It Sure Looks Like the Department of Education Is Promoting a Right-Wing ‘Harry Potter’ Meme
The meme appeared to reference gender-swapping “Malfoid” fan fiction, a term with incel roots. When asked about it, the DOE responded by quoting Dumbledore.
A Department of Education meme depicted students walking towards a Hogwarts-like castle, with the text "There's Magic in Learning!" and "Make Education Great Again." This sparked immediate outrage online, with right-wing fans interpreting the imagery as a promotion of a "Malfoid" meme. The Malfoid concept originated from fan fiction websites, where a female character from Harry Potter's nemesis Draco Malfoy's life is gender-swapped.
This character embodies toxic elitism and hate, with a deep-seated obsession over "blood purity." The Malfoid meme has become a potent right-wing aesthetic, depicting the traditional hero as a stand-in for disaffected young men who fantasize about a relation with her. The term "foid," a racist and misogynistic incel term, is used to justify the character's bigotry.
This strategy is becoming increasingly popular among right-wing figures, who use fantasy and fiction to promote their ideals. The Department of Education continues to use this meme, signaling alignment with a radicalized, terminally online base. This trend raises concerns about the collapse of boundaries between internet subcultures and mainstream institutions, as well as the implications of using toxic internet culture in government communications.
The Department of Education's response to WIRED's request for comment only further cements the institution's cultural alignment with this radicalized audience.
Written by urgent.news from Wired's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
