J.K. Rowling mourns Orlando victim who worked on Harry Potter ride

By Tribute on June 13, 2016 | 6 Comments


J.K. Rowling Tweet

The deep sorrow sparked by the savage Orlando shooting is being felt around the world.

Following the naming of the victims in Sunday morning’s vicious and hate-fueled attack, author J.K. Rowling took to Twitter to lament the loss of Luis Vielma, 22, who was one of 49 killed.

Luis worked at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter theme park in Orlando. According to his Facebook page, he was a production assistant on the Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey ride while he studied at Seminole State College of Florida.

In a sign of mourning, the ride was shut down on Sunday. A message from the Harry Potter park staff went out on Facebook, which reads, “[Luis] will be missed by many and, along with everyone else, the HP fandom will mourn his passing. Rest In Love, sweet wizard.”

J.K., who wrote that she “can’t stop crying,” is one of several celebrities to come forward and express condolences for the victims of the shooting.

Lady Gaga, Queen Latifah and Dwayne Johnson are among the many who have commented on the tragedy, which now stands as the worst mass shooting in U.S. history.

In the early hours of Sunday morning, Omar Mateen, 29, of Fort Pierce, Florida entered Orlando’s gay nightclub Pulse during the venue’s Latin night and opened fire on the crowd using an assault rifle and handgun. In addition to the 49 people he killed, 53 others were injured. Omar died in a gun battle with SWAT team members shortly after the massacre.

The atrocity came shortly before a man named James Wesley Howell was arrested in L.A. allegedly carrying an arsenal of weaponry. He was headed for an L.A. Pride festival.

Check out Tweets below from celebrities.



Comments & Discussion

  1. Mmmmmhm • June 13, 2016 @ 4:59 PM

    I don’t get why this keeps happening

  2. Catrina • June 13, 2016 @ 9:25 PM

    A combination of evil and insanity. We need to have stronger measures in place for both.

  3. Catrina • June 13, 2016 @ 9:31 PM

    I don’t believe this has anything to do with guns however. We need to stop the extremists now. Our government just lets terrorists walk all over us. Our citizens are kidnapped and murdered in the Philippines and what is Trudeau doing about it? Pulling our planes out of terrorist zones? No wonder people want to vote for Trump. He’s the only one calling it like it is. I hope he doesn’t get elected, but I understand why a lot of people are going to vote for him. No one else is willing to call an extremist an extremist and take action.

  4. chris75 • June 14, 2016 @ 1:53 AM

    Well said, Catrina!

  5. moviesteve • June 15, 2016 @ 11:59 AM

    I think the mass shooting epidemic in the U.S. has everything to do with guns and think it’s foolish to suggest otherwise. This case is particularly sad because it targeted people based on their sexual orientation – has the world not evolved at all?!

  6. Jacob • June 16, 2016 @ 3:31 PM

    I’m still disturbed, it hasn’t fully hit me yet. I don’t think it ever will.


Join The Conversation:


Similar Articles

Fan Expo 2022 in Toronto comes to a close as a huge success!

August 29, 2022 | 2 Comments

Thousands of fans of comic books, anime, film, TV and cosplayers arrived in Toronto for the 2022 Fan Expo Canada convention, featuring Stranger Things stars!


Helen Mirren chosen as Harry Potter quiz show host

September 15, 2021 | 1 Comment

In celebration of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone 20th anniversary, Helen Mirren will host Harry Potter: Hogwarts Tournament of Houses trivia special.


J.K. Rowling, Margaret Atwood call for end to “cancel culture”

July 8, 2020 | 1 Comment

Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling and Canadian author Margaret Atwood are two of many public figures signing an open letter denouncing “cancel culture.”


 Change Location