This is the real reason one Harry Potter film faced a boycott, and it’s honestly wild

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets is a classic and it continues to be a family favourite over 20 years after its release.

But, did you know that a bunch of fans actually boycotted the film when it came out in cinemas?

In 2002, one group refused to watch the film due to a number of characters wearing fake beards. Yes, you read that right.

The Beard Liberation Front (BLF) opposed the release because of Robbie Coltrane and Richard Harris wearing imitation beards. This then led to members of the group encouraging cinema goers to jeer at the screen during the movie.

Talking about the film, BLF founder, Keith Flett said: “Now we’re just asking our few hundred supporters to hiss and boo when the fake beards come on the screen.”

Richard Harris as Dumbledore via Netflix

Although, later on the group did rescind Keith’s call for a boycott, with the founder saying: “Some BLF supporters said they would be given hell by their children if they weren’t taken to see Harry Potter.”

However, there were no more boycotts of other films in the franchise after the original one.

But, this isn’t the only time the BLF has spoken out about celebrity beard matters.

Robbie Coltrane as Rubeus Hagrid

According to The Mirror US, the group claimed Sean Connery missed out on a knighthood in 1998 because of his beard. Members alleged they had heard this information from “normally reliable New Labour sources”. However, Sean was actually knighted two years later.

In 2002, BLF was back again but this time it had issues with Santa Claus.

Most Read

Plumber breaks silence on what his experience with Bonnie Blue was *really* like

The bleak aftermath of Bonnie Blue’s 1,000 guys in 12 hours challenge, in pictures

Woman who ‘died’ for eight minutes describes exactly what she saw, and it’s terrifying

Keith Flett told the BBC: “The Santa season is the worst time of the year for beard wearers. The taunts from children and comments we get from White Van Man get worse.”

The group still appears to be active, having its own Facebook page and and website.

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets is available to watch on Netflix now – For all the latest Netflix news, drops, quizzes and memes about the dancing sequence, like The Holy Church of Netflix on Facebook. 

Featured image via Warner Bros on Netflix