from any more intrigue and/or controversy. A return to the EFL still seems a way off, but who would you like to see installed as the gaffer at Gigg Lane, Shakers?
Brits are petitioning to give ‘SIR’ Kevin Sinfield the knighthood he deserves
Danny Jones
An impassioned Brit, along with nearly 100,000 others, are championing a petition to give a Greater Manchester sporting role model a knighthood.
The UK is long overdue for a SIR Kevin Sinfield, if you ask us.
Yes, now five years after his first remarkable charity challenge in the form of his inaugural ‘seven in seven’ ultra-marathon, our very own Kevin Sinfield officially completed his sixth edition of the fundraising feat earlier this month.
Having now raised more than £1.2 million for the Motor Neurone Disease Association (MNDA) in memory of his friend and former late, great, Leeds Rhinos teammate, Rob Burrow – and that just this year alone.
👏 An outstanding achievement!
🏃 Kevin Sinfield CBE completed his latest 7 in 7: Together Challenge this afternoon, raising over £1.1 Million for @mndassoc!
To take into account every penny he’s helped generate for the crucial neurological cause, he’s helped welcome in excess of £11 million since he started this tributary journey nearly six whole years ago.
Sinfield has become nothing short of a national hero over the last few years, and the people think it’s about time he is recognised with the highest honour.
The Oldham-born native has already been given a trio of notable awards, including an MBE, OBE and CBE, which also means he doesn’t technically qualify to be considered for a knighthood until 2027 at the very earliest.
However, the petition’s creator, Mel Handforth, believes that an exception should be made and the “arcane” rules around the New Year’s Honours should be changed to allow Sinfield (and, indeed, others) to be celebrated more promptly.
Even the Speaker for the House of Commons, Lindsay Hoyle, is one of many to have argued for the stipulation to be scrapped.
Despite countless calls for him to be included in the most recent list, which saw the likes of David Beckham finally made a knight, he was overlooked due to the three-year gap protocol.
He also somehow missed out on being shortlisted for this year’s BBC Sports Personality of the Year Awards, though you can guarantee he would have plenty of votes from the general public – especially here in the region and, indeed, over in his adopted second home of Yorkshire.
You can see who did make it onto this year’s list down below.
The same happened again at the Pride of Britain a year later, and the retired rugby league player turned union coach was also handed an honorary degree by the University of Leeds in July 2024, just a month after Burrow sadly passed away.
But Sinfield has quite literally had the backing of millions to be made ‘Sir Kevin’ for well over half a decade now; we made him our ‘Manc of the Month’ back in November ’22, and our stance on him being given a knighthood is even clearer now than it was back then.
As Handforth writes in the bio of the Change.org petition: “The words ‘legend’ and ‘hero’ are often handed out, but Kevin Sinfield truly embodies them both. He’s not doing this for recognition – he’s doing it because he cares deeply about the MND community and honouring his friend Rob’s legacy.
“Let’s show Kevin that his nation stands with him. Sign this petition to urge the Honours Committee to recognise Sir Kevin Sinfield for his remarkable service to humanity.”
If you agree, you can sign the petition to make him Sir Kevin Sinfield right HERE.
Danny Jones -
7th February 2023 
