JK Rowling has insisted that she will ‘never forgive’ Daniel Radcliffe and his co-stars, who can ‘save their apologies’.
The Harry Potter star – who turns 35 tomorrow (23 July) – has previously criticised the author, 58, for her views on the trans community, and Rowling hit back.
The writer said that the likes of Radcliffe and Emma Watson will not be forgiven after she says they ‘cosied up to a movement intent on eroding women’s hard-won rights’.
Rowling is not interested in burying the hatchet with Radcliffe. (Gareth Davies/Getty Images)
Rowling responded to an independent review of the NHS’ gender identity services for children and youngsters in the UK, a four-year study by Dr. Hilary Cass.
And among her replies to the review, she opened up about her non-existent relationships with the Harry Potter cast.
JK Rowling controversy explained
It began when Rowling shared a link to an article titled ‘Opinion: Creating a more equal post-Covid-19 world for people who menstruate’ in June 2020
She appeared to be making light of peoples efforts to be more inclusive to the trans community as she wrote alongside the post: “‘People who menstruate’. I’m sure there used to be a word for those people. Someone help me out. Wumben? Wimpund? Woomud?”
Harry Potter lead actor Radcliffe spoke out in support of the trans community, apologising for the ‘pain’ which the author had caused for people while also penning an essay for LGBTQ+ organisation, The Trevor Project.
The actors hit back at the ‘transphobic’ comments. (Dave M. Benett/Getty Images)
His co-star Watson also voiced her love for the community while telling her trans followers that she and ‘so many other people around the world see you, respect you and love you for who you are’.
How did JK Rowling respond to Daniel Radcliffe?
In a rant on X on 10 April, Rowling explained she was ‘bloody angry’ about the findings of Cass’ review, which she described as ‘the most robust review of the medical evidence for transitioning children that’s ever been conducted’.
The author said the findings showed ‘kids have been irreversibly harmed’, adding: “Thousands are complicit, not just medics, but the celebrity mouthpieces, unquestioning media and cynical corporations.”
A social media user responded to her post: “Just waiting for Dan and Emma to give you a very public apology … safe in the knowledge that you will forgive them …”
Rowling then sniped back at the stars in her reply, while making it clear she won’t just let bygones be bygones.
She added: “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.”
What the other Harry Potter stars have said about JK Rowling and her comments on the trans community
Rupert Grint
Rupert Grint. (Dave J Hogan/Getty Images)
The Ron actor said in a statement in 2020: “I firmly stand with the trans community and echo the sentiments expressed by many of my peers. Trans women are women. Trans men are men.”
He added in an interview with the Times two years later: “I liken JK Rowling to an auntie. I don’t necessarily agree with everything my auntie says, but she’s still my auntie. It’s a tricky one.”
Ralph Fiennes
Ralph Fiennes. (Theo Wargo/Getty Images)
The Voldemort actor told The New York Times in 2022: “The verbal abuse directed at her is disgusting, it’s appalling.
“I can understand a viewpoint that might be angry at what she says about women. But it’s not some obscene, uber-right-wing fascist. It’s just a woman saying, ‘I’m a woman and I feel I’m a woman and I want to be able to say that I’m a woman.’”
Harry Melling
Harry Melling. (Lia Toby/Getty Images for BFI)
Melling, who played Dudley Dursley, told the Independent in 2022: “I can only speak for myself, and what I feel, to me, is very simple, which is that transgender women are women and transgender men are men.”
Evanna Lynch
Evanna Lynch. (Eamonn M. McCormack/Getty Images)
Lynch played Luna Lovegood in the films and told the Telegraph: “I just felt that her character has always been to advocate for the most vulnerable members of society. The problem is that there’s a disagreement over who’s the most vulnerable.
