Harry Potter star sparks social media outrage with JK Rowling remark
British star Tom Felton, who played Draco Malfoy in the Harry Potter film franchise, was asked his opinion on JK Rowling and her contentious online anti trans views
Actor Tom Felton provoked social media commotion after weighing in on JK Rowling 's political views. The Harry Potter author's regular transphobic rants on X have split fans of the film franchise and enraged the LGBTQ+ community. Daniel Radcliffe and Emma Watson have both distanced themselves from JK following her numerous outbursts, but not everyone has turned their back.
The underfire writer, birth name Joanne Rowling, implied last year that she will "never forgive" the film's stars for speaking out in support of trans people. But now 37-year-old Brit Tom, who played Draco Malfoy in Harry Potter, has broken ranks to refused to criticise the woman who launched his career.
When asked if asked if the controversy around the author's views on gender identity affected him, the star replied: "I'm not really that attuned to it, I have not seen anything bring the world together more than Potter - she's responsible for that, so I'm incredibly grateful," when asked his views by Variety at the Tony Awards. 'The only thing I always remind myself is that I've been lucky enough to travel the world, here I am in New York. I have not seen anything bring the world together more than Potter."
His comments sparked a mixed response online. One person reposted the publications interview, writing: "This is what privilege looks like, and we shouldn't ignore how much harm looking the other way because things don't affect us directly does. don't be Tom Felton."
Another said: "I mean, you should distance yourself from Rowling. Her Harry Potter profits go to anti-transgender organizations." A third made clear their views, writing: "What would a privileged straight white cis-male know about the oppression faced by my trans colleagues?"
Others had a different take. "Thank goodness someone in that franchise learned not to bite the hand that feeds him," someone wrote in support of the writer, while another took to X to say: "Who would have thought Draco would be the most level-headed."
Back in 2020, when JK first went public with her gender critical views, both Daniel and Emma issued statements of support for the trans community and have reiterated their positions several times since. "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 [Rowling] or I," Daniel wrote in response to Rowling's tweet in June 2020.
Actors who have starred in JK Rowling adaptations have signed an open letter standing "in solidarity" with members of the LGBT+ community "impacted" by the recent Supreme Court ruling on gender. Oscar-winning actor Eddie Redmayne, who led the Fantastic Beasts films, and Katie Leung, who played Cho Chang in the Harry Potter film series, are among the stars who have signed the open letter addressed to film and TV industry bodies, encouraging them to support the trans community.
Ghosts actress Charlotte Ritchie, who appeared as a student in Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fire, and Breeders star Daisy Haggard, who voiced the Ministry Of Magic lift in the Harry Potter films, also signed the letter. Another signatory was Bridgerton actress Bessie Carter, the daughter of Dame Imelda Staunton, who played Dolores Umbridge in the popular films about witchcraft and wizardry.
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