J.K. Rowling On Skipping Harry Potter Reunion Special: 'Didn't want to do it'

Author JK Rowling has finally opened up about her absence from the 'Harry Potter reunion special, saying she consciously decided to skip it. In an interview, Saturday as part of Graham Norton's Radio Show Podcast, Rowling addressed the rumors claiming she wasn't invited for the 20th-anniversary reunion special of the 'Harry Potter movies, based on her book series, that aired on HBO Max on January 1.

The 57-year-old writer, who faced backlash on social media over her stance on women's rights issues and the trans community, clarified she was asked to be a part of the special, but she decided not to attend it.

"Yeah, I was asked to be on that, and I decided I didn't want to do it. I thought it was about the films more than the book; rightly, that was what the anniversary was about," Rowling said.

"No one said don't (do it)... I was asked to do it and I decided not to," she added.

The reunion special featured Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, and Emma Watson, the leading trio of the 'Harry Potter film franchise, along with filmmaker Chris Columbus and other cast members. Earlier this month, she received a death threat after expressing concern about Salman Rushdie's stabbing incident.

"I try to behave online as I would like others to behave... I've never threatened anyone," she told Graham during the interview. "I certainly wouldn't want anyone to go to their houses or anything like that."

"Social media can be a lot of fun, and I like the pub argument aspect. That can be a fun thing to do...," she continued. "I sort of have a love-hate relationship with it now. I can happily go for a few days without getting into a (virtual) pub brawl."

People state that Rowling came under fire in June 2020 when she appeared to support anti-transgender sentiments in a series of tweets.

Though she denied that her views on feminism are transphobic, she doubled down on her controversial standpoints in a lengthy essay shared on her website days later.