Language-learning platform Duolingo has issued an apology and removed a controversial prompt after one of its German lessons referred to author J.K. Rowling as mean, sparking backlash across social media.The lesson, part of Duolingos German course, asked users: Magst du die Bcher mit Harry Potter als Figur? which translates to, Do you like books with Harry Potter as a character?One of the accepted answers read: Ja, aber meiner Meinung nach ist die Autorin gemein. Translation: Yes, but in my opinion, the author is mean.Critics immediately connected the statement to Rowlings long-standing, controversial views on transgender rights, which have made her a polarizing figure within the LGBTQ+ community.User Flags the Lesson on Social MediaGaby Koppel, a freelance TV producer and writer, brought attention to the lesson after encountering it during her German studies. Koppel, who had been using the app for about five months, said Rowling was the first and only real-life figure she saw criticized in a language prompt.Its gratuitous, how is Rowling relevant to learning German? Koppel told The Telegraph.On X (formerly Twitter), she posted a screenshot of the lesson, writing: Shame on you @duolingo: learning German and I came across the sentence Yes I like Harry Potter but the author is mean. How woke do you have to be to let trans ideology infect a language lesson?Duolingo RespondsIn a statement, Duolingo said: We apologize for any offense caused and will remove this content.With more than 130 million active users worldwide, Duolingo is widely regarded as one of the most accessible educational tools globally. The company has since removed the lesson and reiterated its commitment to keeping content apolitical and appropriate for learners of all backgrounds.Still, the incident sparked debate over how education and entertainment apps navigate cultural commentary and where the line lies between being socially aware and editorializing.Rowlings History of Anti-Trans RhetoricThe backlash stems from Rowlings well-documented opposition to transgender-inclusive policies. Most recently, she reignited tensions by publicly criticizing former Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon over gender recognition reforms.In a post earlier this month, Rowling shared a photo of Sturgeons new memoir with her own angry annotations, including a handwritten, Are you f***ing kidding me??? over a passage about womens rights. She later joked that she might auction off the scribbled-on book to benefit a U.K.-based womens rights group that has been accused of anti-trans rhetoric.Rowlings views have been widely condemned by LGBTQ+ advocates including several stars of the Harry Potter film franchise.Daniel Radcliffe, who played the series titular character, said in 2020: Transgender women are women Any statement to the contrary erases the identity and dignity of transgender people.Emma Watson also issued support, tweeting:I want my trans followers to know that I and so many other people around the world see you, respect you, and love you for who you are.When a fan suggested Rowling was owed an apology by the actors, Rowling responded online, saying they could save their apologies for traumatized detransitioners.Nick Frost, who is set to play Hagrid in the upcoming HBO Harry Potter reboot, also distanced himself from Rowlings politics, saying, Shes allowed her opinion, and Im allowed mine, they just dont align in any way.Duolingo has long branded itself as family-friendly and politically neutral, and its content moderation policies typically prohibit offensive or polarizing material. The Rowling prompt has forced the platform to re-examine its boundaries and what kind of commentary belongs in language lessons.For now, the company has removed the phrase and pledged to avoid similar missteps in the future.As debates over trans rights, celebrity accountability, and media responsibility continue to unfold, even educational apps are finding themselves pulled into the fray, and being held accountable for the messages they platform.Source