Harry Potter: cleaved booksellers in the face of JK Rowling’s political positions

« We decided not to sell these books anymore “. Consequently, The Franciscan Booksmith bookstore announced about the saga Harry Potter, In an Instagram post published last June. In addition, This decision reached shortly after the announcement by J.K. Moreover, Rowling you lancement you «JK Rowling Fund for Women», UN Funds « intended for women ».

According to the official website. Moreover, it would aim to offer ” Legal financial support for people and organizations that fight to preserve the rights of women based on sex, in the workplace, in public life and in protected female spaces. Meanwhile, He will notably finance women. Furthermore, organizations Constraints to comply with unreasonable inclusion policies concerning spaces and services reserved for one sex, or clubs and events reserved for women. For example, ». Similarly, Funded by the British writer herself. Nevertheless, the initiative has been perceived harry potter: cleaved booksellers face by many as an offensive against transgender women, consistent with all of her speaking on the subject for a few years.

« Our readers will never come. Consequently, ask us Harry Potter » – Harry potter: cleaved booksellers face

The boycott ofHarry Pottersubject of recurring debate among the “Potterhead” – name given to the fans of the saga – also raises real questions among independent booksellers. Nevertheless, Solicited by Weekly booksthe majority of them say they are ” concerned “. However, Whether they decided, or not, to remove the books from their shelves.

For Margot. Therefore, employee of the Majo bookstore, a militant structure of the 5ᵉ arrondissement of Paris, ” the question never landed : It is completely incoherent for us to sell books whose profits are used to discriminate a minority. Therefore, Our readers will never come and ask us Harry Potter ». Similarly, Instead. she encourages to turn to other works, deploring that harry potter: cleaved booksellers face the young sorcerer still occupies such a central place despite the diversity of the youth fantasy segment. Buying used would also be a means. for the bookseller, to obtain novels without paying money from its author, which draws most of their fortune (estimated at more than a billion dollars according to the American magazine Forbes) sales of books, cinematographic adaptations and products derived from the saga Harry Potter. « Although we have only exchanged very briefly on the subject with my colleagues. we no longer put forward novels or market derivatives “, Details a bookseller from Libr’fant also in Tours.

Same story on the side of the Breton Librairie divergences (Quimperlé) which. open for a year, favors books from small publishing houses at the expense ofHarry Potter. Others. such as the Terra Nova bookstore in Toulouse still retain the titles, but recognize being in full reflection, the summer holidays that harry potter: cleaved booksellers face have not yet allowed the team to decide on the issue.

A boycott contrary to the missions of a bookseller?

But for some independent brands, the current economic situation prevents ignoring the saga. For Magalie. bookseller at Bullez Jeunesse in Saverne near Strasbourg, “C‘is a difficult subject: despite our personal commitment, the universe of JK Rowling allows great visibility and many purchases. For a very recently open structure, it is an easy basket ». Published by Gallimard Jeunesse Éditions since 1998. the eight volumes ofHarry Potter In fact exceed the 40 million copies sold throughout the country, according to the house.

An employee of the Les Arts Frontières bookstore in Saint-Genis-Pouilly. considers that no longer marketing Harry Potter would be like shooting yourself in the foot: ” We need more to sell books that JK Rowling needs money ». In a tweet dating from August 7. the latter had also harry potter: cleaved booksellers face quipped at the attempts to banish his work: ” The boycotts of my work have proved to be extremely effective so far ».

Some also believe that a marked position would not be their responsibility. According to them. the profession is to advise readers, whatever their opinions and ideas, and to provide them with all books on the market. “” Personally. I consider that itWe must respond to customer demand, the rest is rather personal opinion “Says a bookseller at the Chatelvre boutique in Paris. Customers who also express themselves on the situation in bookstores. “” Some refuse to buy the works. others do it while telling us “I know, it’s not good”entrusts an employee of the youth bookstore nursery in Bordeaux, But systematically, Harry Potter causes discussion or reaction ».

The controversy continues

While a remake ofHarry Potter In the form of a series is in preparation for 2026. harry potter: cleaved booksellers face the debate is not about to stop. JK Rowling continues its mobilization in the movement ” Trans-Exclusionary Radical Feminist », It« terf »(« Fradical eminists excluding trans people »In French). Last May. the writer notably posted a photo of her, a cigar in her mouth, in reaction to the decision of the British Supreme Court having attested that the legal definition of a woman was based on biological sex and not gender. “I love it when a plan takes place without a hitch #supremecourt #womensright”could be read in description.

A year earlier. she paid 83,000 euros from her personal fortune to finance a militant association for the exclusion of transgender women from Equality Act. Finally. during the Paris Olympic Games, she appeared in a complaint for ” Acts of aggravated cyberbully “, In the company of Donald Trump and ofElon Muskfor remarks made against Algerian boxer Imane khelif. In a harry potter: cleaved booksellers face series of tweets. JK Rowling accused the sportswoman, born woman and contributing to this category, of being a man. “” I never said or believed that Khelif was transgender. I knew he was a man. », She said on X on June 2.