Hogwarts Legacy sparks further backlash with name of new transgender character

London, UK - Amid the backlash over J.K. Rowling's transphobic comments, the new Harry Potter video game Hogwarts Legacy has introduced the franchise's first transgender character, and some are taking issue with one particular detail of the new wizard.

Hogwarts Legacy will introduce the first transgender character in the Harry Potter franchise.
Hogwarts Legacy will introduce the first transgender character in the Harry Potter franchise.  © Collage: ANGELA WEISS / AFP & Unsplash/@bitu2104

The 57-year-old author's controversial stance on the trans community has marred the Harry Potter franchise and led some to boycott the new game.

Rowling was not directly involved in the creation of Hogwarts Legacy, but she stands to profit off the use of the Harry Potter IP.

Even without her involvement, though, the game has found itself deep in controversy after new details were revealed about the game's trans character, Sirona Ryan.

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Some fans pointed out the use of a name with "sir" in it for a transgender woman as another instance of the franchise's questionable name choices.

The backlash may seem nitpicky, but the magical franchise has become somewhat infamous for its pattern of rather questionable character names.

Fans criticize the name of Hogwarts Legacy's transgender character

Fans have drawn comparisons between the name Sirona Ryan and Cho Chang from the original Harry Potter series.
Fans have drawn comparisons between the name Sirona Ryan and Cho Chang from the original Harry Potter series.  © IMAGO / Cinema Publishers Collection

For many years now, readers have called out Rowling for giving racist names to her characters like Cho Chang and Kingsley Shacklebolt.

"I gotta say, Hogwarts Legacy putting a trans character in the game named 'Sirona Ryan' is either some next level Tone-Deafness or some insanely petty bigotry lmfao," one content creator tweeted.

"Glad to see the classic rowling character naming method is still in practice," another user joked.

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Others have also argued that Sirona's inclusion is a performative attempt to quell the negative attention rather than a genuine push for diversity in the game.

"'Sirona Ryan' is funny because trans people and trans allies aren't going to be swayed by that barebones tokenism, and Rowling’s supporters are going to hate the inclusion of a trans character on principle," one user tweeted.

Though Sirona is a nonplayable character, players will not be restricted by gender in the character-creation options and can play as a trans character if they wish.

Hogwarts Legacy is set for release on Friday.

Cover photo: Collage: ANGELA WEISS / AFP & Unsplash/@bitu2104

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