JK Rowling trans row explodes as tattoo artists offer FREE Harry Potter cover-ups
Tattoo artists in Brighton are offering free cover-ups of Harry Potter tattoos as former fans distance themselves from JK Rowling.
The initiative follows the UK Supreme Court ruling on April 16, 2025, which defined “woman”, “man” and “sex” in the 2010 Equality Act as biological terms.
The case was brought by gender-critical campaign group For Women Scotland, financially backed by the Harry Potter author.
Helena Gifford, 23, who runs Hella Tattoos at The Blackhouse Tattoo studio in Brighton, is spearheading the free cover-up initiative.
“I saw a post that JK Rowling had funded the ruling, and I got really annoyed. I thought that if I had a Harry Potter tattoo, I would want to get it covered,” she said.
Since announcing her offer, Gifford has received 50 enquiries and completed three cover-ups. She said covering tattoos can be difficult, as lots of people have “big or dark ones”.
Gifford is asking people to donate to a GoFundMe instead of tipping her for the cover-ups.
She has so far raised £250 for Trans Pride Brighton.
“Some people in the comments have been getting defensive about their own Harry Potter tattoos or bigots have been getting mad but overall, the reaction has been positive,” she said.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:
Paapa Essiedu in ‘hypocrisy’ row as he signs trans support letter amid role in Harry Potter rebootTom Felton poised for role in Harry Potter series after standing by JK Rowling amid trans backlash‘Stop this nonsense!’ JK Rowling embroiled in ANOTHER trans row as Boy George claims she ‘hates men’
Betsy Clarke, 49, recently moved to Hove with her trans wife after leaving the US following President Donald Trump’s inauguration.
She had her Deathly Hallows tattoo covered with an image of her cat, Andromeda, at True Romance in Brighton.
“Harry Potter was very fundamental in my child-rearing years,” she said. “Now I think, what are you signalling to other people with a Harry Potter tattoo? I don’t want to make anyone feel uncomfortable.”
Clarke reflected on her decision: “The world she [JK Rowling] built was great. It was good for me at the time but right now, I try to actively avoid it.”
The Supreme Court ruling clarified that “women-only” spaces cannot be accessed by those born male who identify as women.
JK Rowling has been vocal about her gender-critical opinions since 2019, when she defended Maya Forstater.
The multi-millionaire author has faced criticism, with some accusing her of being transphobic and withdrawing support from the Harry Potter franchise.
Last month, a landmark ruling by the Supreme Court determined that a transgender person with a certificate recognising them as female should not be considered a woman for equality purposes.
Rowling celebrated this decision, posting on X: “It took three extraordinary, tenacious Scottish women with an army behind them to get this case heard by the Supreme Court and, in winning, they’ve protected the rights of women and girls across the UK.”
Both the British and Scottish Governments have said they will work to implement the ruling.
Senator Mike Lee, a Utah Republican and close ally of Trump, backed Rowling in the dispute, saying: “Ignore realities of criminal behaviour at your own peril.”