There have been lots of messaging about JK Rowling with accusations of trans-phobia and anti-Semitism. It is the latter I want to address. Personally I have read the first five books to my eldest son. That’s a lot of reading out loud. When you read out loud you do get a more focussed attention on what is written. At no point did I pause and think that something was unacceptable. Although I did pause many times and wish they’d hired an editor to trim some of it down a bit.
This perception was borne out by a comment in the Jewish News of October 2016 that commented on the lack of Jewish representation in the books. The goblins were mentioned but the perception was that this was not anti-Semitic. In the same article the film “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them” was mentioned positively for the inclusion of Jewish characters and the visibility of a menorah.
So in 2016 the work of JK Rowling was not perceived as anti-Semitic by Jewish commentators.
In February 2019 she put out a Tweet in response to anti-Semitic Labour members that highlighted her abhorrence of anti-Semitism.
Roll forward to after she made a controversial Tweet about biological women and there are lots of posts and accusations that she is anti-Semitic and a Nazi. Most of this seems to be based on the Gringotts bank set in the first film. This was filmed in the London’s High Commission of Australia building which had a symbol similar to the Star of David on the floor. This is actually the Star of Australia which denotes the six states of Austrlia. A different set was used for other films before. The different set was used long before the anti-Semitism accusations were being promoted.
In fantasy fiction Goblins are frequently portrayed as being avaricious, from the Noddy stories to Lord of the Rings. JK Rowling did not invent anything new.
The accusations of anti-Semitism levelled against JK Rowling seem to be fabricated to tarnish her name.
The Campaign Against Antisemitism has commended her as being a “tireless defender” of the Jewish Community. Not what you’d expect about an anti-Semite.
https://thejewishnews.com/2018/10/24/wheres-the-jewish-representation-in-harry-potter-part-2/
https://www.lbc.co.uk/news/uk/jk-rowling-tireless-defender-jewish-community-anti-semitic-goblin/