J.K. Rowling's excuse for skipping the Harry Potter.

During the promotion of her most recent "Robert Galbraith" mystery.

[{"selector":"#anim-300e3571-ba07-4008-9ce5-5976fee00d81","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(110.20407%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":500,"duration":4000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-18ee3b34-2075-41cd-8cdb-0ab2aeb4ab34","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":500,"duration":4000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ed01267e-b758-4358-a98c-9351de42b285","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":500,"duration":4000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-109fd57e-0bee-476c-ace3-a10fd1f852a6 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(31.249999886225726%, 0, 0) translate(25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":500,"duration":4000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.14,.34,.47,.9)","fill":"forwards"}]

Norton followed up by inquiring as to if she was still in contact with "the young performers."

[{"selector":"#anim-ceea58c2-9232-49e5-824a-61fe105dd38d [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(30.489350794389043%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-caffbfd5-de3e-431a-b0bc-9a65a5b21462","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":500,"duration":4000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7f4c30e2-ba1a-4970-92ba-17cc70b09b0b","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(109.16905%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":500,"duration":4000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

Many ardent Harry Potter fans have expressed great dismay at the controversy.

[{"selector":"#anim-d222f222-1715-4e42-a339-a150cc70c48a [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c5bd1442-c698-4a95-92b2-aba29572df12","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5b7d1da2-0005-44f1-9293-8affc5b472ba","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}]

Emma Watson also made it known on Twitter that she disagreed with Rowling.

[{"selector":"#anim-dc6a8ffb-9627-4e83-a16c-21ab61272635 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-32.42187489333662%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":500,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c6faab2e-4348-4343-be1f-c73c85672248","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":500,"duration":4000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9c3154ca-430b-4a8e-9dfd-be356ed18ea4","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-111.9403%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":500,"duration":4000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

Rowling produced a 3,700 word article to defend her views after receiving criticism.

[{"selector":"#anim-af4a576f-87f1-47fd-8ddf-44b76b212c06 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(30.489350794389043%, 0, 0) translate(25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.14,.34,.47,.9)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ec9d65e3-7aec-49dd-a129-e7eeee5c2049","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(112.88344%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":500,"duration":4000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-da32f7b8-ee3a-499a-8a74-62dcfce4e440","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":500,"duration":4000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-44bf06e5-d060-4b53-b6a7-f828186237c3","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":500,"duration":4000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}]

Rowling's staff informed EW days before the HBO Max special aired that the author declined to take part.

[{"selector":"#anim-b4092556-4ec6-4193-88e8-69258da35df8 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(31.249999886225726%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-2f36688e-e4cf-4d21-a599-737ce493e494","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":500,"duration":4000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-8f72de43-df5b-4a67-931f-954475729075","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(123.74101%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":500,"duration":4000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

However, the first official announcement was made in the Norton interview.

[{"selector":"#anim-5a10908d-1940-4a5e-b4e8-9c0202067df8 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(31.865234264958946%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c37a04b5-be38-477f-b421-031a86651682","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":500,"duration":4000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b76d9244-f8fc-4178-bf50-2818346c4bde","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(114.86067%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":500,"duration":4000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

Rowling appeared in archival material for the reunion show.

[{"selector":"#anim-4e6132c1-89e5-4906-bbaa-7e2935bed2f9","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":500,"duration":4000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-10b0153f-bb1d-4c2f-8af1-705606723b8e","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-129.84496%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":500,"duration":4000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Learn more