J.K. Rowling is the author behind the globally renowned Harry Potter series. In 2020, Daniel Radcliffe and Emma Watson, who starred as Harry Potter and Hermione Granger in the film adaptations, were among the cast members who publicly disagreed with Rowling’s views on gender identity.
Recently, the Cass Review found the evidence for medical treatment in gender care for children to be “remarkably weak.” Rowling called this a “watershed moment.”
One social media user replied to her: “Just waiting for Dan and Emma to give you a very public apology… safe in the knowledge that you will forgive them…”
The Harry Potter author replied, “Not safe, I’m afraid,” suggesting she wouldn’t forgive them even if the former cast members apologized.
“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.” She added.
Rowling has been accused of being transphobic for her views on gender identity and for saying trans women shouldn’t be allowed into female-only spaces.
Living in Scotland, she challenged the police to arrest her under a new hate crime law after referring to some trans women as men. Police Scotland took no action.
The writer has attracted both criticism and support for her position and has dismissed backlash over her opinions.
She has denied being transphobic, previously saying she respects “every trans person’s right to live any way that feels authentic and comfortable to them” and that she wants trans people to be free from discrimination and abuse.
Daniel Radcliffe, who played Harry in the Harry Potter films, responded to Rowling’s original posts in 2020 by saying: “It’s clear that we need to do more to support transgender and nonbinary people, not invalidate their identities.”
He added that he hoped the author’s comments would not “taint” the movie series for fans.
In a similar response, Emma Watson said: “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.”
Meanwhile, Rupert Grin who played Ron Weasley said: “I firmly stand with the trans community… Trans women are women. Trans men are men. We should all be entitled to live with love and without judgment.”
Other stars including Helena Bonham Carter, who played Bellatrix Lestrange, have said they do not consider Rowling’s views to be transphobic, but reflective of her own experience of abuse.
Rowling said she spoke out about transgender issues in part due to her personal experience of domestic abuse and sexual assault.