Years ago, Rowling created a mini-scandal when she revealed that Hogwarts headmaster Dumbledore is in fact gay. At the time, it seemed like a plausible but juicy tidbit about the character. But as Rowling has continued to expand on her universe with her writing for the Harry Potter Fantastic Beasts prequel movies, she's gone ahead and added way, way more detail to the story.
The movies have largely avoided the issue of a young Dumbledore's (Jude Law) supposed boyhood relationship with Gellert Grindelwald (Johnny Depp), leaving it mostly to longing glances rather than anything steamy.
But Rowling has noted that there is indeed a sexual dimension to their romance in her commentary in a special feature on the Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald Blu-ray edition.
It was passionate, and it was a love relationship, the author reportedly said. But as happens in any relationship, gay or straight or whatever label we want to put on it, one never knows really what the other person is feeling. You cant know, you can believe you know.
There are more Fantastic Beasts films to be made, but those looking for Dumbledore erotica will likely be disappointed since the author said she's less interested in the sexual side" in her fictional renderings, instead choosing to explore the "sense of the emotions they felt for each other."
Rowling has however promised to "unpack" whatever went down between the characters down the road. You will see Dumbledore as a younger man and quite a troubled man-he wasnt always the sage, the author told Entertainment Weekly in 2018. Well see him at that formative period of his life. As far as his sexuality is concerned... watch this space.
Again, people were not exactly clamoring for this information, yet here we are. Luckily, fans have made Rowling's transparency about her characters' sexuality into an amusing Twitter meme you don't even need to be a Harry Potter fan to enjoy.
No one: J.K. Rowling: Voldemort has a 12-inch penis - Dana Schwartz (@DanaSchwartzzz) March 17, 2019
nobody: jk rowling: lol Dumbledore & Grindewald were totally doin the sex people: oh ok will you put it in a book or movie jk rowling: no people: ugh nobody: nobody: nobody: jk rowling: SO MUCH SEX THEY WERE DOIN SO MUCH SEX I SWEAR - Elle Gato (@ellle_em) March 17, 2019
Nobody: J.K. Rowling: Dumbledores patronus is the Grindr logo - carter (@carterhambley) March 17, 2019
No One: J. K. Rowling: a quaffle is also a magic sex position - Alan Henry (@AlanHenry) March 17, 2019
You sit down on a couch in JK Rowlings house and shes like, Careful, Dumbledore got railed there. - Louis Virtel (@louisvirtel) March 17, 2019
Nobody: J.K. Rowling: Dumbledore ate the peach from Call Me By Your Name - jon (@prasejeebus) March 17, 2019
No one: J.K. Rowling: Dobby is so fucking hung - John PAX East (@mistermegative) March 17, 2019
reporter: hello jk rowling: there was actually a fifth hogwarts house that no one knew about. it was called sex house and it was where the horniest wizards were sorted into. they spent their days fucking and sucking and not learning much magic at all - Bob Vulfov (@bobvulfov) March 17, 2019
me: jk rowling: me: jk rowling: me: i - jk rowling: arthur weasley likes to watch - David Mack (@davidmackau) March 18, 2019
interviewer: here we have the jk rowling, critically acclaimed author of the harry pott- jk rowling: hagrid fucked the sorting hat - Ash (@CloudsOfAsh) March 17, 2019