Popular language learning app Duolingo has apologized and removed a lesson from its app after users spotted a German translation exercise that labelled Harry Potter author JK Rowling “mean.”
The incident came to light when freelance TV producer and writer Gaby Koppel shared a screenshot of the exercise on X (formerly Twitter). The lesson posed the question: “Magst du die Bücher mit Harry Potter als Figur?” (“Do you like books with Harry Potter as a character?”).
The “correct” answer displayed was: “Ja, aber meiner Meinung nach ist die Autorin gemein.” (“Yes, but in my opinion the author is mean.”) The incorrect alternative response was: “Yes, you’re right. I’m interested in sports.”
The inclusion of Rowling’s name in a negative context quickly raised eyebrows. Koppel, who had been using the app for five months, told The Daily Telegraph that Rowling was the “first and only real-life person” she had seen criticized in lessons. “It’s gratuitous – how is Rowling relevant to learning German?” she said.
On X, she wrote: “Shame on you @duolingo: learning German and I came across the sentence ‘Yes I like Harry Potter but the author is mean.’ How woke do you have to be to let trans ideology infect a language lesson?”
Responding to the backlash, Duolingo, which reports more than 130 million daily active users worldwide, said in a statement posted on X: “We apologize for any offence caused and will remove this content.”
The timing of the misstep coincides with Rowling’s renewed clash with former Scottish first minister Nicola Sturgeon over gender recognition laws. Just last week, Rowling shared heavily annotated pages of Sturgeon’s autobiography Frankly on social media, scrawling over one passage: “Are you f***ing kidding me???” She later joked about auctioning the copy, with proceeds going to a women’s rights group.
Rowling has remained a polarising figure since she began publicly criticising gender self-identification laws in 2020. Her views have drawn strong rebukes from stars of the original Harry Potter films. Daniel Radcliffe stated at the time: “Transgender women are women…Any statement to the contrary erases the identity and dignity of transgender people and goes against all advice given by professional health care associations.” Emma Watson added in a post: “I want my trans followers to know that I and so many other people around the world see you, respect you and love you for who you are.”
Rowling has dismissed such reactions, once remarking that her actors could “save their apologies” for “traumatised detransitioners.” Meanwhile, Nick Frost—cast as Hagrid in the upcoming Harry Potter TV adaptation—has also distanced himself from her views. “She’s allowed her opinion and I’m allowed mine – they just don’t align in any way, shape or form,” he told The Observer in an interview.
For Duolingo, the Rowling reference marks a rare PR stumble. Known for its quirky, gamified approach to language learning, the app has often embraced pop culture in its lessons—but critics argue this instance blurred the line between playful examples and pointed commentary.
What do you think—was Duolingo out of line, or just unlucky with its choice of example? Join the conversation with us on X and Instagram (@lyricalmuseblog), and keep the discussion going at Lyrical Muse.
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