JK Rowling was only mentioned 10 times throughout the Harry Potter reunion that ran for one hour and 42 minutes, which hit screens on 1 January.
The one-off special Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts was a reunion featuring cast and crew as they came together to discuss what it had been like filming the movies over the course of a decade – at a time when many of the younger stars were in their formative years.
Rowling has been under scrutiny following over her statements on transgender issues which were branded 'transphobic', which lead her to being 'cancelled'.
The author's lack of appearance on the show came as a bit of a shock to some fans.
One wrote: "Typical cancel culture, am i right."
Another passionate fan tweeted: "Desperate attempt at damage control when the show makers figure out that the majority of Harry Potter fans love JK Rowling and stand with her and against her bullies.
"They basically backed a hate mob over the creator of the books.
"It backfired for the young cast who betrayed her."
Someone else added: "I would certainly hope not. HP owes it’s existence to her."
The 56-year-old did feature very briefly via archived footage from 2019 but was not directly involved in the get-together.
Christopher Columbus, who directed the first two Potter films, in the first of few mentions of the author, said: "I had to fly to Edinburgh to meet Jo Rowling and I said 'This is my vision of the movies' and she said she had the same."
Back in June 2020, Rowling tweeted: "If sex isn't real, there's no same-sex attraction. If sex isn't real, the lived reality of women globally is erased.
"I know and love trans people, but erasing the concept of sex removes the ability of many to meaningfully discuss their lives.
"It isn't hate to speak the truth.
"The idea that women like me, who've been empathetic to trans people for decades, feeling kinship because they're vulnerable in the same way as women - ie, to male violence - 'hate' trans people because they think sex is real and has lived consequences - is a nonsense.
"I respect every trans person's right to live any way that feels authentic and comfortable to them.
"I'd march with you if you were discriminated against on the basis of being trans. At the same time, my life has been shaped by being female. I do not believe it's hateful to say so."
She was reacting to an opinion piece that had 'people who menstruate' in the headline.
Topics: JK Rowling, Harry Potter, TV and Film
Anish Vij