The fan base of 'Harry Potter' is one of the largest that has ever existed. Each snippet of news and gossip we find regarding the saga becomes viral, and if we add in the fact J.K Rowling is very active on social media, we've got ourselves a party. The problem is what she says does often not sit well with some of her fans, whom do not hesitate to defend their ideas, fighting tooth and nail to try and prove their fan theories.
Sirius Black and Remus Lupin
Lately, the internet has been up in flames, after J.K Rowling clearly, and emphatically announced that Sirius Black was not gay. The controversy begins many years ago, when the character played by Gary Oldman seemed to maintain a close relationship with Remus Lupin. Finally, after nothing happened between them, the former professor of Hogwarts ended up with Tonks. One Twitter user has not hesitated to bring the subject of Black's sexuality into account.
@jk_rowling 4) "Will Robin actually marry Matthew?"
? Ardit Haliti (@ardit_haliti) 6 de septiembre de 2016
5. "Is Sirius Black gay?"
6. "Are you sure he's not gay?"
7. "Are you REALLY sure?"
2/2
He didn't have to wait long for a response from the creator of the magical world, whom responded with: "No, no he's not", "He's definitely not" and finally with "Yes, I'm sure".
After this affirmation, some on twitter started to use the hashtag #JKRowingIsOverParty where a series of tweets continued in defense and against the decision of the author. Whilst many claim that the LGBT community have very little visibility in a series as popular as the one with the famous wizard, others argue that Rowling is the author, and as such, she is the only one with the capacity to decide the lives of her characters. The fandom madness reached boiling point recently, the a user changed the Sirius Black article on the Harry Potter Wiki to show Sirius as single, but having maintained a relationship with the werewolf in the past.
It is important to note that J.K Rowling is not, nor has ever been, homophobic. There have been several times that she has spoken out and defended the LGBT community. However, the problem is that she shows such passion when defending rights in the real world, but the fact that passion is unreflected in the books is what is bothering her fans. But Rowling has a perfect response on Twitter when responding to a fan that wondered why Dumbledore was gay when the fan did not see it that way.
#ThrowbackThursday @jk_rowling's perfect response to a fan´s question about Dumbledore being gay. #LGBT #HarryPotter pic.twitter.com/hBy7b0OaPW
? One Love, All Equal (@OneLoveAllEqual) 21 de mayo de 2015
The backstory of the saga
This is not the first time that a person in the franchise championed one of the fan theories regarding this topic. Rowling had explained in 2007 that Albus Dumbledore was gay, hinting that he fell for Gellert Grindelwald, when they were friends. However, the dark nature of Grindelwald made their love impossible.
(This paragraph contains spoilers from 'Harry Potter and the Cursed Child')
More recently we found a similar case in the play 'Harry Potter and the Cursed Child', where Albus Potter and Scorpius Malfoy seemingly maintained a very close relationship. Throughout all the libretto, most of the readers where waiting for the point when love would blossom between them, as several statements between Draco Malfoy's son seemed to be very clear. Finally, after a rather surprising turn of the script, this didn't happen. Once again, J.K Rowling's universe has left us without an LGBT couple to satisfy it's audience. Will there finally be that moment in 'Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them'?
We will find out on the 18th of December.