Tension continues to rise as a group of tattoo artists in Brighton have launched an initiative offering free cover-up tattoos for fans of the Harry Potter series who now wish to distance themselves from author J.K. Rowling. The move comes after the UK Supreme Court’s ruling on April 16, 2025, which defined “woman,” “man,” and “sex” in the 2010 Equality Act as biological terms—ruling that transgender individuals who are legally recognized as female are not entitled to access women-only spaces.
The case was brought forth by the gender-critical campaign group For Women Scotland, which received financial backing from Rowling. Since then, the author has faced a growing backlash, with some former fans deciding to sever their ties to the Harry Potter franchise, including those who previously had tattoos of the series’ iconic symbols.
Helena Gifford, 23, a tattoo artist who runs Hella Tattoos at The Blackhouse Tattoo studio in Brighton, is spearheading the cover-up initiative. “I saw a post that J.K. Rowling had funded the ruling, and I got really annoyed,” Gifford said. “I thought if I had a Harry Potter tattoo, I’d want to get it covered.”
Since announcing the free cover-up offer, Gifford has received 50 inquiries and completed three cover-ups so far. She noted that some of the tattoos were difficult to work with, as many were “big or dark,” but she is committed to providing the service free of charge. Instead of receiving tips for the cover-ups, Gifford encourages clients to donate to a GoFundMe campaign, which has raised £250 for Trans Pride Brighton.
While the cover-up initiative has largely received positive feedback, Gifford mentioned that there have been some negative reactions, with some defending their Harry Potter tattoos and others expressing anger. “Some people in the comments have been getting defensive about their own tattoos, or bigots have been getting mad, but overall, the reaction has been positive,” she said.
For Gifford, the decision to support the cover-up movement was deeply personal. She explained, “Harry Potter was very fundamental in my child-rearing years. Now I think, what are you signaling to other people with a Harry Potter tattoo? I don’t want to make anyone feel uncomfortable.”
Other fans of the franchise, like Clarke, also reflected on their changing feelings toward Rowling’s work. “The world she built was great. It was good for me at the time, but right now, I try to actively avoid it,” Clarke said.
The controversy surrounding Rowling intensified after her vocal support for the Supreme Court ruling, which clarified that transgender women—those born male—cannot access women-only spaces, a decision that has sparked a nationwide debate. Rowling celebrated the ruling on her social media platform X, writing: “It took three extraordinary, tenacious Scottish women with an army behind them to get this case heard by the Supreme Court and, in winning, they’ve protected the rights of women and girls across the UK.”
Since then, the author has continued to face criticism from LGBTQ+ activists, with many accusing her of transphobia. The backlash prompted some fans to publicly renounce their support of the Harry Potter franchise, including those who had once cherished it as a cornerstone of their youth.
Rowling’s supporters, however, have rallied around her. Among them is Senator Mike Lee, a Republican from Utah and ally of former President Donald Trump, who defended Rowling’s stance. Lee said, “Ignore realities of criminal behavior at your own peril,” in response to the ongoing debate.
As the discussion about transgender rights and Rowling’s views on gender continues, it’s clear that the fallout from the Supreme Court ruling and the author’s outspoken opinions is far from over.
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