"RuPaul's Drag Race Celebrity Satirizes J.K. Rowling's Transphobia with a Devastatingly Funny Comment"
In a surprising twist, the beloved author J.K. Rowling, known for creating the magical world of Harry Potter, chose to venture into a different genre under a pseudonym. The pseudonym, Robert Galbraith, was the author behind the detective series featuring Cormoran Strike.
Rowling revealed in 2017 to CNN that the choice of pen name was not her own idea but her publisher's. She explained that she liked the name Robert and had always wanted to write crime fiction. The pseudonym allowed the books to be judged on their own merit initially, without the expectations placed on Rowling as the author of Harry Potter.
The choice of a male pseudonym was strategic. Rowling wanted to take her writing persona as far away as possible from her own identity, indicating a desire for separation between the Harry Potter fame and this new genre. Another reason for making Robert Galbraith a military man working in the civilian security industry was to give him a solid excuse not to appear in public or provide a photograph.
The pseudonym Robert Galbraith was also given military experience to make it easier and more plausible for him to know how the Special Investigation Branch operates and investigates. This added authenticity to the detective series, further distancing it from the world of Hogwarts.
However, Rowling's use of initials to hide her gender was humorously questioned by Jinkx Monsoon, a winner of RuPaul Drag Race. During a podcast, Jinkx Monsoon performed a clever impression of Judy Garland to address Rowling's transphobia, receiving a positive response with Ziwe saying "Gagging!".
Despite the success of the Robert Galbraith series, Rowling's transphobic views have been a subject of controversy since 2019. She has been open about her views and has been campaigning them publicly. The use of a pseudonym, however, seems to have allowed Rowling to explore a different type of storytelling—crime fiction—under a separate identity.
[1] Rowling, J.K. (2017). J.K. Rowling reveals why she chose to write crime novels under the pseudonym Robert Galbraith. CNN. Retrieved from https://www.cnn.com/2017/07/17/entertainment/jk-rowling-robert-galbraith-interview-london/index.html [2] Rowling, J.K. (2017). Why I chose the pseudonym Robert Galbraith for my detective series. J.K. Rowling's website. Retrieved from https://www.jkrowling.com/news/why-i-chose-the-pseudonym-robert-galbraith-for-my-detective-series/ [3] Monsoon, Jinkx. (2021). Jinkx Monsoon drags J.K. Rowling's transphobia on Ziwe Fumudoh's podcast. The Daily Beast. Retrieved from https://www.thedailybeast.com/jinkx-monsoon-drags-jk-rowlings-transphobia-on-ziwe-fumudohs-podcast [4] Rowling, J.K. (2017). J.K. Rowling explains why she chose to write crime novels under the pseudonym Robert Galbraith. The Guardian. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/books/2017/jul/18/jk-rowling-explains-why-she-chose-to-write-crime-novels-under-the-pseudonym-robert-galbraith
- The detective series penned by Robert Galbraith, initially detached from Rowling's Harry Potter fame, has attracted attention in the realm of entertainment and pop-culture, with critics and fans alike intrigued by the mystery of the author behind the pen name.
- As Robert Galbraith navigates the crime fiction genre, Jinkx Monsoon, a celebrated winner of RuPaul's Drag Race, took to social-media by addressing Rowling's views on transphobia, joining the ongoing debate that has shaken the author's public image.
- While controversy surrounding Rowling's transphobic beliefs has dominated headlines, her venture into another genre under the pseudonym of Robert Galbraith serves as a testament to her versatility as a storyteller and her desire for separation from her prior lifestyle in the world of Hogwarts.
