The massively popular battle royale game Fortnite has released new Harry Potter cosmetics as part of a new collaboration that supports noted transphobe JK Rowling. This came after Fortnite skipped its annual LGBTQ+ Pride event this year. The cosmetics were leaked ahead of release, with the leaker, who goes by Poket, highlighting the damage this does to the LGBTQ+ community.Last year, Harry Potter creator J.K. Rowling claimed that Imane Khelif, a female boxer, was actually born as a man, Poket said in a statement, released via Fortnite Underground on X. Theres just one issue: they werent. Theres been a sentiment around this collaboration that goes something like you can separate the art from the artist, but that is a significantly harder ask when the artist is using their royalties to fund lawsuits and legislation that intentionally damage the quality of life of transgender people around the world. Related JK Rowling just showed why supporting Harry Potter is harmful to trans people The Harry Potter cosmetics were released as part of the Fortnite Winterfest update, which went live this week. The cosmetics can be purchased through microtransactions after purchasing the games in-game currency, meaning that Epic Games, who make Fortnite, is now helping to fund Rowling and her anti-trans activities.The events around Rowling and Imane Khelif that Poket mentions are only the tip of the iceberg. Since coming out about her feelings on transgender people in 2020, Rowling has been vocal in her hatred for trans people and pushed for legislation against gender-affirming care and social support for trans people. Her cultural weight as a celebrity, combined with her funding of campaigns, has meant that she has been able to do substantial harm to the trans community. Never Miss a Beat Subscribe to our newsletter to stay ahead of the latest LGBTQ+ political news and insights. Subscribe to our Newsletter today Rowling will undoubtedly receive substantial royalties from the Fortnite skins, just as she will for the upcoming HBO TV series. That money will likely be funneled into her hate campaign against trans people.Most recently, the U.K. Supreme Court ruled that trans women were not women for the purposes of the 2010 Equality Act. That case was brought by For Women Scotland, and over a third of its funding for the case came directly from Rowling. The author has been able to continue to provide that sort of financial support for those looking to hurt trans people because of the social and financial capital given to her works. Fortnite had been running its annual Rainbow Royale Pride events for four years straight, but the in-game event was missing this year without any explanation. GameSpot reached out to Epic, which eventually responded, We missed the Rainbow Royale window while we focused on shipping other activations and modes.However, both the GameSpot writers and Fortnite fans on Reddit were skeptical, suggesting it might be down to not wanting to anger the U.S. presidential administration, given the suspicious timing of abandoning the Pride event.Opinion I was the leaker who spoiled Harry Potter coming to #Fortnite. Here's why Last year, Harry Potter creator J.K. Rowling claimed that Imane Khelif, a female boxer, was actually born as a man. There's just one issue: they weren't. There's been a sentiment around this pic.twitter.com/tzKv18jYeK Fortnite Underground (@FNBRunderground) December 18, 2025In their statement, Poket highlighted that Epic Games has used Fortnite to raise awareness of important issues facing marginalized communities over the years. In the past, Fortnite stood for what was right, they said. In 2020, the release of Chapter 2 Season 3 was delayed by a week in respect of ongoing injustices in society in response to the George Floyd protests. One year later, Fortnite featured an event, March Through Time, which recognized the work of civil rights activist Martin Luther King Jr.And until this year, weve seen annual Rainbow Royale events celebrating LGBTQ+ members of the Fortnite community.Like other fans and GameSpot, the leaker suspects that the move away from Pride and towards supporting an anti-trans creator comes down to politics and the weight of investors. Like many companies, Epic Games seems to be rolling back these efforts due to the political climate in the United States. And, perhaps as a result of investor pressure, Epic Games has recently loosened their restrictions around what theyll add to Fortnite. Finally, Poket acknowledged that, as with most things related to Rowlings work, some people wont care, will claim that they can separate the work from the artist, and find justifications to engage with the content. However, they felt they needed to speak out: Most people wont care. These Outfits will probably sell pretty well, most people will be happy to see one of their favorite childhood franchises come to the game, and Epic Games and J.K. Rowling will make plenty of money.But Im not okay with that, and I hope youre not okay with it either.So, why I spoiled Harry Potter coming to Fortnite? I wanted to ruin the surprise so that less people would buy it.The comments on X include both sides: those who claim its not important or that they will buy the cosmetics because of the harm Rowling does, and those who agree with Poket and highlight the need to avoid supporting Rowling or her work.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.