EXCLUSIVE: Warner Bros. Discovery and the BBC have been accused of double standards on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) after both organizations have stood by J.K. Rowling amid a hardening in her transgender rights rhetoric.

WBD is working closely with Rowling on HBO’s Harry Potter television series, while the BBC has this week premiered Season 6 of Strike, based on the author’s Robert Galbraith novels. Rowling is an executive producer on both projects and her company, Brontë Film and TV, is also attached.

The support for Rowling’s work has alarmed members of the transgender community working in the media, who have noted how the writer’s language on trans issues has evolved from measured disagreement to a coarser tone over the past four years.

In interviews with Deadline, these people argued that WBD and the BBC’s platforming of Rowling’s work sits uncomfortably with internal policies around fairness and inclusivity for transgender employees. 

WBD has said Rowling has a “right to express her personal views” and the Harry Potter series will only benefit from her involvement. The BBC declined to comment on Rowling’s views but said it was committed to “creating an inclusive workforce that reflects and represents the diversity of the UK.”

Rowling declined to comment, but tweeted on Thursday that her only regret is not speaking out sooner. Neil Blair, her longtime agent, told Deadline he was proud to work with the writer and had a duty to “champion the rights of all our clients to express their thoughts and beliefs.”

Rowling’s Evolving Rhetoric

Rowling’s changing rhetoric can be plotted by examining her Twitter/X feed, which is devoted almost entirely to the gender wars.

In 2020, she pledged to “respect every trans person’s right to live any way that feels authentic and comfortable to them.” Four years on, Rowling declines to use preferred pronouns and describes some trans women as “crossdressers.”

In a 2020 essay expanding on her gender identity views, she used the phrase “trans women/woman” eight times. Since March 2023, Rowling has preferred the term “trans-identified male,” which is considered to be a slur by the trans community.

Rowling has gone from saying she had a “middle-aged moment” in 2018 when she liked a gender-critical tweet, to donating £70,000 ($88,000) to a campaign opposing a Scottish legal ruling that extended the definition of “woman” to certified trans women. Last month, Rowling pledged to buy a $5000 Gucci handbag for a women’s rights activist, who derides the Pride movement as “cultish” and called a trans woman an “ugly dick-ling.”

WBD Support Sows Confusion

Bamby Salcedo, the CEO of TransLatin@ Coalition who has spoken at WBD staff events about transgender allyship, told Deadline it was “disappointing” that “confusion has been created” between the company’s progressive messaging for staff and its support for Rowling.

“Whatever the Harry Potter creator says influences the way people think,” Salcedo said. “It’s important that decision-makers [at WBD] truly understand how their actions can potentially turn into violence for our communities.” 

WBD has supported Transgender Awareness Week and the company re-introduced its “Global Gender-Affirming Guidelines” last year, encouraging employees to respect pronouns and support transgender colleagues. Yvette Urbina, a DEI vice president at WBD, told Salcedo’s podcast last year that the company had a duty to “provide a safe space” for trans employees to “live authentically.” 

In a statement, WBD said: “We have been working with J.K. Rowling and in the Harry Potter business for over 20 years. With millions of fans continuing to enjoy movies, games and experiences, we’ve had great success and her contribution has been invaluable.

“We are proud to once again tell the story of Harry Potter – the heartwarming books that speak to power of friendship, resolve, and acceptance. J.K. Rowling has a right to express her personal views. We will remain focused on the development of the new series, which will only benefit from her involvement.”

At an event in London earlier this month, HBO boss Casey Bloys added that he was “totally comfortable” with Rowling’s involvement in the Harry Potter series. He pointed to the success of video game Hogwarts Legacy as a signal that Rowling’s opinions are unlikely to be an issue for viewers.

BBC’s “Hostile Environment”

Freddy McConnell, a transgender journalist who works with the All About Trans initiative to educate media organizations about trans issues, said: “I just don’t think people realize how extreme J.K. Rowling’s tweets are, and the BBC and HBO are relying on that ignorance.” 

McConnell, who fronted the BBC documentary Seahorse: The Dad Who Gave Birth, added that the backing of Rowling reinforced perceptions in the trans community that the British broadcaster is “institutionally transphobic” and has a “hostile working environment.”

If Rowling were an employee or freelancer at the BBC, her Twitter/X posts would likely be problematic. The corporation’s diversity and inclusion policy states that intentionally using incorrect pronouns could amount to bullying and harassment, while social media guidelines require “respect and civility” in public discourse, including not attacking individuals with different views.

A source, who is well-connected among transgender BBC employees, said the premiere of Strike simply contributed to a lingering sense of unease among staffers. LGBTQIA+ employees revolted against the BBC in 2021 over the publication of an online article about transgender women coercing lesbians into sex. Trust has not been restored since.

The number of BBC employees who identify as transgender has more than halved in the past six years from 417 to 166, though the corporation said this was the result of a change in the way it collects data. A spokesperson said: “We are committed to creating an inclusive workforce that reflects and represents the diversity of the UK. The BBC is for everyone and should include everyone whatever their background.”

The British broadcaster is working to tell transgender stories and is currently in production on What It Feels Like For a Girl, an adaptation of Paris Lees’ memoir. Produced by Hera Pictures, the series is expected to premiere next year.

Separating Art From Politics

Deadline encountered a reluctance to discuss Rowling among industry producers and executives, with many unwilling to wade into a culture war. “I’m not touching this one with a 1,000-foot-long Harry Potter wand,” was a response that typified the mood.

The author’s views, even before the escalation in her language, put her on a collision course with the Harry Potter movie stars, including Daniel Radcliffe and Emma Watson. It remains to be seen if this proves a barrier to the HBO series casting major stars, with a person familiar with the project saying her views “can’t not be in your head.” We reported earlier this week that the casting team is getting closer to finding the new Harry, Hermione, and Ron.

Some were sympathetic to WBD’s argument that art should be separated from politics. “If you make decisions based on an opinion you disagree with then you’re in murky water, particularly in a world that champions artistic freedom. You’ve got to be open to a range of voices,” said a seasoned scripted producer. 

Others have a different view. On an influential industry freelancer Facebook group earlier this year, one anonymous poster sparked a major debate after calling on colleagues to “disassociate” their productions from Rowling. “I’m requesting that no discussions take place, no quiz questions are written or references are made to her, Harry Potter, Fantastic Beasts or any of her other work,” the poster said. “Any mention, even in passing, shows support for her hate-filled views.”

Eva Echo, an activist who works with All About Trans, said: “When she first came out in 2020, people thought it was possible to separate the art from the artist. But given the money that she makes from her intellectual property and what she does with that money for anti-trans causes, it’s virtually impossible now to separate. By keeping her IP alive, that fuels her hateful machine.”

Blair, Rowling’s agent, said: “I have had the pleasure of working with Jo Rowling for over 25 years. Throughout that time, I have watched and admired her charitable work and brave campaigning on so many issues, while at the same time becoming the extraordinary, prolific bestselling writer she is today. 

“As an agency, it is our honour and responsibility to champion the rights of all our clients to express their thoughts and beliefs, and we believe in freedom of speech. As such, I am proud to represent Jo.”