J.K. Rowling Tricked By Russian Pranksters Into Thinking She Was On A Zoom Call With Zelenskyy
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Harry Potter author J.K Rowling has fallen victim to a fake zoom call by Russian pranksters pretending to be Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
The edited June 18 video shows Rowling being fooled by Russian comedy duo Vovan and Lexus, who have made a name for themselves for prank calling celebrities including Prince Harry, Elton John, and George W. Bush.
Rowling was under the impression she would be speaking to the Ukrainian President about her charity work.
During the 12-minute clip, the famous author was asked a series of awkward questions.
Rowling was told by the comedy duo that they were scrawling the killing curse 'Avada Kedavra' from her Harry Potter series on the sides of Ukrainian missiles.
They also asked what UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s true gender is, and questioned if Dumbledore is really gay and who the Hogwarts headmaster had slept with.
“Hopefully not with a transgender,” the duo said, referencing the author's ongoing stoush with the trans community.
Vovan and Lexus also asked the Harry Potter author if she would change Harry's lightning bolt scar in future copies of her best-selling series as, they claimed, it closely resembles the Russian military 'Z', which has been painted on Kremlin tanks.
"I will look into that," Rowling replied, as per The Hollywood Reporter.
She added: "It might be good for me to do something with that myself on social media because I think that will get into the newspapers."
Rowling's charity Lumos has been providing aid to children and families in Ukraine.
The pranksters seized on this, encouraging the Harry Potter author to send weapons instead of aid, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
"I want to clarify where you are sending the money that Lumos has collected," Vovan and Lexus asked the best-selling writer.
"We want to buy a lot of weapons and missiles with your money to destroy Russian troops, I hope you are all for that."
Rowling replied: "We’ll look after the kids but I really want Ukraine to have all of the arms it needs."
Representatives for the Harry Potter author have now lashed out at the prank, dubbing it ''distasteful'.
"J.K. Rowling was approached to talk about her extensive charitable work in Ukraine, supporting children and families who have been affected by the current conflict in the region," the spokesperson told The Hollywood Reporter.
"The video, which has been edited, is a distorted representation of the conversation."
If you would like to donate to the Red Cross Emergency Appeal, which will help provide food, medicines and basic medical supplies, shelter and water to those in Ukraine, click here for more information.
Featured Image Credit: DZIGA VERTOV/YouTube. ZUMA Press, Inc. / Alamy Stock Photo.
Topics: JK Rowling, Russia, Ukraine, News, UK News
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