JK Rowling has confirmed Dumbledore and Grindelwald’s sexual relationship. The renowned best-selling author has made a variety of declarations over the years, regarding both the wizarding world, as well as the characters she developed while writing all seven Harry Potter books.
At times, Rowling’s statements have caused controversy - such as her use of a Native American legend to aid in illustrating the history of magic in North America, or even her revealing that Hogwarts headmaster Albus Dumbledore is her favorite character from the Harry Potter series. Fortunately for her, Rowling’s status as one of the most successful authors in history is firmly in place and any controversies regarding her continued exploration of Harry Potter’s world are typically short-lived, with the fearless author always offering well thought out and considered insight into the announcements that she makes.
In keeping with her desire to expand on the worlds she’s created, Rowling has once again put a spotlight on her favorite wizarding character. Complex reports that while recording material for the special features on the upcoming Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald Blu-ray, Rowling spoke about a “sexual dimension” between Dumbledore and the infamous dark wizard, Grindelwald. Calling their relationship “incredibly intense," Rowling said:
This, of course, isn’t the first time that Rowling has spoken about Dumbledore’s sexual orientation. Back in 2007, the author first revealed that Dumbledore was gay, prompting anger among some, but eliciting an overwhelmingly positive response from the majority of fans worldwide. In fact, many fans were upset when it was later revealed that Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald - the second film in Rowling’s spinoff series, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them - would not contain any open references to Dumbledore’s sexuality. Though Dumbledore did state that he and Grindelwald were closer than brothers, it was indeed a tiny insight into the private life of a great character who still manages to intrigue fans after all this time.
“Their relationship was incredibly intense. It was passionate, and it was a love relationship. But as happens in any relationship, gay or straight or whatever label we want to put on it, one never knows really what the other person is feeling. You can’t know, you can believe you know. So I’m less interested in the sexual side – though I believe there is a sexual dimension to this relationship – than I am in the sense of the emotions they felt for each other, which ultimately is the most fascinating thing about all human relationship.”
Rowling’s desire to continue to expand on and delve into the wizarding world is an essential component in making everything feel new and fresh, regardless of the passage of time. The Harry Potter franchise has grown so much since the first novel in the series was published, and one can’t help but feel as though Harry Potter’s world is still as far ranging and uncharted as ever, despite occasional reveals from Rowling. The intensity of Dumbledore’s relationship with Grindelwald may not be essential information for all, but even this small detail aids in the ongoing development of such a wonderful, magical, fascinating world.
More: 20 Things About J.K. Rowling’s Wizarding World That Make No Sense
Source: Complex
