'Harry Potter' Author J.K. Rowling Receives Backlash After Revealing Dumbledore & Grindelwald Have 'Love' Relationship
Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling has been slammed by some fans of the book and movie franchise after she revealed that two of the series male characters are actually in a "love relationship." Rowling said the fan-favorite Albus Dumbledore had an "incredibly intense" "love relationship" with Gellert Grindelwald.
In the DVD and Blu-ray versions of Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald that was released on March 12, the famous author revealed that Dumbledore had an "incredibly intense" love relationship with Grindelwald. Rowling added that she believes that there is a sexual dimension to their relationship.
"Their relationship was incredibly intense. It was passionate, and it was a love relationship... So I'm less interested in the sexual side-though I believe there is a sexual dimension to this relationship-than I am in the sense of the emotions they felt for each other, which ultimately is the most fascinating thing about all human relationships," she said in describing Dumbledore and Grindelwald's relationship.
However, the fans of the series have rather negative comments about Rowling's revelations. Many fans mocked the author's habit of disclosing new details about the characters outside of the books and the movies.
Some said it is another lousy attempt for J.K. Rowling to add details in interviews while never actually putting any real representation in her books or in the movie franchise. Many said although the author is a known LGBTQ rights advocate, she hasn't represented a gay character onscreen. One fan said Rowling's "half-as**d inclusivity" doesn't matter if she is not including in the book or in the movie.
"Unless there's an editor's note or some gay sex scene she was forced to cut out then she's simply vying for attention," another netizen said.
Meanwhile, some think that it is not too late for Rowling to miss again the opportunity to showcase the Dumbledore's sexuality in Fantastic Beasts. The film series has five movies in total and it only showed two.
In Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald, Johnny Depp (Grindelwald) and Jude Law (Dumbledore) didn't actually any scenes together. However, Dumbledore saw Grindelwald's reflection in the Mirror of Erised. The franchise is expected to end in a face-off between the two.
The Crimes of Grindelwald was released in cinemas in November 2018. Although the film raked over $653 million worldwide in box office, it still has the lowest gross total of the Wizarding World franchise.
It also received mixed reviews from critics. Depp and Law's performances were praised by the movie was criticized for its "needlessly complicated, low-stakes plot."