Laser Clinic Offers Discounts on Harry Potter Tattoo Removal

A laser tattoo removal studio in Manchester is offering a 50% discount to anyone who wants to erase a Harry Potter tattoo, saying the promotion is a stand against author JK Rowling’s ongoing attacks on transgender rights.

Manchester Laser NQ, located inside The Old Vault tattoo parlor in the city’s Northern Quarter, announced the deal on Instagram in late September. The post quickly went viral among LGBTQ+ supporters and fans who have distanced themselves from Rowling.

“Around 16% of people regret getting a tattoo, less than 1% of people regret gender affirming surgery and 100% of queer people regret their Harry Potter tattoos (last stat not fact checked),” the caption read.

The studio added, “I hate JK Rowling and everything she has done to try and degrade the rights of trans people. I know a lot of us grew up loving Harry Potter and it has now been ruined by her using the profits to fund her anti-trans agenda.”

Strong Reactions Online

Within hours, hundreds of people commented on the post, many expressing relief at the opportunity to remove tattoos that once symbolized childhood joy but now carry uncomfortable associations.

“This is amazing! Trans dude here with a Harry Potter tattoo — definitely want it gone,” one commenter wrote. Another simply called the studio “absolute legends.”

Speaking Out Against Rowling

The clinic’s manager, identified only as El, told Attitude magazine that the promotion was a deliberate gesture of support for the transgender community.

As soon as I decided to start my laser tattoo removal business, I knew I wanted to offer this discount,” El said. “The way JK Rowling has campaigned against and damaged the rights of trans women in this country, and across the world, is absolutely disgusting.

El added that, like many queer fans, they once loved the Harry Potter series but can no longer separate it from its creator’s politics. “It only lost its magic because of the woman who wrote it,” they said. “I just wanted to make it a bit easier for people to get their Harry Potter tattoos removed if they no longer feel comfortable with them.”

Rowling’s History of Controversy

Rowling has faced years of criticism for her comments on gender identity and her financial support of organizations that campaign against trans rights.

In 2024, she launched the J.K. Rowling Women’s Fund to back legal challenges she described as defending “women’s and girls’ sex-based rights.” Earlier this year, she pledged £70,000 (about $89,000) to For Women Scotland, the group behind a legal case that led the UK Supreme Court to exclude trans women from the country’s definition of “woman” under the Equality Act.

The decision sparked outrage among trans advocates and renewed calls to boycott Rowling’s work. Her comments and donations have been widely condemned by LGBTQ+ groups in the UK and beyond.

Tattoo Artists Respond

Manchester Laser NQ isn’t the first to address Rowling’s rhetoric through art. In May, Brighton-based tattoo artist Helena Gifford offered free cover-ups for Harry Potter tattoos after Rowling publicly celebrated the Supreme Court ruling.

“I saw a post that JK Rowling had funded the ruling, and I got really annoyed,” Gifford told The Argus. “If I had a Harry Potter tattoo, I would want to get it covered. It’s not a nice thing to have to deal with, and if I were trans, it would be really upsetting.”

The design she offered featured the phrase “F*** TERFs” in the distinctive Harry Potter font — a clear reference to Rowling’s alignment with gender-critical feminism.

A Fractured Fandom

The Harry Potter franchise, worth an estimated $25 billion according to The Guardian, remains one of the most profitable entertainment properties in history. But Rowling’s views have caused lasting division among fans who once saw the series as a symbol of acceptance and belonging.

Many queer readers and allies say the author’s rhetoric has tainted a story that once celebrated compassion and courage. For some, removing or covering their tattoos is a personal act of reclaiming that sense of identity.

One commenter on Manchester Laser NQ’s post summarized the sentiment: “It’s not just about removing a tattoo. It’s about removing something that doesn’t represent who I am anymore.”

Business Meets Activism

The Manchester studio’s campaign has earned widespread praise within LGBTQ+ circles but also prompted debate about whether businesses should take political stances. Supporters argue that actions like this one represent more than marketing — they signal solidarity.

For many fans, though, the price cut isn’t just financial — it’s symbolic. The offer gives those disillusioned by Rowling’s views a literal way to move on from a franchise they once loved.

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