Duchess Bake Shop drops Harry Potter gingerbread display on 124 Street and apologizes
The shop will build a festive holiday village instead, with proceeds going to the Pride Centre of Edmonton.
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The Duchess Bake Shop on 124 Street has scrapped its planned Harry Potter gingerbread house. The bakery built the same Hogwarts-themed display in 2018. This time, it was announced on social media on a Friday, and the shop has since apologized.
Rowan Venedam, director of communications for TransAction Alberta, said the choice read as an alignment with J.K. Rowling's views. "When somebody is actively using the profits that they make off of a franchise to take away the human rights of another group, seeing anybody align with that is challenging," Venedam said. The Pride Centre of Edmonton also objected to the theme.
In a post on Instagram, owner Ewa Jastrzebski said the bakery did not consider the harm Rowling's comments have caused the trans community. "We recognize the impact, and should've approached this very differently. I take responsibility for that, and I'm genuinely sorry," the post reads.
The bakery is building a festive holiday village instead, and says all proceeds from the gingerbread house will go to the Pride Centre of Edmonton. Esjay Lafayette, the centre's executive director, called the response a positive step and said other businesses could follow.
The festive village is expected to be ready for the All is Bright Festival on 124 Street, which starts Friday.
