Language-teaching app Duolingo described author and woman’s rights advocate JK Rowling as “mean” in an answer, according to a journalist.
Journalist Gaby Koppel said she was trying to learn German when the teaching app unexpectedly spurted out an insult. In a session for intermediate-level students, Duolingo users were posed a question in German, according to a screenshot posted to X.
“Do you like books with Harry Potter as a character?” the app asked. It also asked users to select the correct response between two answers written in German.
One answer was “Yes, you’re right. I’m interested in sports,” according to the journalist. “Yes, but in my opinion the author is mean,” was the second answer offered, Koppel wrote.
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
She quickly accused Duolingo of letting gender ideology “infect” their lessons.
“Shame on you @duolingo: learning German and I came across the sentence ‘Yes I like Harry Potter but the author is mean,” Koppel wrote. “How woke do you have to be to let #trans ideology infect a language lesson?”
And here it is: pic.twitter.com/XCPF2qLMxv
— Gaby Koppel (@Gabykoppel) August 19, 2025
Duolingo’s verified account issued an apology. “We apologise for any offence caused and will remove this content from the app,” it said. A snapshot of a response from what appeared to be a Super Duolingo Support representative confirming the deletion of the post was also shared on X.
“Please note that this content has been removed,” the person wrote. (RELATED: Tom Felton Sticks Up For J.K. Rowling On Red Carpet After Pointed Question From Reporter)
“It may take a day or so to be reflected in the app or web version of Duolingo.”
JK Rowling declined to comment on the issue to The Telegraph.
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