Duolingo, the world’s most popular language-learning app with over 34 million daily active users, has apologised after JK Rowling was described as ‘mean’ in one of its German lessons.
The controversial prompt appeared in an exercise where learners were asked to choose the correct translation for the sentence “Do you like books with Harry Potter as a character?” The correct answer displayed was “Yes, but in my opinion the author is mean.”
Journalist Gaby Koppel highlighted the issue on X (formerly Twitter), calling the sentence “gratuitous” and questioning its relevance to learning German. She noted that Rowling was the “first and only real life person” criticised in her five months of using the app.
Shame on you @duolingo: learning German and I came across the sentence “Yes I like Harry Potter but the author is mean”. How woke do you have to be to let #trans ideology infect a language lesson? @jk_rowling
— Gaby Koppel (@Gabykoppel) August 19, 2025
Duolingo has since apologised, with a company spokesman stating: “We apologise for any offence caused and will remove this content from the app.”
Rowling, best known for creating the Harry Potter series, has become a divisive public figure due to her outspoken gender-critical views.
Critics have labelled her a TERF (trans-exclusionary radical feminist), while supporters argue she is standing up for women’s rights. The term has followed her across public debates, with Rowling frequently responding to critics on social media and in essays published on her website.