The full length trailer has dropped for the new HBO Harry Potter series. It’s not an extension of the original series, it’s not a prequel, not a reboot– just a… different version of what the movies already gave us. I have watched the trailer twice now, and there are just so many reasons why this series was, is, and always will be unnecessary, in my opinion. Both from the perspective of a long-time former fan, and a humanitarian. I plan to share both.

Strictly from the perspective of a long-time fan, I see no upsides to this series. There is nothing original about it. It’s not telling a new story in the universe. It’s redoing something that has already been done and is a touchstone of modern media. It seems mean to these actors to have them compete with the likes of Maggie Smith, Robbie Coltrane, Alan Rickman, Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and so many others masters of their craft. They made those roles iconic. They own them wholly. The new trailer, in addition to feeling flat and lifeless, also just felt like alternative universe Harry Potter. Every role felt wrong, like an ill-fitting garment that everyone insists looks great on you. And a Harry Potter production sans the magnificent, orchestral Hedwig’s Theme? Straight to jail.

I simply cannot understand why they elected to just redo the original series in lieu of telling any one of the numerous subplots fans have been begging for for years, like joining the original marauders for their shenanigans in high school, or witnessing the formation of the original Order of the Phoenix, or hell following the original three through adulthood. That would make sense. Nothing about this series does. That child is not Harry Potter, that young blonde lady with the bob is not Aunt Petunia, and that derp ass dude with the perfectly normal voice is NOT Hagrid. No amount of Hollywood magic can change that.

While I am not the biggest Harry Potter superfan that has ever lived, a superfan I surely was. Multiple rooms in my houses over the years have been Harry Potter themed, including my youngest daughter’s nursery. I have had several pets who share monikers with Harry Potter characters, I have original art and box sets and trinkets, I have rewatched the movies over and over again, I have even written think pieces around data proving that reading the series makes kids better, more empathetic people. It was a huge part of my life for decades, one that I shared with my own kids hoping they would learn the same lessons I did.

But the older I got, the more the series started to make me uncomfortable. The racism, antisemitism, xenophobia, ableism, homophobia, classism, and countless other problematic themes, both casual and overt, started to become glaringly obvious issues that I had somehow initially overlooked. I remember trying to read the books again in my late 30s and being appalled at myself for not recognizing it all earlier. I know I’m not the only one, countless progressives just like me missed it too. But that doesn’t excuse how easy it was for us to explain away those problematic themes because we had become so attached to the magic. The truth is, JK Rowling isn’t even that talented a writer and she was an issue long before she started using her fortune to target trans people. I’ll save you my soapbox and not go through each issue now, but you can find a pretty comprehensive link here with which to do your own research.

Once I started to peel back the curtains on the nefarious underlying themes, it was impossible to feel enchanted any longer, and I ended up regretting and resenting sharing it with my kids. My oldest especially fell hard just like I did and is having trouble letting it go. I am not the kind of mom that enforces my own beliefs on my children, but we talk often about why I have turned my back on it. She’s still young, but I hope she gets there eventually. Because no matter how much this series has meant to me over the years, I will never intentionally contribute my hard earned money to JK Rowling’s TERFy coffers again. She takes the money she earns from the series she wrote about love and acceptance and uses it to fund legislation against trans people. She does not just hold hateful beliefs about trans people, though that would be reason enough to revoke my support of her, she has poured millions into helping anti-trans legislation get passed in the United Kingdom.

I know the subject of trans people is controversial but for the life of me I cannot fathom why. I cannot imagine being so insecure in my own womanhood that sharing it with trans women and being called cis threatens me. I cannot conceive of being so delusional that I could sincerely believe that cis men would go to the trouble of pretending to be trans to assault and harm women. They simply do not need to do that. Men who harm women become presidents here. I cannot imagine tying for FIFTH place in a swim meet with a trans girl and making it my entire personality and career. I cannot fathom concerning myself with the name and pronouns a person prefers to be called and what may or may not be between their legs. Most of all, I cannot conceive of being one of the most successful, beloved, wealthiest authors of all-time and spending my riches, time, and energy and using my immense power and influence to inflict harm on an already marginalized and endangered group of humans. Imagine doing all that when remaining silent and living a quiet life of luxury and comfort was an option.

One of my favorite things about the millennial generation is the fact that we have refused to give up the things that bring us joy in the name of maturing. We have lived in frenetic chaos since adolescence so I love that we have prioritized joy and whimsy in our lives, but it is time to close this chapter permanently. I’m not going to burn all of my Harry Potter items as that money has already gone to her at this point. But there simply is no ethical way to consume new, licensed Harry Potter materials. Every cent you spend, every stream you view, every park you visit is another donation to the intentional harm and erasure of trans people. That’s eugenics. And you don’t want to be a eugenicist… right?