Duolingo apologised after users spotted a German exercise calling J.K. Rowling mean. The company confirmed the content has been removed.
The lesson asked if students liked Harry Potter books. The official answer included a personal judgement about the author.
A spokesperson said Duolingo regretted the offence and stressed the platform’s lessons should remain focused on language, not personal opinions.
Rowling’s public stance on trans rights has made her a polarising figure, drawing criticism from activists, fans, and fellow writers.
Daniel Radcliffe said Rowling’s remarks saddened him, adding he will continue to support equality and rights for LGBTQ+ people.
Wider Literary Controversies
Some learners argued political commentary should have no place in education apps. Producer Gaby Koppel criticised the sentence openly on X.
At the same time, Rowling clashed again with Nicola Sturgeon, mocking parts of her autobiography online with dismissive comments.
Sturgeon said Rowling could hold her own views but accused the author of choosing inflammatory language to attack her position.
The Polari Prize also faced backlash this year, suspending its competition after outrage over the selection of novelist John Boyne.
Boyne, known for bestselling work, defended Rowling and openly embraced gender-critical views, causing criticism from the LGBTQ+ literary community.
