JK Rowling calls the critics "idiots" and "a bunch of racists."

[AthenaAwakened]

Bigots in the Internet: "Hermione Granger is white!"
Me: "You do know Hermione Granger is fictitious, right?"

Casting of a black actress in new Harry Potter play causes controversy among 'idiots'

Actress Noma Dumezweni, who is black, has been cast as Hermione Granger. Despite her Olivier award-winning credentials, some fans have objected, saying that the original character's identity is being changed.

Over the weekend, author JK Rowling called the critics "idiots" and "a bunch of racists." She said Hermione's race was never specified and that Dumezweni was the best applicant for the job.

“I respect people being protective of their favorite characters. The Harry Potter series has been something a lot of us have grown up with,” said Akua Gyamfi, the founder of The British Blacklist, a UK database of black British talent in the arts. “But this is a different imagining of the story. The characters are older. They are on stage. None of us even know how this story is going to play out. People need to chill out.”

While conceding that not all of the online comments have been malicious, Gyamfi says some of the remarks have been genuinely racist. In her view, Rowling was right to "call out the trolls."

 

[Playball40]

I remember people screaming horrible things when Hunger Games came out - One person claimed the "death of Rue just wasn't as tragic".

I agree with Rowling - people are just idiots.

Bigots in the Internet: "Hermione Granger is white!"
Me: "You do know Hermione Granger is fictitious, right?"

Casting of a black actress in new Harry Potter play causes controversy among 'idiots'

Actress Noma Dumezweni, who is black, has been cast as Hermione Granger. Despite her Olivier award-winning credentials, some fans have objected, saying that the original character's identity is being changed.

Over the weekend, author JK Rowling called the critics "idiots" and "a bunch of racists." She said Hermione's race was never specified and that Dumezweni was the best applicant for the job.

“I respect people being protective of their favorite characters. The Harry Potter series has been something a lot of us have grown up with,” said Akua Gyamfi, the founder of The British Blacklist, a UK database of black British talent in the arts. “But this is a different imagining of the story. The characters are older. They are on stage. None of us even know how this story is going to play out. People need to chill out.”

While conceding that not all of the online comments have been malicious, Gyamfi says some of the remarks have been genuinely racist. In her view, Rowling was right to "call out the trolls."

 

[Bronzeage]

Why do you think they call it black magic?

 

[ronburgundy]

some fans have objected, saying that the original character's identity is being changed.

This is the key to their racism, treating skin color as a defining feature of a person's identity. People of all political stripes makes this assumption, including in much of left-wing identity politics (e.g. the concept of "white privilege"), and its always racist.

 

[Draconis]

some fans have objected, saying that the original character's identity is being changed.

This is the key to their racism, treating skin color as a defining feature of a person's identity. People of all political stripes makes this assumption, including in much of left-wing identity politics (e.g. the concept of "white privilege"), and its always racist.

Would it be OK to cast a 60 year old bald man with a paunch as her character? Or would that engender further cries of "it would offend my xxx-ism"?

Perhaps someone could put on a version of "the help" on stage with white actresses playing the titular black "help". I can just imagine the cries of pain.

 

[GenesisNemesis]

This is the key to their racism, treating skin color as a defining feature of a person's identity. People of all political stripes makes this assumption, including in much of left-wing identity politics (e.g. the concept of "white privilege"), and its always racist.

Would it be OK to cast a 60 year old bald man with a paunch as her character? Or would that engender further cries of "it would offend my xxx-ism"?

Perhaps someone could put on a version of "the help" on stage with white actresses playing the titular black "help". I can just imagine the cries of pain.

Who honestly gives a shit? It's just a fictional story.

 

[Shadowy Man]

Perhaps someone could put on a version of "the help" on stage with white actresses playing the titular black "help". I can just imagine the cries of pain.

Wasn't being black an integral part of the characters in "The Help"? In fact, wasn't that what the story was about?

I've read the Harry Potter books and I do not recall Hermione's racial identity being a strong factor in any of the books.

So, it's a bit of false equivalence.

 

[Bronzeage]

This is the key to their racism, treating skin color as a defining feature of a person's identity. People of all political stripes makes this assumption, including in much of left-wing identity politics (e.g. the concept of "white privilege"), and its always racist.

Would it be OK to cast a 60 year old bald man with a paunch as her character? Or would that engender further cries of "it would offend my xxx-ism"?

Perhaps someone could put on a version of "the help" on stage with white actresses playing the titular black "help". I can just imagine the cries of pain.

I'm pretty sure Alexander Hamilton was white, but every night there's a black guy on a Broadway theater pretending to be him.

 

[braces_for_impact]

I can understand getting attached to a character that exists only in print, and in your mind. You get this kinda fuzzy, sometimes very detailed idea of how a certain character looks. Then some asshole makes a movie out of it, or draws him on the cover or something, and now you're in a pickle. Because now you realize your favorite character is a black, transgender girl that likes to wear tights and a a frill hat - and now you have to turn in your KKK membership card. Bastards.

For fuck's sake. Move on.

 

[ronburgundy]

Perhaps someone could put on a version of "the help" on stage with white actresses playing the titular black "help". I can just imagine the cries of pain.

Wasn't being black an integral part of the characters in "The Help"? In fact, wasn't that what the story was about?

I've read the Harry Potter books and I do not recall Hermione's racial identity being a strong factor in any of the books.

So, it's a bit of false equivalence.

QFT.

Race was a central element of the plot in "The Help", and thus central to the various characters.

Similarly, youth is central element to the plot centering upon student's at a boarding school for magic, so her being 60 would fundamentally alter the plot.

Since nothing in the plot or that particular character has any connection to Hermione's skin color, the only thing it could impact is how racists feel about her character. They are upset because of their conflicting feelings due to their liking of her character (or just wanting to boink Emma) and their dislike of blacks.

 

[ronburgundy]

Would it be OK to cast a 60 year old bald man with a paunch as her character? Or would that engender further cries of "it would offend my xxx-ism"?

Perhaps someone could put on a version of "the help" on stage with white actresses playing the titular black "help". I can just imagine the cries of pain.

Who honestly gives a shit? It's just a fictional story.

The fact that she's fictional misses the point. A meaningful change to a character can mean a major change to the whole plot and emotive impact of a work. There is nothing absurd or insane about merely voicing displeasure that a work you love and hoped to see on stage has been fundamentally altered. The point it that this isn't a notable change to the character or the story, unless one is a racist.

 

[Shadowy Man]

Who honestly gives a shit? It's just a fictional story.

The fact that she's fictional misses the point. A meaningful change to a character can mean a major change to the whole plot and emotive impact of a work. There is nothing absurd or insane about merely voicing displeasure that a work you love and hoped to see on stage has been fundamentally altered. The point it that this isn't a notable change to the character or the story, unless one is a racist.

This kind of change appeared in the casting of the main character for the movie Rising Sun, based on the novel of the same name by Michael Crichton.

 

[Keith&Co.]

I'd really be curious about a survey to know, these people currently screaming 'you ruined Hermione?" Where did they stand during the whole 'Harry Potter Stories are going to destroy Western Civilization and the basic Christain family?

You remember, when people were certain kids would go to the New Age stores and buy tarot cards and Ouija boards and celebrate black mass because they read it in the HP stories and that's what witches DO, you know?

I'm really curious, is this just another reason to bitch about HP, or if these are the kids that defended HP then, and feel betrayed, now, because while they didn't mind Hermione turning into a black cat (Transformation fetish and Furry fanfiction crossover bonanza!), turning her into just a black, that's just too far.

 

[GenesisNemesis]

There is nothing absurd or insane about merely voicing displeasure that a work you love and hoped to see on stage has been fundamentally altered.

It depends on how much displeasure is voiced. If you're outraged about it, then I would say that is insane.

 

[Jimmy Higgins]

The fact that she's fictional misses the point. A meaningful change to a character can mean a major change to the whole plot and emotive impact of a work. There is nothing absurd or insane about merely voicing displeasure that a work you love and hoped to see on stage has been fundamentally altered. The point it that this isn't a notable change to the character or the story, unless one is a racist.

This kind of change appeared in the casting of the main character for the movie Rising Sun, based on the novel of the same name by Michael Crichton.

While I imagined a Kevin Costner like character playing Snipes role when reading the novel when it came out, the casting of Snipes in Rising Sun was about one of the least bad things done to that novel when they turned it into that terribly awful movie.

- - - Updated - - -

Who honestly gives a shit? It's just a fictional story.

The fact that she's fictional misses the point. A meaningful change to a character can mean a major change to the whole plot and emotive impact of a work. There is nothing absurd or insane about merely voicing displeasure that a work you love and hoped to see on stage has been fundamentally altered. The point it that this isn't a notable change to the character or the story, unless one is a racist.

Fundamentally altered. The character would be black now, not a Voldemort ally.

 

[Keith&Co.]

Fundamentally altered. The character would be black now, not a Voldemort ally.

I do have family who would say that this is a fundamental change to the character. Because now white girls who are fans of the story can't hope to grow up to be Hermione.

I did not realize this issue existed when I was a kid and pronounced, in front of many of these relatives, that when I grew up I wanted to be like Barney on Mission Impossible. He had all the cool toys.

They had to break the news to me that Barney was the black guy. I completely misunderstood their objection.
Hey, it's Mission IMPOSSIBLE! I'd be willing to put one of those perfect latex mask disguises on, if I had to present as a black man in order to be the team tech guy...

Gosh, I never saw Aunt Kallisto so upset, not since I expressed a desire to date Uhura.

 

[Shadowy Man]

This kind of change appeared in the casting of the main character for the movie Rising Sun, based on the novel of the same name by Michael Crichton.

While I imagined a Kevin Costner like character playing Snipes role when reading the novel when it came out, the casting of Snipes in Rising Sun was about one of the least bad things done to that novel when they turned it into that terribly awful movie.

No doubt it was a bad adaptation of a decent novel, but I was just pointing out how changing the race of the main character changed not-insignificant aspects of the story.

 

[Playball40]

Reminds me of the little boy in the book/movie The Book Thief. He covered himself in mud so he could be "Jesse Owens".

 

[Jimmy Higgins]

While I imagined a Kevin Costner like character playing Snipes role when reading the novel when it came out, the casting of Snipes in Rising Sun was about one of the least bad things done to that novel when they turned it into that terribly awful movie.

No doubt it was a bad adaptation of a decent novel, but I was just pointing out how changing the race of the main character changed not-insignificant aspects of the story.

Had Wesley Snipes just played the character in the book written, that would have been fine. And I don't think Snipes veered off base much from the character. What did was the screenplay that required him adapting to the screenplay, such as the black neighborhood chase scene.

 

[Shadowy Man]

No doubt it was a bad adaptation of a decent novel, but I was just pointing out how changing the race of the main character changed not-insignificant aspects of the story.

Had Wesley Snipes just played the character in the book written, that would have been fine. And I don't think Snipes veered off base much from the character. What did was the screenplay that required him adapting to the screenplay, such as the black neighborhood chase scene.

I felt that just him being black altered the way that the Japanese characters would interact with and feel about him. Crichton doesn't seem to understand what important things should be left in and what should be left out. There were things that were left in for no reason.

Anyway, this is a bit of a derail so I'll leave it alone from here on out.