J.K. Rowling’s “Harry Potter” franchise is criticized by makeup and beauty influencers when ColourPop announced a collaboration with the children’s book franchise. In recent years, Rowling has been criticized for making transphobic remarks.
Inspired by the popular novel series, the collection includes eyeshadow palettes, eyeliners, highlighters, and lipsticks. Individual eyeshadow colours include “Dementor,” “Slytherin,” and “Patronus,” as well as other references that “Harry Potter” aficionados will recognize.
A post shared by ColourPop Cosmetics (@colourpopcosmetics) on their Twitter account.
The collection was released by ColourPop on September 8, despite strong condemnation from beauty influencers.
Chrissy Chlapecka, who has over five million followers on TikTok, expressed disappointment with the collection, a sentiment shared by cosmetics expert Vanessa Funes. Fumes, also known as @cutcreaser to her over 300,000 Instagram followers, has previously frequently featured ColourPop products in her postings.
She posted on the brand’s release, “Very sad if y’all are partnering with the Harry Potter license/franchise/IP, as it directly funds a well-known transphobe.”
A tweet from Vanessa (@cutcreaser).
Lilly Teel, a trans makeup artist with over 100,000 TikTok followers, stated she would no longer use ColourPop due to its association with “Harry Potter.” On her Twitter account, she tweeted, “Goodbye, ColourPop; I will no longer be utilizing you.”
She told the beauty and fashion journal Glossy that she felt “betrayed” by the brand, adding that ColourPop’s support for the LGBTQ+ community made her feel like a “marketing tool.”
Teel noted that because the “beauty community” is a “safe zone for many LGBTQ individuals,” she felt compelled to speak out against the collection.
—Lilly mf Teel (@lillymuateel) on Twitter
September 7, 2022
Rowling was initially criticized in June 2020 for her tweets about the transgender community and a lengthy op-ed on her website in which she called trans identity a “social contagion” and stated that people were opening “doors of bathrooms and changing rooms to any man who believes or feels he’s a woman” and “providing cover to predators.”
She was met with opposition from trans activists and “Harry Potter” enthusiasts. Her remarks also prompted “Harry Potter” actors Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, and Eddie Redmayne to embrace transgender individuals.
ColourPop did not explicitly address the “Potter” controversy, but in an Instagram Story posted on September 7, the business said it would donate to LGBTQ-inclusive non-profits in recognition of Suicide Awareness Month.
ColourPop stated, “Our ongoing mission at ColourPop is to promote a community of acceptance, love, inclusion, and support.”
ColourPop declared that they will donate to LGBTQ+ organizations.
ColourPop/Instagram
But not everyone was convinced by the gesture.
Christine Mielke, who runs the blog Temptalia and has over 200,000 Instagram followers, slammed ColourPop’s reaction as “a fluffy bit of nothing” in a blog post about the cooperation.
Mielke also stated that she would not be reviewing the collection and that she would be donating “all commission” received from her affiliate codes on the ColourPop x “Harry Potter” collection to The Trevor Project.
A shared post by Christine (@temptalia)
A ColourPop representative told Glossy that the company “cares strongly about the LGBTQIA+ community” and that the cooperation has been in the works for more than two years.
A spokeswoman stated, “We had no idea what would occur in the globe and on Twitter between the time we began investing in this collection and the present day; the past four years have been entirely unprecedented.”
In recent years, dozens of companies have partnered with the “Potter” concept, including Le Creuset, Pottery Barn, American Girl, Vera Bradley, Swarovski, and Casetify. Previously, CNBC estimated the “Harry Potter” franchise to be worth $25 billion.
ColourPop did not immediately respond to an inquiry from Insider.
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