A Minnesota yarn shop has apologized for selling “Harry Potter”-themed knitting kits, calling the sale a “mistake,” and has donated all the proceeds from those kits to a transgender advocacy organization.
Needle & Skein posted the apology to Facebook on Saturday. “We recently sold Harry Potter-themed kits, and we owe you a sincere apology,” the shop wrote.
The post went on: “I’m a mom, and I read these books aloud to my child. Those evenings are some of my sweetest memories, and I think that warmth kept me from stopping to consider what carrying this merchandise would mean for our trans friends, neighbors, and customers. I made a mistake, and I’m so sorry.”
The apology comes amid ongoing backlash against “Harry Potter” author J.K. Rowling over her opposition to policies that allow transgender women into certain female-only spaces. In an essay last month, Rowling reiterated her position, describing transgender activism as “elitist to its core.”
Needle & Skein said it pulled the “Harry Potter” products from its shelves and donated the proceeds to Point of Pride, a group that provides support services to transgender people. The shop said it gave three times the profits earned from the kits and shared a link encouraging followers to donate as well.
“We never meant to hurt anyone. But we can see that we did, and we are truly sorry to everyone who felt less welcome in a space that should always feel like home to you. You deserve better from us.”
Shop owner Gilah Mashaal told Fox News Digital that the reaction to the apology has been largely favorable, though the business has also faced doxxing and negative reviews. “Overall, the response has been positive, with people feeling that we were open, honest and appreciative,” Mashaal said.
Fox News Digital reached out to Rowling for comment but did not receive a response. The author has faced repeated boycott efforts from LGBTQ activists over her books and merchandise; last year a San Francisco bookstore announced it would stop selling her titles over her stated views on gender.
Christian Toto, host of the “Hollywood in Toto” podcast, questioned whether the shop’s owners grasp what they’re actually apologizing for. “The media blurs many facts in our culture, like how ‘immigration’ isn’t separated into two distinct camps — legal and illegal. Something similar likely is happening here. And for a yarn hobbyist to take such a stand is, well, the height of silliness on too many levels to count. Sadly, she’s far from alone,” Toto said.
