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| JK Rowling (Image: W Magazine) |
How would I feel if I discovered Michael Parkinson supported the UK to leave the European Union? How would I feel if I discovered Jeff Stelling worshipped Nigel Farage? And how would I feel if I discovered Carol Vorderman wanted people to 'go back to where they came from'?
I've chosen these hypothetical questions for a reason, as I put three individuals I've admired most of my life against issues I fundamentally disagree with. I ask these so I am able to picture the predicament those are finding themselves in at the moment. JK Rowling, creator of Harry Potter and considered a hero to many, has been absolutely vilified by some who once idolised her - purely on the basis that she has contentious views on a debate which is anything but straightforward.
The debate was on specific issues around the transgender community, something that will be discussed time and time again. I don't want to dwell so much into the transgender debate itself, as my knowledge base on it is limited. But Rowling's views have certainly put a dent on her reputation, regardless of whether she is 'right' or 'wrong'. From what I have read, I feel she is neither - and in my personal perspective, she isn't against the community either.
And I also don't feel the attacks on Rowling are justified. It is okay to have a view on the transgender community which isn't in line with what LGBT activists say it is, while not being offensive or anti-transgender at the same time. The attacks have gone as far as Harry Potter fan sites distancing themselves from the very author that created the character who millions adore. They didn't go crazy when Rowling voted against Scottish Independence in 2014 when there were potentially thousands of avid Harry Potter fans desperate for Scotland to break away from the UK. Why go far today?
Rowling is entitled to her opinion, as like anyone else. After being aggrieved by recent events, she co-signed a letter with fellow established authors, speaking out against the so-called 'cancel culture', to which they should not feel the need to. It boggles my mind when I hear public figures being denounced for their views, when actually - unless they are politicians or commentators - their opinions are secondary to their work, an area where Rowling deserves every credit for.
My personal views around this have developed from six years ago when I vowed to never mention UKIP and Nigel Farage again in public. While the way I see the world will almost always be the polar opposite to Farage or UKIP - apart from perhaps our shared opposition to HS2 - and that I find him deeply offensive and repulsive, who am I to 'cancel' him? I appreciate that by me mentioning them, they are kept relevant with extra publicity. That said, it is healthy to debate and engage with those who are different to us. If everyone held the same views as one another and took the same actions, the world may seem simpler (depending on what those views are), but completely unrealistic.
This is why I would not be bothered about whether those I look up to saw the world differently to me. I'd encourage it actually. What we've forgotten to do is appreciate why we like a public figure in the first place. JK Rowling is loved for her books, and it will always stay this way unless others add extra layers on who they think she is and thus create a picture of someone who is anything but the widely respected writer we appreciate.
While it is fine to put yourself off from liking someone you considered a hero once, how far are people willing to go until you've run out of people to admire? We're living in a world where there is an information overload, and it is inevitable we will find someone we like will say something that is against our beliefs. With that in mind, we have a choice - keep an open mind and embrace other people's differences, or jump to conclusions that completely ruins the core reason why you liked that person in the first place? If Michael Parkinson was indeed the most passionate Brexit supporter about, it wouldn't stop me from being a big fan of his work as one of the greatest TV interviewers around and as someone who inspired me to becoming a media professional.
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