ROTTEN TOMATOES: J.K. Rowling Outs Albus Dumbledore

J.K. Rowling Outs Albus Dumbledore

Cue the righteous indignation!

by Jeff Giles | October 22, 2007

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Add "the sexual orientation of a fictional character" to the list of things that are apparently capable of dominating an American news cycle in the 21st century.

Newsweek reports that J.K. Rowling, author of the Harry Potter books, has revealed that Albus Dumbledore -- longtime headmaster of Hogwarts, the school attended by Potter and his fellow teen wizards -- was gay. From the article:

In front of a full house of hardcore Potter fans at Carnegie Hall in New York, Rowling, sitting on the stage on a red velvet and carved wood throne, read from her seventh and final book, "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows," then took questions. One fan asked whether Albus Dumbledore, the head of the famed Hogwarts School of Wizardry and Witchcraft, had ever loved anyone. Rowling smiled. "Dumbledore is gay, actually," replied Rowling as the audience erupted in surprise. She added that, in her mind, Dumbledore had an unrequited love affair with Gellert Grindelwald, Voldemort's predecessor who appears in the seventh book. After several minutes of prolonged shouting and clapping from astonished fans, Rowling added. "I would have told you earlier if I knew it would make you so happy."

From a certain point of view, it's easy to understand the fascination with the Potter characters' private lives -- the books have sold a lot of copies, after all -- but that isn't going to make the inevitable purple-faced rants from apoplectic conservative pundits any less ridiculous. To read more of Rowling's revelations regarding the post-Potter exploits of her beloved characters (including the romantic futures of Hagrid and Neville Longbottom), click on the link below!

Source: Newsweek

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(1-20 of 90 posts) | Reply

MMacKK writes:
on Oct 22 2007 06:29 AM

Just seemed a little unnessecary.

I mean, if she wanted it to be obvious, surely she would have already spelt it out. Maybe she feared a backlash...

(Reply to this)

nycaedis writes:
on Oct 22 2007 06:40 AM

You might want to remove the spoiler from the first sentence for the people who haven't read the books.

(Reply to this)

ZEZEtheX writes:
on Oct 22 2007 06:40 AM

Well that's...unnecessary.

(Reply to this)

Sora Freak writes:
on Oct 22 2007 06:44 AM

It's a little late for her to try to add something to books she already finished

(Reply to this)

blank blank writes:
on Oct 22 2007 07:06 AM

whatever. anyone who makes a big deal out of this is an idiot

(Reply to this)

crudebob writes:
on Oct 22 2007 07:11 AM

Dumbledore is gay? Hmm, that sucks.

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Morrigu writes:
on Oct 22 2007 07:16 AM

publicity stunt ... what the hell does him being gay have to do with his ability to love?

(Reply to this)

Crenshaw writes:
on Oct 22 2007 07:29 AM

Well, she certainly doesn't need the publicity, since the books are already all sold. And she outted him on the LAST stop of a signing tour, so if she wanted press she would have done it at the beginning. My guess is she wanted to out him a very, VERY long time ago but was convinced (by whoever) that doing so would hurt the book sales. Think about the nutjobs bashing her work because they had magic in them, and then multiply it by a gajillion with all the homophobes out there.

(Reply to this)

Holly Jolly writes:
on Oct 22 2007 07:43 AM

The key word being 'was'.

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killbill6666 writes:
on Oct 22 2007 07:56 AM

There was no need for her to let anyone know that DD was gay. There isn't a single place in any of the books where a conversation on his sexuality would be of importance. it is doubtful that she neglected to tell people of this sooner because she feared a backlash. She was asked if he had ever loved and she answered. My god whatever will we do! Rowling created a gay character and she didn't tell us!! Grow up people. I can't believe it's 2007 and we are still addressing the issue of bigotry and discrimination.

(Reply to this)

Ender7406 writes:
on Oct 22 2007 08:00 AM

Because.... What? I mean, it's hard to sell more books when EVERYBODY already owns it.

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Man_Of_Iron8905 writes:
on Oct 22 2007 08:04 AM

Just another issue in the Harry Potter realm to piss off the religious radicals.

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DaHypr1 writes:
on Oct 22 2007 08:13 AM

I knew there was a reason he liked Harry too much..

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TombstoneLawDog writes:
on Oct 22 2007 08:20 AM

Holy Completely F#cking Unnecessary Exposition, Batman!

(Reply to this)

tonight we dine.. IN HECK writes:
on Oct 22 2007 08:31 AM

him and Ian McKellan should hook up ^-^

(Reply to this)

tallaght24 writes:
on Oct 22 2007 08:49 AM

Really, really LAME! He's gay? Who gives. I mean, what's gonna happen now, Dumbledore gonna sue for slander?

(Reply to this)

witherwings writes:
on Oct 22 2007 09:07 AM

I love it.

(Reply to this)

clamman27 writes:
on Oct 22 2007 09:33 AM

It's completely asinine and unnecessary...

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bigbrother writes:
on Oct 22 2007 09:49 AM

I have no problem with him being gay, just a bit grossed out with the thought of him having sex with anyone with his wrinkled skin and his old...balls :). Did anyone else notice that none of the teachers at Hogwarts were married? Maybe this is why. They all couldn't afford to travel to wizard Massachusetts...maybe that's what those witch trials were all about they weren't mad that they were witches, they just hung them cause they were all gay :). As people have said it's kinda irrelevant at this point, but still kinda funny on her part for winding the establishment up. Stick it to the man Jo.

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Racer Z writes:
on Oct 22 2007 09:56 AM

Yeah, Ok, whatever. As if it adds anything to the plot of the books. But I suppose we have to have the gay community permeate every aspect of popular culture.

(Reply to this)