Colourpop Cosmetics is under heavy fire after he had Harry Potter-themed makeup collection. The brand was heavily criticized by fans, who called the collaboration not a celebration of the famous magical world, but a support for the highly criticized author JK Rowling.
Colourpop, one of the biggest online beauty brands, is known for its sell-out collections themed around major pop culture milestones. Last year, the makeup brand released products commemorating a number of Disney characters, including Star Wars, High School Musical, The MandalorianBarbie, Sailor Moonand more. But when they announced Harry Potter Some fans called the collaboration disappointing and a vindication of Rowling, who has been accused of transphobia, and her views. It’s unclear how much Rowling will receive from the collaboration, but using the Harry Potter logo and Wizarding World brand on products requires a licensing agreement.
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“I hope you as a company realize what is wrong with this,” wrote one beauty influencer in the brand’s Instagram comments.
“I love Colourpop but generating revenue for an incredibly harmful terf is not something I want to support,” wrote another fan. “I will unfortunately no longer be purchasing this brand.”
When asked if they still support the LGBTQ+ community, Colourpop said the company is focused on promoting acceptance in the community. Harry Potter Collection has long been one of the most sought-after items.
“Acceptance, inclusivity and love for all are our highest priorities and that will never change. We are releasing this collection to bring the magic of the Wizarding World to everyone – and like everything we do, it was designed with love for everyone,” the brand continued, still in the comments. “We will always support the LGBTQIA communities in all avenues available to us and will continue to donate to organizations and charities while remaining committed to providing a platform for members of the LGBTQIA community through paid partnerships and more.”
The same message was repeated on their Instagram stories, along with a promise to donate a portion of the proceeds to the Trevor Project, a crisis intervention nonprofit focused on queer youth. Colourpop did not respond to Rolling Stone for further comment on why the brand, a long-time vocal supporter of the LGBTQ+ community, chose to collaborate with the Harry Potter Brand.
After becoming perhaps the most successful author in history, Rowling capitalized on her global fame and championed that least magical of controversial issues: women’s rights, often at the expense of the transgender community. While Rowling has repeatedly denied being transphobic or having issues with the queer community, critics say her actions – including liking a tweet that referred to a transgender woman as a man and continued speeches and essays about the dangers of trans activism – speak for themselves.
To make matters even more metaphysical, Rowling’s latest novel, published under her well-known pseudonym Robert Galbraith, goes so far as to mirror her own life and follows a beloved author character who has been labeled transphobic and racist by former fans.
Colourpop is not the only brand trying to create a Harry Potterr renaissance last month. In August, both American Girl and Vera Bradley announced separate Harry Potter and Hogwarts-themed collaborations—both seemingly aimed at lifelong fans of the book series. Licensing opportunities involving the Boy Who Lived have proliferated over the years, spawning not just a film series but a theme park, a New York flagship store, a Broadway musical, and the grief of a generation over not getting a letter on their eleventh birthday. But beyond fun memories, the expanded Potter universe has presented queer and LGBTQ+ allied Potter fans with a dilemma: Can I enjoy this without giving Rowling money? For Colourpop users, even an entirely new makeup line isn’t worth the risk.
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