"But the difference [...] is that Joanne Rowling uses her Harry Potter money to actively campaign against trans rights"
Is that a difference, though? Do we actually know the campaign donations of every single author, director, actor, and so on? Do we know they aren't donating to hate groups? Or attending fundraiser dinners, strategy meetings, and so on? It's very hard to prove a negative, after all.
Back in the day, we said not to buy any media or merch for Twilight because Stephanie Meyer was open about tithing to the Mormon church, which in turn was open about donating to Prop 8 (California's anti-marriage-equality bill).
We also briefly said the same thing about Ender's Game, because Orson Scott Card was outspoken in his support for Prop 8 and open about donating.
When the Ender's Game movie came out several years later...nary a peep was heard. I think Prop 8 was over with, but Card could have been giving money to plenty of other awful things.
I think the big difference with Rowling is not that she's actively using her money for hate, because anyone else with money from the entertainment industry could be doing the same thing and we simply aren't bothering to track down their financials.
(So could the CEO of whatever grocery store you shop at!)
The difference is that she is LOUD about it, that she is ONGOING in her loudness (multiple years and multiple campaigns on the same topic) and that many of us ALREADY HAD A PARASOCIAL RELATIONSHIP (often, based on themes of social justice in her writing & in her existing charities) so there was a SENSE OF BETRAYAL.
While many people enjoyed Twilight and Ender's Game, I don't think there was nearly the sense of "I know this author and they are on my side" with Meyer and Card. Or so intensely.
I think in certain fannish/nerd circles there was that sense with Neil Gaiman (in overlapping circles, with his spouse Amanda Palmer too, also accused of criminal activity) and so there was been a pretty strong emotional response to the criminal charges.
But with the #MeToo movement, while the works by many accused had emotional importance, and there were parasocial relationships with the actors accused, most directors, writers, producers, editors, and other parts of the industry were simply...not memorable to start with.
Their actions were (somewhat) hidden from view, and further harmful actions are likely more carefully hidden from view. Public figures in their circles either denied belief in the accusations, or distanced themselves.
Rowling was in the spotlight to start with,
Loudly advertises what she's doing (as opposed to someone else ripping the curtains off her actions),
Is categorically hurting people she's never met (not direct interpersonal harm with mostly unknowns),
Takes ongoing public actions,
And is loudly supported by other bigots.
Plenty of other people are funneling money into the same things she is, we just don't hear about it, and we don't go looking for it.
I collect fashion dolls, but I've never looked up the doll companies' CEOs or Board members to see if they have public records of hate campaign donations. I buy comics, and I don't look the writers, editors, letterers, or artists up on social media.
I've said elsewhere if I come across such info, it will affect my choices. I don't go looking for it though, because I don't want to drive myself insane. I don't want scrupulosity to make me miserable.
