JK Rowling has criticised a Harry Potter tour as "nonsense" and threatened to organise her own version.
The Harry Potter series author took to social media to express her frustration with a tour she claims is spreading inaccurate information.
In a post on X, Rowling wrote: “Today I heard a tale of the guff claimed as fact on a ‘Potter tour’ of Edinburgh, and now I’m considering hiring a bus and auctioning places on it for charity, spending an afternoon debunking the nonsense and pointing out bits no one knows, and then we could all go to the pub.”
The word "guff" refers to foolish or trivial talk, suggesting that Rowling believes some details shared on the tour are false.
The 59-year-old didn’t specify which tour she was referring to, but her comments come despite the popularity of various Harry Potter-themed tours in Edinburgh, many of which have received high praise from fans.
Today I heard a tale of the guff claimed as fact on a 'Potter tour' of Edinburgh, and now I'm considering hiring a bus and auctioning places on it for charity and spending an afternoon debunking the nonsense and pointing out bits no-one knows and then we could all go to the pub.
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) September 18, 2024
Edinburgh’s historic streets are widely believed to have inspired Rowling when she was writing the Harry Potter books, with the city’s architecture and atmosphere said to have influenced settings and characters in the series.
Rowling’s post sparked a wave of responses from fans. One user replied, “Brilliant idea. Could have a bar on the bus,” while another commented, “That’s an incredible idea. Bringing the magic to life!”
This is the first in recent times that the writer has sparked a debate about her books, rather than her political leanings.
Since December 2019, Scotland-based Rowling has been public on her views on transgender issues.
She has since been criticised for her staunch views on gender identity, but has always strongly denied accusations of transphobia.
In May she explained that she only spoke up about transgender issues because she believes she is witnessing “the greatest assault of my lifetime” on women’s rights and would have “felt ashamed for the rest of my days if I hadn’t”.
She explained her belief in protecting women’s sex-based rights in an essay which features in The Women Who Wouldn’t Wheesht – a forthcoming book on Scotland’s battle for women’s rights.
“I believe that what is being done to troubled young people in the name of gender identity ideology is, indeed, a terrible medical scandal,” Rowling said.
“I believe we’re witnessing the greatest assault of my lifetime on the rights our foremothers thought they’d guaranteed for all women.
“Ultimately, I spoke up because I’d have felt ashamed for the rest of my days if I hadn’t. If I feel any regret at all, it’s that I didn’t speak far sooner.”
