Taylor Swift dragged into JK Rowling's bitter trans row
JK Rowling, the author of the famous Harry Potter series, has been getting heaps of media attention lately - but it hasn't all been positive.
For years, Rowling has been in the spotlight not because of her resounding success as a writer but for what are seen as her transphobic comments and beliefs.
And just as the author became embroiled in another heated exchange over trans rights (this time with Grammy-winning English singer Boy George), another name has been dragged unfairly into the ongoing discourse with Rowling - Taylor Swift.
Swift had been visiting children and their families at the Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital in Florida on June 13.
In one of the videos of Swift's visit, she Facetimed a patient's sister, and complimented the room around her.
'You saw this room right?' Swift asked to the fan's sibling on the phone.
'Dude, it's got Harry Potter stuff everywhere, it's insane. It's the coolest room ever,' Swift went on. 'I love it.'
Once the video was shared on social media, fans jumped to equate Swift's appreciation of the Harry Potter-themed room to a political statement.
'There's no way she doesn't know about JK Rowling at this point... this is disappointing,' one fan shared, followed by a sad face emoji.
'Not shocking that she supports JK,' another said.
While another chimed in, saying, 'I didn't expect Taylor to be transphobic.'
Another user extrapolated a similar conclusion, saying, 'Wow Taylor loves transphobes.'
But Swifties were quick to run to her defense, saying that there was no other appropriate response to a child's room in a hospital.
'Oh my god people Taylor isn't going to tell an ill child that they shouldn't have Harry Potter stuff y'all are STUPID AS F**K,' one X (formerly Twitter) user said.
'I literally violently hate Harry Potter and I'm not even a "Taylor glazer" but being mad at her for complimenting a sick kid's room is crazy,' another user wrote.
'Did y'all want her to say "ew wtf your room is disgusting that lady is evil" like come on now these are the four walls that the kid gets idgaf.'
Swifties jumped to Swift's defense, saying that it would be inappropriate to say anything negative about the child's room
Others pointed out the sheer ridiculousness of the backlash Swift was receiving.
'Idgaf about Taylor Swift but people wanting her to yell at a child about Harry Potter stuff is so f**king funny.'
'People complaining about this spend too much time online. Go outside lmao,' another added.
Aside from a rumor in 2024 that Swift would be writing a song for the HBO Harry Potter TV series set to come out in 2026, she hasn't been tied to Rowling or the franchise anytime recently.
She also hasn't made any comments either condemning or supporting Rowling's anti-trans comments.
Though, in 2018 (before Rowling shared her political views), Swift did take a picture backstage with the author following one of her shows.
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