J. K. Rowling : Why does she hate Americans?

Why does she hate Americans?

Is it because of some innate British superiority complex, since Brits have conquered and destroyed many nations and cultures, even more than Genghis Khan. I didnt think she was Anti-American, at least before I read that she didnt think a script written by an American would be good. For someone whose stories promote equality, her actions and words are pretty discriminatory.

Re: Why does she hate Americans?

I'm not familiar with the quote you're referencing, but if it's in regards to a film script, is it possible she thought American writers might 'Hollywoodise' (is that even a word?) the story? She might feel that an American writer might not capture the overall Britishness of the books.
Goodness, I can't believe I'm actually attempting to defend JK Rowling. I must be ill.

'Right, the shop is closed, everybody get out! Back on the streets, you time-wasting bastards!'

Re: Why does she hate Americans?

Then she must not have seen too many American movies, maybe shes only seen Spielberg films. So one would have to be a British citizen to understand their way of life? I dont know about that. I think a writer who knows the story and understands it would do a fine job with the script no matter what country hes a citizen of. Im wondering if she gave her reason explaining why she didnt think an American writer would do a good job. Or was she just revealing her prejudice?

Add: I read that she didnt want Liam Aiken to play Harry because he wasnt English. His mom's Irish and his dads American, so Aiken was a "half blood" and not a native Brit. He wasnt a "pureblood" in terms of nationality and ethnicity.

Re: Why does she hate Americans?


I read that she didnt want Liam Aiken to play Harry because he wasnt English. His mom's Irish and his dads American, so Aiken was a "half blood" and not a native Brit. He b68 wasnt a "pureblood" in terms of nationality and ethnicity.

Roflmao, Rowling has become the very villain she created!
How ironic!

"Just because you ARE a character, doesn't mean you HAVE character."
-Winston Wolf

Re: Why does she hate Americans?

Actually, she likes Americans. She says that Americans, unlike British people, don't blame her for being rich.

Never say "Worst movie ever" to someone who's seen Highlander 2

Re: Why does she hate Americans?

I guess she likes Americans to play with or hang out with, but she doubts their abilities in serious endeavors. Example: a person is friends with an attractive, outgoing person and talks to her at parties, but wouldnt put his life or wallet in her hands. I know people like that. haha

Re: Why does she hate Americans?

Can you post what she said? It's kinda hard to argue a point if you're not presenting evidence.

Never say "Worst movie ever" to someone who's seen Highlander 2

Re: Why does she hate Americans?

"Evidence"? hehe, are we in English class.

"I was very prickly when I first met Steve. I knew that they'd chosen this American, and even though he wrote and directed one of my favorite films, The Fabulous Baker Boys, he's... Well... American! Not to be... I don't know..."(http://www.stephenbainbridge.com/punditry/comments/is_jk_anti_american /).

Above site questions Rowlings feelings towards Americans. Basically the observers conclusion is based on various comments Rowling made, and the site can quote them to you word for word. The part of Rowling not preferring an American scriptwriter is said during one of her interviews. Its on the dvd of the second movie I think. Like in essays for English class, people connect previous pieces of information theyve read or heard, and come to a conclusion based on such observations. However, this Imdb topic is too insignificant to warrant a complete dis 5b4 sertation with full citations. Frankly, based on Rowlings opinions and her tone, it sounds like she has a strong animosity towards Americans, even possibly hate them. She doesnt need to say she hates someone to convey such feelings. Adults do this all the time, using the indirect approach.

Im asking if Rowling has a reason to hate Americans. Why is she so distrusting of an American screenwriter? I dont remember her saying her reason. People have reasons for everything they think, and they usually explain it openly, unless the reason is irrational (which is an oxymoron in itself). Did she ever say her reason?

As for Harry Potter, while the character is British, its basically centered around witches and a witch's way of life, peppered with some British words and customs. Him being British is secondary. England doesnt have the monopoly on witches and magic, or boarding schools. I dont want to go review history, but all cultures take a piece of one another and make it their own. And Harry Potter is not a real historical figure, so theres no concern about changing history. Harry Potter could have taken place anywhere. Still, it is understandable that Rowling wants to keep the English identity prominent, since she herself is English. Harry Potter is her, and changing the characters life would be like rejecting her own identity.

However, Rowling's "British-ONLY" rule in hiring people to work on the movi b68 e seems vaguely haunting. Even a silent extra actor in the movie had to be an English citizen. Even a child with an English mother and an American father wasnt accepted. The idea of Rowling hating Americans is an observation based on how adamant she was in enforcing her workplace rule. If Warner Bros didnt buy the filming rights, I wouldnt be surprised if the director was English too. With Lord of the Rings, Peter Jackson didnt have such a rule when making the trilogy, a movie that had some variation of English folklores. But Tolkien's dead. Who knows if he would have made Jackson enforce a British Actors Only rule also.

So if you know why Rowling dislikes, or hates American, please share. They cant all be lazy, talentless, unprofessional slobs. Theres a prick in every country because all nations have their black sheep.

Re: Why does she hate Americans?

"Even a silent extra actor in the movie b68 had to be an English citizen"

This may surprise you but the casting of extras has nothing to do with Rowling. They were all British for a very pragmatic reason: in a film that is being shot in the UK it makes financial and geographical sense to hire British extras rather than to spend inordinate amounts of money shipping in American extras just to please some whiny git who's under the delusion that all British people still have some vendetta against America after 1776.

Look, the fact remains that Harry Potter is not just a series of novels, it's a British institution. To Americans, yes they are just a series of successful, enjoyable novels, but Harry Potter is to the United Kingom as Les Miserables is to France or The Great Gatsby is to America. It's not just a story, it's a representation of our culture, it's understandable that J K Rowling would be concerned about an American screenwriter because there is a huge culture shift between American and British culture and an American screenwriter, regardless of talent, may not be able to capture that essential Britishness of the novels. It's got nothing to do with a hate or animosity for the American people, the same would have been true were the screenwriter Australian, Chinese or even Azerbaijani, so next time, before you speak, think things through rationally, don't claim the least victimised nation in the world to be victimised, and don't over-sensationalise for the purpose of attacking someone's integrity. These are all the marks of an internet troll.

In a world where funny quotes are at the end of every message. Coming Soon to a Theatre near you

Re: Why does she hate Americans?

i dont think she hates americans, she just wants the films to be as genuine as possible. especially with the trio, i don't see a reason why american kids would be necessary. (im american, just sayin) i mean its understandable, the harry potter series is her baby. i like that she wants the nationalities to be genuine. so many times people butcher accents and stuff (on either side, not just american actors butchering ones lol) so its refreshing for once not to be cringing at someone's attempt at an accent.
i think jk is very grateful for american fans. honestly, if the harry potter sensation hadn't reached the us, they prob wouldn't have made the movies anyway. (altho they might've, idk for sure lol) or at least not made them to the big huge extent that they are.
would it be cool to have american actors in the hp movies? definitely. i mean, foreign actors have been playing american roles forever (hell, a good amount of superheroes, considered american icons, are from the uk or australia). but in the long run, i don't think it matters. plus, the rule isn't ONLY british actors. it's actors from the UK in general. there's actors from scotland and ireland in there too. it's whatever nationality the characters are supposed to be. i'm sure if there were american characters, she would make sure they only considered american actors.
and in the first couple movies there were american actors. one of chris columbus' relatives played hannah abbott, she's american (she didn't have lines, but she was still there). and verne troyer was one of the goblins (griphook i believe, altho hes not reprising his role in deathly hallows)
and if she hated americans, i don't think she would've let chris columbus be the one to kick off the series, or have steve kloves write all but ONE of the screenplays.

MOON SHOES POTTER!

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Re: Why does she hate Americans?

faerie_princess i hated the 3rd film too! i always felt like i was the only one lol, most people always went on about how outstanding cuaron's "interpretation" of hp was, and how he totally changed the tone of the series. i was like um this sucks and it's the least canon, and leaves out the most important details! lol

MOON SHOES POTTER!

Re: Why does she hate Americans?

"I didnt think she was Anti-American, at least before I read that she didnt think a script written by an American would be good."

Steve Kloves IS an American. From all indications, she has been happy with his scripts. Also, when he was first hired she I remember her stating that she was pleased about this because he wrote "The Fabulous Baker Boys", which is one of her favorite movies. (I believe she stated this during the interview session she did with him on the CoS DVD.)

BTW, posting unsubstantiated inflammatory statements is the mark of a troll.

Cheney-Voldemort '08

Re: Why does she hate Americans?

No, I never thought that quote was necessarily anti-American. I think she would have said the same thing about Australians or Fijians. Harry Potter is a very British book and she has always said that she wanted to keep the movies as British as possible to preserve their British flavour.

Never say "Worst movie ever" to someone who's seen Highlander 2

Re: Why does she hate Americans?

Hollywood doesn't have a very good record when it comes to doing movies either based on original novels or historical events (Braveheart, Patriot, U-571 etc.).

That is a sad fact folks.

Hollywood is also frequently racist against the English. I suppose she was scared Hollywood would make all the Gryffindors American and all the Slytherins English.

Re: Why does she hate Americans?

Hollywood does have its problems. But I dont see it as being intolerant of the English. In the past, the British Empire was quite do b68 mineering, conquering other nations. Hollywood does like to see America as Number One though, and America has grown to become like its father.

Well no ones has shared why Rowling didnt want Americans working on her film. Sad really, for all the young American actors who want just even a role as a non-speaking extra on the film. At least give a piece of candy to one homeless child not part of the family. ;D Theres one more movie that still being filmed. Maybe Rowling will explain it in a future interview, if a journalist brings up the topic.

Re: Why does she hate Americans?

Check all those Hollywood movies, who tends to be cast as the bad guy? Oh look another English actor is cast as the villain!

The British Empire got rid of slavery before the USA did, we all know how the USA treated Native Americans and African Americans. How do you think the USA grew from 13 States to 50, being nice and cud 111c dley?
As for no Americans in the HP movies, more Americans have appeared in the HP movies than French or Germans. Zoë Wanamaker, Eleanor Columbus and Vern Troyer are all American.

Re: Why does she hate Americans?

I thought I shared the reason. Perhaps you missed it?

Never say "Worst movie ever" to someone who's seen Highlander 2

Re: Why does she hate Americans?

Rowling isn't so much anti-American as she wanted to preserve the Britishness of the Potter books. It's interesting that as may times as the original poster is told this, that person is hellbent on propogating the idea that Rowling is anti-American. If she truly was anti-American, she never would have given the speeches at Harvard or Carnegie Hall, she wouldn't set foot in America which (gasp!!!) is full of Americans.

She is wary of American screenwriters and studios because when the Potter movies were first proposed they wanted to Americanize the series. The wanted to set the books in America and turn Harry into an American boy. The studio thought American audiences would relate to a Potter movie better that way (personally, I think Hollywood underestimates its audience far too much and too often. They are far too surprised when a film that doesn't fit their cookie cutter mold is successful instead of taking note but I digress).

The Harry Potter books are British, that's part of their appeal, that Britishness help with setting and story development. Rowling probably felt you couldn't remove that aspect of the story without destroying it. As an American I say good for her, she stood up for her vision and demanded that the studio keep it in tact instead of taking the boat load of money they offered her and running, and just praying th b68 at things turned out okay.

Re: Why does she hate Americans?

I can actually see where Rowling is coming from in her worries that an American screenwriter might not be able to keep the essence of Britishness that is felt in the books; and in many ways, Kloves hasn't. A lot of his humour feels very "Hollywood" and simplistic, and he seems to think that throwing in the odd "Bloody hell!" and (cringe) "Holy cricket!" makes the script more "British".

I can also understand her implication of the "all-British" rule in the film casting; most Americans can't do a believable British accent to save their lives, and, besides, the films are set in, and filmed in, Britain. So why ship in a load of American actors/extras? Don't we have enough good ones in the UK or something? I think the adult cast could prove as evidence for that. Be 16d0 sides, it isn't exclusively Americans who are banned; no other countries are allowed to partake. It's just many Internet fools who choose to read it in that very self-centred way.




What does it mean...when she smiles?

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Re: Why does she hate Americans?

Honestly, as an American I have to ask...Why does America have to have a part in everything? It's her creative work, if she only wanted actors from Liverpool with black hair it should be her right. Patriotism is BS through and through.

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Re: Why does she hate Americans?

MORON....approve or not, agree or not, it may be true and it may be false (thought I doubt it)but how dare you insult Patriotism. Patriots are the reason you can flap your lips and insult them the way you just did. Try a communitst nation- it may suit your stupidity better.

Re: Why does she hate Americans?


Rowling isn't so much anti-American as she wanted to preserve the Britishness of the Potter books. It's interesting that as may times as the original poster is told this, that person is hellbent on propogating the idea that Rowling is anti-American. If she truly was anti-American, she never would have given the speeches at Harvard or Carnegie Hall, she wouldn't set foot in America which (gasp!!!) is full of Americans.


Dude. It's called ACTING. There are tons of brilliant actors that are British that portray Americans, and Americans that portray British people. It's beyond WEIRD that J.K. Rowling would request something like that. Actually, it SHOULD be considered discriminatory. I'm American, and I don't care about it that much, but, if you think about it, that is an extremely weird request to make, when the nature of acting involves changing your voice, behavior, and your appearance a majority of the time.

Re: Why does she hate Americans?

Yes.

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Re: Why does she hate Americans?

Just becuse she'd rather have a British director to direct her book adaptations, doesn't mean she hates Americans.

Why must you Americans always feel you need be involved with everything, and if not, you get offended?

She'd prefer to have someone from her own country direct her books, what's wrong with that?


You're obviously not as 'centre of the world' as you think you are.

Re: Why does she hate Americans?

I don't understand why you feel the need to speak to all Americans in your post. Do you think all Americans share one brain and have the same opinions about everything? Hardly!

Nor do the British share one brain and opinion scheme, so I don't think it is fitting for you to stand up and be the speaker on their entire behalf (which is how it comes off).

You can hate individuals all you want, hopefully you have a good reason though. Hating an entire group of people for living in the same MASSIVE location is a bit much in my opinion, maybe you don't hate Americans but you as an individual certainly have some disdainful feelings based on your post. I'd recommend working on that.

Oh, and I do not extrapolate that she hates Americans based on that quote. That seems a bit far fetched.

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Re: Why does she hate Americans?

Hollywood may in America but it shows its movies worldwide. It is about time they realised this.

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Re: Why does she hate Americans?

Why would she have American actors as extras when it is filmed in the UK? It would be such a waste of money! And I totally understand why she wanted to have british actors playing the characters - it is set in England and having Americans in it would have made the movie terrible. It doesn't have to become all americanised for it to be successful - the Harry Potter movies have certainly proved that!


Re: Why does she hate Americans?

OP is the worst kind of idiot.

Well... That's just like my opinion, man.

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Re: Why does she hate Americans?


Why must you Americans always feel you need be involved with everything, and if not, you get offended?


Congratulations on posting the dumbest comment in the entire thread. After all, only highly intelligent people post blanket statements about an entire country's population. What other negative stereotypes do you hold? Do you think that you're qualified to defend Rowling on this particular subject? I love the irony.

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Re: Why does she hate Americans?

I think you're being really unfair to her. It's brilliant that Americans enjoy Harry Potter and follow the books and movies but you've got to realize that it's an English creation, lots of things are American creations and yo 5b4 u should be proud of that. If Americans want an American Harry Potter so bad then they should have written the books themselves.

Also Hollywood in the past has been unfair to the British, casting them as the villains etc.

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Re: Why does she hate Americans?

She wanted to stay true to the book. I'm American and I'd be kind of pissed if some American actor was playing a British character. She's from England big deal is she wants her characters to be from the same area. Yes, I'd like to be in those movies...who wouldn't? However we don't always get our way. Stop being babies.

Re: Why does she hate Americans?


She wanted to stay true to the book. I'm American and I'd be kind of pissed if some American actor was playing a British character. She's from England big deal is she wants her characters to be from the same area. Yes, I'd like to be in those movies...who wouldn't? However we don't always get our way. Stop being babies.


Yeah, and it's really annoying when all of them Brits, Aussies and Kiwi's keep playing American roles. Ever watched Black Hawk Down, half the cast that was supposed to be portraying American soldiers, was from England or Australia. I like the Peter Jackson approach, who gives a sh!t where they come from as long as they do a good job.

PUNK ASS DECEPTICONS

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Re: Why does she hate Americans?

Had the films been American, they would've been worse than they already are, staring Shia LaBeaoeuf, Haley Joel Osment, and Dakota Fanning as the trio.

She knew the films would be a massive disappointment no matter what. So best keep it a British disappointment than an American one.


http://bit.ly/cp14pY

Re: Why does she hate Americans?

If your goal is to see the worst in someone you will undoubtedly succeed.

Re: Why does she hate Americans?

I just saw her episode of Who Do You Think You Are. She really identifies with her French roots even though she knew very little of her French grandfather. She speaks French and they showed her accepting some kind of award in France where she spoke of her grandfather very fondly (in French) even though she never met him.

In the show she learns her grandfather's mother's last name was Schuch which I immediately knew was German. She seemed horrifi 16d0 ed to learn her family could be German at all. She just wants to be French. Her great grandmother grew up near the German border and when Germans took over in the war, families could remain French if they left their homes and moved to France. Rowling was desperate to find out if her great grandmother did this. She couldn't bear it if her family accepted being German. wtf How offensive. You can't choose where your ancestors came from.

So yes, I agree she has some sort of superiority complex but it's not just limited to being British. She hates Germans too.

The people you idolize wouldn't like you.

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Re: Why does she hate Americans?

Her books have such poor ideas that any tinkering with their British veneer might expose how bland the books really are.
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