The Witch Trials of J.K. Rowling
The Witch Trials of J.K. Rowling is an audio documentary that examines some of the most contentious conflicts of our time through the life and career of the world’s most successful author. In conversation with host Megan Phelps-Roper, J.K. Rowling speaks with unprecedented candor and depth about the controversies surrounding her—from book bans to debates on gender and sex. The series also examines the forces propelling this moment in history, through interviews with Rowling’s supporters and critics, journalists, historians, clinicians, and more.
Our Editor's Take
The Witch Trials of J.K. Rowling podcast is about the author's controversies. Megan Phelps-Roper hosts this podcast for The Free Press. It is done in an audio documentary style and follows J.K. Rowling's career. From book bans to cancel culture, Rowling is all too familiar with public scrutiny. The Harry Potter books brought her incredible fame and success. Each new installment of the series increased anticipation as the fandom grew. The phenomenon made her one of the most successful authors of all time. But, there is some recent controversy about allegedly transphobic tweets. Phelps-Roper attempts to sort through the conversations in the mainstream media. She also speaks with the author herself.
Some groups seem to always target Rowling's career. Christians labeled her books as witchcraft in the 1990s and called for a ban. In the podcast's second episode, "Burn the Witch," extremism has people associating the books with sin. These groups thought the books' themes were too shocking for young audiences. Rowling talks about bomb threats at book signings and battles against school boards. The third episode, "A New Pyre," talks about social media's effect on society in general. It covers the behavior modification society undergoes because of social media presence. Rowling shares her fascination with Tumblr culture and the word "identify."
The Witch Trials of J.K. Rowling continues to share the more recent backlash against Rowling. Natalie Wynn represents the trans community and expresses the hurt Rowling she feels the author has caused. Wynn has recently expressed regret for appearing on the podcast. Rowling's popularity suffered a massive decline after her tweets about trans rights. Transgender fans share their shock at the author's opinions. Many fans felt the need to unfollow and renounce Rowling, expressing their upset and hurt.
Phelps-Roper, an ex-member of the Westboro Baptist Church, tells her own story here. She explains her journey away from bigotry. She also attempts to put Rowling's situation into perspective. The host explains how listening to others' experiences helps her deal with reality. The Witch Trials of J. K. Rowling has seven compelling episodes that tell these stories.
Episodes