JK Rowling won’t forgive ‘Harry Potter’ cast for criticising her anti-trans views

JK Rowling has publicly addressed criticism she has received from Harry Potter stars regarding her views on the trans community.

Rowling has faced significant backlash in recent years regarding a series of controversial comments she has made about the trans community.

Many fans and followers have expressed disapproval and disappointment towards her remarks, as have two stars of the film adaptation of her globally successful novel series.

Emma Watson, who played Hermione Granger in the films, and Daniel Radcliffe, who played Harry Potter, have both expressed their support for the trans community in the wake of Rowling’s comments.

In 2020, Radcliffe wrote an essay for The Trevor Project, a non-profit organisation supporting suicide prevention and crisis intervention for queer people.

In the essay, he wrote: “Transgender women are women. Any statement to the contrary erases the identity and dignity of transgender people and goes against all advice given by professional health care associations who have far more expertise on this subject matter than either Jo or I.”

He also apologised to the trans community “for the pain these comments have caused”.

I want my trans followers to know that I and so many other people around the world see you, respect you and love you for who you are.

— Emma Watson (@EmmaWatson) June 10, 2020

Watson has also spoken out in support of the community, including a tweet in 2020 which read: “Trans people are who they say they are and deserve to live their lives without being constantly questioned or told they aren’t who they say they are. I want my trans followers to know that I and so many other people around the world see you, respect you, and love you for who you are.”

Watson also appeared to address the issue at the 2022 BAFTAs. When host Rebel Wilson introduced her saying: “She calls herself a feminist, but we all know she’s a witch,” Watson walked onto the stage and said: “I’m here for all the witches.”

Now, Rowling has spoken out about her opinion towards the stars, with whom he worked for a decade.

Not safe, I'm afraid. Celebs who cosied up to a movement intent on eroding women's hard-won rights and who used their platforms to cheer on the transitioning of minors can save their apologies for traumatised detransitioners and vulnerable women reliant on single sex spaces.

— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) April 10, 2024

When an X user wrote to the author: “Just waiting for Dan and Emma to give you a very public apology … safe in the knowledge that you will forgive them,” Rowling replied with the following:

“Not safe, I’m afraid. Celebs who cosied up to a movement intent on eroding women’s hard-won rights and who used their platforms to cheer on the transitioning of minors can save their apologies for traumatised detransitioners and vulnerable women reliant on single sex spaces.”

This follows a recent investigation into Rowling’s comments in light of new hate crime laws in Scotland. On April 1, Rowling made a post on X which read: “I’m currently out of the country, but if what I’ve written here qualifies as an offence under the terms of the new act, I look forward to being arrested when I return to the birthplace of the Scottish Enlightenment.”

Back in October, the author also said that she would “happily do two years” of prison time “if the alternative is compelled speech and forced denial of the reality and importance of sex.”

She also added at the time: “Bring on the court case, I say. It’ll be more fun than I’ve ever had on a red carpet.”

Police have now concluded that Rowling’s comments “are not assessed to be criminal”.

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