Protesters Gather at Oxford Street Harry Potter Store Opening
Transgender rights protesters disrupted the grand opening of the U.K.’s largest Harry Potter flagship store on Oxford Street, gathering outside the 21,000-square-foot retail destination to voice opposition to franchise author J.K. Rowling. The demonstration brought around 16 activists to the scene, where they carried signs reading “protect trans lives” and “stop funding trans erasure,” as reported by The Hollywood Reporter.
The two-floor shop at The Ribbon development opened its doors on Wednesday, drawing long queues of fans who largely ignored the chants outside. Demonstrators used megaphones to urge people in line to reconsider entering the store, shouting phrases like “trans rights are human rights” and chalking messages such as “Buy another author” onto the sidewalk. Police officers were quickly called to the location and remained stationed outside throughout the event.
Cast Members Distance Themselves From Author
The retail opening coincides with ongoing public backlash against Rowling over her outspoken opposition to transgender rights advocacy. While franchise stars Tom Felton and Warwick Davis celebrated the launch in person, several cast members attached to HBO’s upcoming television adaptation have publicly separated themselves from the author’s views.
John Lithgow, cast as Albus Dumbledore, expressed surprise at Rowling’s positions earlier this year, noting that she is not actively involved in the new production. Other cast members, including Nick Frost and Bel Powley, have similarly voiced disagreement with the author’s stance on gender identity while committing to the eight-year television adaptation. Rowling serves as an executive producer on the series.
Petition Targets Upcoming Christmas Lights Switch-On
The store launch precedes the scheduled November 9 switch-on of Oxford Street’s Harry Potter-themed Christmas lights, a promotional event tied to the upcoming HBO series. A petition organized by the Good Law Project has gathered more than 11,000 signatures, urging London Mayor Sadiq Khan to cancel the festive display over concerns that the partnership financially benefits Rowling and alienates transgender residents.
Representatives for J.K. Rowling declined to comment on the demonstrations when approached by reporters. Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the Oxford Street store issued a brief statement regarding the day’s events: “[The store] is thrilled to open our doors and welcome in hundreds of fans. We support everyone’s right to the peaceful expression of personal viewpoints and look forward to a day full of magic.”
Related reading