Since 2020, when JK Rowling has been embroiled in a Twitter controversy over her alleged transphobic comments, many Potterheads have distanced themselves from her. Earlier last week, the two biggest Quidditch teams in the US (Major League Quidditch and US Quidditch) announced their decision to change their names, “in an effort to distance themselves from the works of”. JK Rowling who has come under rapid scrutiny for her anti-trans posts in recent yearsIt is also being done to resolve trademark issues associated with the word Quidditch, which is owned by Warner Bros.
mlq and @usquidditch Working together to change the name of the game – literally. I
Learn more about the decision and take the next steps to make your voice heard: https://t.co/lNFq12uDfx pic.twitter.com/UAarrsnZN1j
— Major League Quidditch (@MLQuidditch) December 16, 2021
Warner Bros’ trademark ownership limits USQ and MLQ’s access to equipment, broadcast rights, and sponsorships. In their statement, the teams said they would “conduct a series of surveys over the next few months to decide on a new name”. The new name is likely to be revealed by January 2022.
They also noted that, “Our sport has developed a reputation as one of the world’s most progressive sports on gender equality and inclusivity, partly thanks to its gender maximization rule, which stipulates that a Teams cannot have more than four players. The same gender on the field at the same time. Both organizations feel it is imperative to uphold this reputation in all aspects of their operations and believe that the move is the same. A step in that direction.
While some have supported the move, others have accused the team of being “overwake” and motivated to make profits.
May I suggest ‘Vocaball’?
21st century reaction to disagreement;
Try and cancel them, but steal their creation by pretending to be something else?Why don’t you really stand up for your beliefs and stop playing it? Or will it bother you?
— Group Captain Cheese (@Haggisontoast) December 20, 2021
“We don’t support JKR, so we want to distance her, we still want to profit from her creation, so we’re just going to change the name.” seriously. If you really want to take a stand that means something, you’re going to quit playing the game entirely. It doesn’t make any sense.
— Marty (@prettiestcapt) December 21, 2021
I can see the name change to get more money (broadcast and sponsorship rights), but to argue that Rowling was transphobic was hilarious.
— because you (@because21149293) December 21, 2021
C’mon GOOOOO TIME ABOUT IT
— codester (@codonodo) December 16, 2021
Don’t we have to call her the She-Who-Must-Not-Name-Name anymore?
— Noemi Szalai (@555NoemiSzalai) December 20, 2021
In the magical Harry Potter universe, Quidditch is played by flying on brooms, while in the real world the game is played on a field the size of hockey, where seven players from both teams chase balls while running with brooms.
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