Author: I declined reunion invitation

JK Rowling has denied that she was snubbed from the recent Harry Potter reunion show – explaining in a radio interview that she declined an offer to appear because the programme focused on the films and not the books.

The absence of Rowling from the 20th anniversary special had fuelled speculation that she had been left out because of her controversial views on transgender people.

But speaking to Graham Norton on Virgin Radio UK, Rowling said she declined to appear because the programme focused on the films.

She said: “I was asked to be on that and I decided I didn’t want to do it. It was about the films more than the books.

“Quite rightly, that was what the anniversary was about. I was asked to do it and I decided not to.”

Her views on transgender issues have been criticised by some of the films’ stars, including Emma Watson and Daniel Radcliffe.