An actor from the beloved Harry Potter series recently attended a stage production by JK Rowling, despite the author’s contentious stance on trans rights.
Rowling’s remarks about the transgender community have sparked accusations of transphobia, intensifying since her 2018 action of liking a tweet that described transgender women as ‘men in dresses’.
This has led to ongoing discord between Rowling and several Harry Potter film stars, including Daniel Radcliffe.
In an interview with The Atlantic, the show’s lead remarked: “It makes me really sad, ultimately.
“Because I do look at the person that I met, the times that we met, and the books that she wrote, and the world that she created, and all of that is to me so deeply empathic.”
He further added: “Jo, obviously Harry Potter would not have happened without her, so nothing in my life would have probably happened the way it is without that person.
“But that doesn’t mean that you owe the things you truly believe to someone else for your entire life.”
Although Radcliffe has distanced himself from Rowling over the years, Tom Felton, another Harry Potter actor, continues to support her.
Felton, known for his role as Draco Malfoy, is set to return for the Broadway rendition and showed his allegiance by attending the 10-year anniversary of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child on Thursday (July 10).
During the Tony Awards in June, Felton was questioned about whether Rowling’s views on transgender issues had affected his career.
He responded: “No, I can’t say it does. I’m not really that attuned. The only thing I always remind myself is that I’ve been lucky enough to travel the world.
“Here I am in New York. And I have not seen anything bring the world together more than Potter, and she’s responsible for that. So I’m incredibly grateful.”
In contrast to Felton, Emma Watson, who portrayed Hermione Granger, has openly criticized Rowling’s comments.
In 2020, she expressed her support for the trans community on Twitter with a heartfelt message.
“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,” it stated.
“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.”