Dumbledore...Publicity Stunt or the Real Thing...

Publicity... - Publicity...
@twoey68 (13627)
United States
October 24, 2007 7:28am CST
Let me say right off, this is not a discussion over whether homosexuality is right or wrong. I'm not even going to get into that. I do want to know what you think of JK Rowling's announcement that Dumbledore is gay. Do you think it is just a publicity stunt to draw more attention to the whole Gay issue and/or to promote her books even more? Or do you think it is something that has been there all along and no one caught on? Personally, I think it is all a publicity stunt. It would seem to me that in 7 books where she played up budding romances for Harry, Hermione, Ron and even Hagrid she would have found some occasion to mention this little tidbit about Dumbledore...especially during the scenes to do with the Yuletime Ball where romance was everywhere. I also find it amusing that she picked Dumbledore who everyone pretty much looks up to and likes to be the gay person. Why not Malfoy? He hasn't been shown much with girls or Snape for that matter? Maybe b/c they aren't as well liked? I like the Harry Potter books and movies although I haven't read past the 4th book or the seen past the 4th movie I still like them. It doesn't really matter to me that Dumbledore is or isn't gay although at this late hour I don't see what the point was (other than publicity) to throw it out there. Do you think this is going to increase or decrease her popularity and the Harry Potter series in general? !!HAPPY HALLOWEEN!! **AT PEACE WITHIN** ~~STAND STRONG IN YOUR BELIEFS~~
20 people like this
32 responses
@raychill (6525)
• United States
24 Oct 07
She doesn't need the extra publicity. She also doesn't need to care whether or not it will increase or decrease her popularity because if the woman never worked again she'd be rich for at least a hundred years. probably more.
6 people like this
• United States
26 Oct 07
True. Besides, everyone seems to be forgetting that she was asked a direct question and she answered it truthfully. This woman did not just write books. She planned everything out. She wrote out every aspect of every character and likely every place. She was very well organized (by doing this) years ago. Also, she does not need to use publicity stunts. She already has a mega fan base, and it keeps getting bigger. She is worth millions, and never has to do anything for work/writing again if she chooses not to. She also has a new book coming out. It is (I hear) sort of like an encyclopedia of characters, places and such. We are likely to learn a lot more interesting facts about the characters in her book. And I, for one, am interested in all of the details of all of the characters, places and creatures in this series of books. Why not just be happy that this woman worked hard and got herself and her children off welfare. She was lucky, and she wrote a great series. She does not need publicity stunts to sell anything.
@raychill (6525)
• United States
26 Oct 07
Yeah, that's what I think. I don't think it was a careless act of publicity stunting. But that's what people will think because that's what they think everyone does.
2 people like this
• India
24 Oct 07
Hello i don't think she needs more publicity or money. She did not do it for either. She is also going tow rite an encyclopedia about the whole series so i guess Harry Potter will never end and lots of Harry Potter fans will want it that way. If you read the seventh book you will know Snape can't be nor Malfoy. If you have read the whole series we can actually guess Dumbledore MIGHT be gay. She had to confess that because a fan asked a direct question if Dumbledore ever found truelove. And in the movie of Half Blood Prince they wanted to show that Dumbledore was interested in a girl long time back but she JK had to pass the note saying he is gay :) If you read Half Blood you will realize there is no important girl or woman in his life specially during the 'cave scene' Deathly Hallows merely confirmed the fact and now she HAD to make the announcement - nothing wrong in it. In fact we will keep hearing more about the characters because thats what her ardent fans want . Just my views :)
@wolfie34 (26771)
• United Kingdom
24 Oct 07
When I first read this I rolled up my eyes in disbelief, I thought WHO CARES A DAMN? Sorry but it stinks of a publicity stunt and my estimations of J K Rowling has slumped. What does it achieve by announcing this about one of the key characters? Or are the books deemed to be PC now So every story has to have a 'special' character in it now. This PC thing has gone beyond a joke... So which character has three heads then LOL
@wolfie34 (26771)
• United Kingdom
24 Oct 07
Forgot to add, isn't she making enough bucketfuls of cash already without resorting to these 'underhand' tactics?
2 people like this
• United States
24 Oct 07
...that's what my husband says.. millions of $'s not enough? - My thought is it's a book for children, originally.. and they should enjoy being kids without adult issues constantly being thrust upon them..
2 people like this
@tigertang (1749)
• Singapore
24 Oct 07
Wow - this is the first time I heard of this one. Ya, who cares if Dumbledore is gay. I mean the main thing is, I hope he didn't molest any of the kids at Hogwarts
@Debs_place (10520)
• United States
24 Oct 07
I don't think publicity had anything to do with it. I personally thought of Dumbledore as asexual so I guess I should not be surprised he is gay. I personally don't think that this will affect sales that much. I think it will expand the fan fiction, which is what she said.
3 people like this
• Canada
24 Oct 07
I didn't think it was worth mentioning but thought nothing of it either way until the news earlier today where she said she's knows for 10 years that he was gay. Since she wrote the books and she's known for that long, I think she had plenty of time to reveal the information before. Holding onto this until now makes this smell of a publicity stunt to me.
3 people like this
• United States
26 Oct 07
Nope. It just wasn't necessary to the story. She was only asked a question about his love life and answered.
2 people like this
@moneyandgc (3428)
• United States
24 Oct 07
I personally don't believe this is a publicity stunt. She doesn't need anymore publicity. She has more money than she can even spend. Her books have people waiting in line at midnight. The movies open at the top of the box office. She was asked directly about Dumbledore's love life and answered directly. There was no need to add anything about his sexuality in any of the books. I have read all 7 books and have seen every movie to date. Aside from Snape being in love with Harry's mother and Hagrid briefly dating the Giant, they don't mention anything about any of the professor's love lives or sexuality. It didn't matter then and it doesn't matter now.
3 people like this
• United States
24 Oct 07
Authors live to sell books. It is a publicity stunt. I'd even be willing to bet serious thought was put into the announcement concerning Dumbledore. Not only would they decide which character to announce as gay, I'm sure what issue to utilize to stimulate sales would have also been discussed. This is much ado about nothing. For that reason, I'm sure the book's sales will increase.
3 people like this
@Shaun72 (15959)
• Palatka, Florida
24 Oct 07
You are very right. I think it is messed to say that about Dubledore. Also why in the world did she wait untill she had written all of her books to say this about him. In the 7th book it talks about Snape being in love with Harry's momma before James or Harry's dad got with her.So he isn't. Like you said though why not Malfoy. I guess it dosen't matter but I don't get why she said it after her book.
@kareng (53375)
• United States
24 Oct 07
I think it was a dumb thing for her to say/do. I'm like you--there is no mention of this in any of the books or movies so why bring it up now? Publicity is the only thing that makes sense. I don't know how it will affect the popularity. I love this series and enjoyed reading all the books and seeing all the movies. I just don't see the point.
• United States
3 Nov 07
Just curious - have you read all the books? There are several things you could look at individually and not get it but if you look at them collectively then you can see the bigger picture. One - to love children so much he never married to have any of his own. Two - there is no mention in any of the books or movies that he has ever been romantically linked with a woman. Dancing at the Yule ball doesn't count. Gay men dance with women all the time. And he was expected to dance as the Headmaster. Three - he was best of friends and went on holiday together with Grindelwald before they had their differences of opinions (last book). The way it's described it could go either way. There are signs just not out and out flagrant ones. It seems she brought it up now because she was asked about it. Why would she deny it if asked about it?
2 people like this
• United States
5 Nov 07
I disagree about it being a publicity stunt. She doesn't need it. I believe she didn't make it prominent in the books because it has no barring on the story line. It's irrelevant. She also doesn't talk about most the other teachers love lives either with the exception of Lupin (and that's after he was a teacher), Hagrid, or Snape. If I am not mistaken she wrote biographies on the characters for herself during the process of writing the books. And maybe when she was sitting down writing Stone she wasn't thinking Dumbledore was gay but I do believe it was her overall intention and not just an afterthought. She only brought it up because she was asked about his love life.
2 people like this
@kareng (53375)
• United States
3 Nov 07
Yes, I have read ALL the books and seen all the movies released so far. This is a series written for Children. I don't think the remarks you made and refereneces are there for children to pick up on that Dumbledore is gay. I don't believe that was her intention all along...to have the character be gay. I think if it was, it would have been clearly stated earlier on. Why she is saying it now, is really off the wall. Or publicity stunt. Everyone will have their own opinion on this of course :)
1 person likes this
• United States
26 Oct 07
J.K Rowling doesn't need publicity for her books. I think Dumbledore was gay from the start.I think it is a great thing that she picked a character like Dumbledore to be gay. It will show evreyone, especially the young, that character that " everyone pretty much looks up to" can be and sometimes in life is gay.
2 people like this
@xParanoiax (6987)
• United States
27 Oct 07
Rowling herself said that it was because her entire series was written to try to show people what goodness, love, and fairness was. And that may be why she picked Dumbledore of all the characters to be gay, because he was a good guy, a looked up to teacher, highly intelligent and talented. She wanted to show that gay people can be all those things too. Yes, she had plenty of opportunities to show that he was in the series, but I don't think she wanted the books to only be about Dumbledore...and I think people would've took that as a chance to trash on her books somemore. I don't think she just decided that, that was what his orientation was, out of the blue. Remember, she wrote all her character's bio's ages ago. It was also probably a little publicity too (not that she really needed it), most likely...but again I think she announced it because few people had guessed or figured it out and for the first thing I mentioned...her books were meant to tear apart all the stuff which is assumed about goodness, fairness, people...even things such as evil and darkness. She gets rid of stereotypes...and I really hope she writes another series or a few more novels. Not necessarily in the Harry Potter world..but just to see more of her kind of writing.
2 people like this
@Suze05 (480)
• United States
24 Oct 07
I dont' think it was necessarily a publicity stunt, and I dont think she ever would have mentioned it except someone asked her a question about his love life. Who cares if he's gay, and I believe it was never mentioned in the books because it had no bearing on the plot or his character, its just a facet of who Dumbledore is, like he has blue eyes. Plus, the books were originally meant for kids, so really not appropriate to get into the whole gay issue for no reason. Maybe if the reason he trusted Snape and looked the other way when he seemed to be evil was because he secretly was in love with him.. then it might be relevent. I know she said that she, like many, many writers, wrote biographies of the characters before she started to write, and so she knew he would be gay and thought of him as gay, so that's why you don't see any mention of him being attracted to any women in the book.. no hint of any romance for him.
2 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
2 Nov 07
I guess it was a publicity stunt on her part. The thing is, this could bring even more negativity toward her books. Look how many people are against her books in the first place because they believe her books are promoting children to study witchcraft? This would admittedly be a first though as I can't think of any other children's book that has "gay" characters in it, can you?
1 person likes this
• United States
2 Nov 07
But remember, "There's no such thing as bad publicity" The more negative attention her books get, the more well known she and her books are, and it ensures their sales for a good deal of time. I mean she didn't need any more fame, but that's what she'll end up getting. And someone had to do it first, right? I can't think of a better author to try such a thing.
1 person likes this
@bizmom (515)
• United States
25 Oct 07
wow!! never even heard this! either way seems silly if u ask me! i mean i have seen all movies up to date with the girls and no place in them does it even seem that he is.. but then again thats like saying... what does an axe murderer look like? lol If i were to take a guess im willing to bet it was to TAKE pressure off her and the *eye* off her as well - as silly as it sounds it might make people bored with it all now? with all the *Harry* hype it might be time to calm it down now!! this way shes not bothered with writting another book or doing another movie ( whatever capacity shes involved) shes prolly just looking to take the *pressure* off im not sure what it will do for the movie goers - id like to think by now *gay* is not something to get all worked up about or over anymore!! atleast for me it isnt! ( never was) gay/straight/bi/TV/TS whatever its no difference to me as long as ur not hurting anyone !! :)XX lol tho i have to admit its sort of funny to imagine Dumbledore kissing a man! lol actually... anyone for that matter lol XX :) lol lol
@nannacroc (4049)
24 Oct 07
I agree with you, it's a publicity stunt. Why is it relevant to the stories? I haven't read any where it would matter whether Dumbledore or any other character was gay. I don't know why she has suddenly decided to make this announcement. Maybe she thinks it will sel more copies of her books.
• United States
26 Oct 07
Actually, you are right. It wasn't relevant to the books. That's why she didn't put it in any of them. She only mentioned it because she was asked a direct question about Dumbledore's love life.
1 person likes this
@mkirby624 (1598)
• United States
6 Nov 07
I don't think it's publicity. She just said it so matter of factly. She didn't mention the love lives of any other professor either...besides Snape, and that one tied into Harry's past so it was relevant. And loving Grindlewald explains so much in Dumbledore's behavior as a teenager.
1 person likes this
• United States
7 Nov 07
Well i think that it is a publicity stunt to and it will probably decrease her popularity.
1 person likes this
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
15 Apr 08
Thank you for the best response.
1 person likes this
@mouse27 (1155)
• Canada
25 Oct 07
does it really matter why it was done? i don't think it does. the point is that people should be able to express themselves and its not up to other people to judge why something was done and who someone is as a person. and i also don't think it was very cool of JK Rowling to announce that dumbledore was gay thats called hear say unless dumbledore himself announces it then poeple should just see it as slander and slander is false information. i don't know if he is or not so i'm just gonna assume that the information isn't true
1 person likes this
• United States
26 Oct 07
Um. It's not hear say. Dumbledore is a 'character'. Not a real person. So it cannot be hear say or slander when the author (who created the character) says that he is gay. It is simply a fact. Which is fine. If he weren't gay, he may have been a different type of 'person' than he is.
1 person likes this
@J_Dawgs (217)
• United States
7 Nov 07
sorry but i would also have to say that it would not be a publicity stunt for the main reason JK has more than enough money. Why would she need to do something like this so late in her career for more money? And why something so silly like this? She has never gone this direction with things of this sort really with gay, lesbian or whatever why would she "just now" release it. Many say she wrote about it very early when all the characters were first wrote about. Also, if it was for the publicity don't you think she would have done it earlier and worked it into the movies and such so that it would have been able to make more money off of it? Doing it now only really does nothing. She is already loaded and Harry Potter is pretty much over and the series had ended pretty much why would she introduce it now? It would be like putting the icing onto the cake after you ate it. Just kinda doesn't make sense when you think about it. Thats how I think about it anyways lol. My two cents. Peace Out ~*~J_Dawgs~*~
1 person likes this