I do not believe that two references over 4 books really constitutes a "thing". It isn't even big enough to qualify as a thingette, it barely passes muster as a thingino.
But a whingeino about the thingino: both outings taste of Author. Max/Martin seemed like a Take That to Jo: Mwah hah hah! I have outed a character in CANON. Likewise, Alex is going to indulge in hawt schoolgirl action was like Harry's Death March in DH. "I have no intention of writing explicit sexual content" so Readers already knew it wasn't gonna happen and the only question was how will the Author stop it happening?
The gay thing?
But a whingeino about the thingino: both outings taste of Author. Max/Martin seemed like a Take That to Jo: Mwah hah hah! I have outed a character in CANON. Likewise, Alex is going to indulge in hawt schoolgirl action was like Harry's Death March in DH. "I have no intention of writing explicit sexual content" so Readers already knew it wasn't gonna happen and the only question was how will the Author stop it happening?