"But Val!" You might be saying, "I didn't actually think Rowling was transphobic until her op-ed two years later!" Okay. So what I'm hearing is that Taylor Swift has released five albums in the time you've spent feeling conflicted about Harry Potter.

I know that separating the art from the artist is a lifelong quest, but JK Rowling was acting TERFy before Elon Musk called the Thai rescue diver a pedophile, before Cambridge Analytica shut down, before the Golden State Killer was caught, before BEYCHELLA. We have had some time to think, folks.

I, too, was obsessed with Harry Potter as a child, but I also can't help but notice that we've had the sense that JK Rowling probably doesn't believe in trans women since the days when these three were still working for Donald Trump.

I get that it's hard to break up with our childhood favorites, but we've known that JK Rowling was weird about trans women since before any of these movies came out. 🧵

Some quick personal thoughts on the news today, as a Static Media union, partnered with WGA, has gained voluntary recognition. 🎉🎉🎉

Recs so far! Keep em coming.

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

If you follow some of these orgs on socials you should be set for updates! Also recommend following Mothers Against Genocide Glasgow, Stand Up To Racism Glasgow, Cabaret Against Hate Speech, We Are Here Scotland, and Milk Community Glasgow for updates.

Ended the afternoon looking out to make sure a Palestinian charity didn't get harassed and was reminded how special Glasgow is. Saw a guy playing banjo, a man making a sand sculpture, bike messengers, goths, queer kids, tourists, World Cup fans, Take That concertgoers...Glasgow is for *everybody.*

Shout out to the Starbucks Buchanan St. staff who fast tracked me to a big bathroom when a BIRD POOPED ON MY EYE while I was trying to be an active bystander as the crowd started to thin.

Finally moved enough to see it, and this is what's left of the anti-refugee crowd. I would put our numbers in the thousands and they have, I dunno, thirty people? They're also essentially kettled into a corner by the cops, who are moving barriers as crowds shift.

There's a heavy police presence and a barricade between us and the anti-immigrant folks. There are cheers every time we get moved forward while their group, smaller, moves back to accomodate everyone joining ours. At one point our crowd was singing "There are many, many more of us than you."

Huge turnout against racism in Glasgow today - can't even see the end of the crowd. Chants so far include "Nazi scum off our streets" and "Refugees are welcome here."

I'm gonna need everyone I know who writes about horror, TV, fame, or queer representation to tune in for The Vampire Lestat. The time for "I didn't read the book" or "there's just too much good TV to see" has passed. Get on board soon, or we'll all have an obnoxiously great summer without you.

Anthony Head was such a warm, one-of-a-kind screen presence that I started dreading today's news almost as soon as I first saw his work. The kind of guy who makes you feel greedy because any amount of screen time never feels like enough. Also, I think it's important to note that he was very hot.

Deeply obsessed.

My first paycheck in 5 months happened to align with our local food fest AND the hottest day of the year in Scotland so far. I've never been more Girl Who Is Going To Be Okay.

Three decades in the making. 🔥🔥🔥

ICYMI:

I'll have to take a break from all this soon and hope someone else picks up the story, but here's confirmation that Allen and Previn had already taken more than one plane trip with Epstein by 2013.

Jesus Christ, it was Epstein who told Soon-Yi and Woody that Thaddeus Farrow died.

I'm sorry, did Epstein facilitate a trip to the WHITE HOUSE for Woody and Soon-Yi?!

Some more insight into the media alliance that seems to have existed between the two, as a seemingly unprompted email from Allen's camp tells Epstein to be wary of Howard Stern.

In the same 2016 conversation in which someone from Woody Allen's email muses aloud about how Jeffrey Epstein could die anytime, they also tell him to put something in his will.

At one point it seems like Epstein had a team of people trying to figure out who might have leaked the news that he had dinner with Allen, something that someone from Allen's camp was clearly monitoring as well.

At least she's worried about Epstein's health in case something happens to him, am I right, guys?

Sorry, I can't be reading all of this right. Did Soon-Yi (or someone else using Allen's email) get Epstein to buy her an Apple watch and furs, and try to have him get a friend's son into college? I wonder why casual neighbors having casual dinner would do such a thing...

I wonder why Woody and Soon-Yi gave Epstein four tickets to the Knicks game!

My household loves to hear a dumb song and repeat it for months. In heavy rotation: The Blob theme, Wang Chung's COVID remix, Sushi Glory Hole, a Flo Rida/Pitbull collab about white girl booty, the Christian kids' song Big House & Sweeney Todd's creepy judge song. Also in a big Scream & Shout phase.

Anyway, DM me if you're looking for recurring or one-off TV or film coverage. I still get buckets of screeners and PR emails sent to my inbox and I've got plenty of downtime. I'm also open to editing, podcasting, newsletter/social/marketing, and other types of writing. Thanks, and happy holidays!