May 12, 2008: The Bench: Fan Feud Is Our First Sign JK Rowling Has Done A Heel-Turn

Accio legal system? This week, Emily and V look into the super-bummer that was a harbinger of even worse super-bummers to come: the time JK Rowling sued her biggest fan for basically knowing more about Harry Potter than she did. And everyone in the whole world sided with her, because it was 2008 and the deification of that woman was REAL. Fortunately, it's 2026, the scales have fallen from our eyes, we've already covered Lindaaaaa for precedence, and we can have a real discussion about what the ruling meant for fandom, fanworks, and poor Steven Vander Ark. Sources Fanlore Promo Check out our new pod-friends STAN! You really think you could be besties with Hailey Bieber? That's cute. A podcast dedicated to exploring parasociality, celebrity worship and digital intimacy. We explore digital media through the lens of girlhood, constructed intimacy, and pop culture. Each episode centres on a cultural icon or phenomenon—ranging from The Hunger Games, erotic fiction, 2010s YouTubers and (of course) Taylor Swift—to unpack how the media we consumed, particularly during our formative years, shaped our desires, ideals, and sense of self. Aim High Brooch Designs - For 25% off any order on Aim High Brooch Designs on Etsy, including a custom brooch, bag charm, keychain, or magnet design, use the promo code TWIFH. This Week In Fandom History is a fandom-centric podcast that tells you… what happened this week in fandom history! Follow This Week in Fandom History on Tumblr at @thisweekinfandomhistory We're now on Instagram! @/thisweekinfandomhistory Check out our Fandom Primer playlist via linktr.ee/twifh You can support the show via our Patreon at http://www.patreon.com/thisweekinfandomhistory. If you have a fannish company, event, or service and would like to sponsor or partner with TWIFH, please contact us via our website. Please remember to rate the show 5 stars on your listening platform of choice! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.