Duolingo faced criticism after a German exercise described J.K. Rowling as mean. The app removed the sentence and issued an apology.
The prompt asked about Harry Potter books. The official answer attacked Rowling personally instead of offering a neutral response.
Duolingo said it regretted the incident and stressed its goal is teaching language, not passing judgment on public figures.
Rowling’s stance on trans rights continues to spark controversy worldwide, dividing fans, activists, and fellow writers.
Daniel Radcliffe voiced disappointment in her comments while reaffirming his commitment to support LGBTQ equality.
Reactions and Broader Literary Disputes
Some users condemned the sentence as political bias. Producer Gaby Koppel shared her objection on social media, criticising Duolingo’s choice.
Meanwhile, Rowling reignited conflict with Nicola Sturgeon, ridiculing passages from Sturgeon’s autobiography in posts shared online.
Sturgeon acknowledged Rowling’s right to disagree but called her tone hostile and inflammatory.
In another controversy, the Polari Prize paused its 2025 competition following anger at novelist John Boyne’s longlisting.
Boyne has repeatedly defended Rowling, promoted gender-critical positions, and faced intense backlash from LGBTQ communities.
