‘Harry Potter’ Actress Speaks Out Against J.K. Rowling

While J.K. Rowling became a household name as the author of the wildly popular “Harry Potter” books, she’s spent the past several years making headlines for a very different reason. Rowling’s views on the trans community have drawn widespread scrutiny, particularly since the COVID-19 era, with critics accusing her of transphobia. Several “Harry Potter” alumni have since spoken out against her comments, making their own positions on transgender rights clear. Now, another member of the franchise has done the same.

Bel Powley, who will play Petunia Dursley in the upcoming “Harry Potter” series coming to Max this winter, spoke with The Telegraph and said she was completely against the author’s comments about transgender people.

“I strongly disagree with J.K. Rowling‘s views on gender,” she said. “I think that the trans community deserve safety and dignity and respect and total acceptance. But I love Harry Potter. I grew up with the books. I am from that first generation of readers and, again, I love magic and spookiness.”

J.K. Rowling Previously Voiced Her Opinion On This Issue

Dress however you please.
Call yourself whatever you like.
Sleep with any consenting adult who’ll have you.
Live your best life in peace and security.
But force women out of their jobs for stating that sex is real? #IStandWithMaya #ThisIsNotADrill

— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) December 19, 2019

Powley’s comments come after the famed author made headlines after speaking about trans people. In 2019, Rowling shared a post on X in support of Maya Forstater, a researcher who brought a discrimination claim against her employers after claiming her contract wasn’t renewed after she made a series of posts arguing that biological sex is unchangeable.

“Dress however you please. Call yourself whatever you like. Sleep with any consenting adult who’ll have you. Live your best life in peace and security. But force women out of their jobs for stating that sex is real? #IStandWithMaya #ThisIsNotADrill,” Rowling posted on X.

J.K. Rowling Says Her Position Is Not ‘Hateful’

In June 2020, the spotlight on Rowling became even brighter after she reposted an opinion article criticizing the author for writing about “people who menstruate.”

“‘People who menstruate.’ I’m sure there used to be a word for those people. Someone help me out. Wumben? Wimpund? Woomud?” she wrote on X. Even after receiving backlash, Rowling pushed even further, writing, “If sex isn’t real, there’s no same-sex attraction. If sex isn’t real, the lived reality of women globally is erased. I know and love trans people, but erasing the concept of sex removes the ability of many to meaningfully discuss their lives. It isn’t hate to speak the truth.”

‘People who menstruate.’ I’m sure there used to be a word for those people. Someone help me out. Wumben? Wimpund? Woomud?

Opinion: Creating a more equal post-COVID-19 world for people who menstruate https://t.co/cVpZxG7gaA

— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) June 6, 2020

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She said that while she “respects” trans people’s rights to live, she argued that her “life has been shaped by being female.”

“I do not believe it’s hateful to say so,” she finished.

Daniel Radcliffe Is ‘Really Sad’ About Rowling’s Stance

Although Powley is part of the rebooted “Harry Potter” series, she isn’t the first performer tied to the franchise to speak out against Rowling’s position on trans people.

Daniel Radcliffe, who played the titular character in the original films, said that Rowling’s comments made him “really sad.”

He added, “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.”

Rowling Called Out The ‘Harry Potter’ Trio

Years after his initial statement, other “Harry Potter” stars joined Radcliffe in speaking out against Rowling, including Emma Watson, who played Hermione in the films. One day, however, Rowling clapped back with a series of posts and condemned them for criticizing her in public.

“Emma Watson and her co-stars have every right to embrace gender identity ideology. Such beliefs are legally protected, and I wouldn’t want to see any of them threatened with loss of work, or violence, or death, because of them,” she wrote, per PEOPLE. “However, Emma and Dan in particular have both made it clear over the last few years that they think our former professional association gives them a particular right – nay, obligation – to critique me and my views in public.”

Rowling added that even “years after they finished acting in Potter,” the duo “continue to assume the role of de facto spokespeople for the world I created.”