Nick Frost hits out over J.K. Rowling's transgender views
The 53-year-old actor has landed a part in HBO's hotly anticipated adaptation of 59-year-old Rowling's iconic Harry Potter book series. The Shaun of the Dead star will play Rubeus Hagrid, the half-giant groundskeeper of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, a part memorably played by the late Robbie Coltrane in the film series. While speaking to The Observer, Frost signalled that he does not share Rowling's views on transgender rights after the author took a stand in defence of women's rights that lead to a clash with equal rights campaigners.
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Sky News AU
2 hours ago
- Sky News AU
'Not attuned': Harry Potter star Tom Felton ignites social media war after responding to author J.K. Rowling's anti-trans views
Tom Felton has divided social media after he praised author J.K. Rowling amid her controversial views on transgender issues. The Harry Potter star was asked by Variety if Rowling's views impacted him at all on the red carpet at the Tony Awards in New York on Monday. Felton, who played the villain Draco Malfoy in the world-famous films from 2001 through 2011, said "no" as he was not 'attuned' to the conversation. "I can't say it does," the 37-year-old British actor said. "I'm not really that attuned to it; 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, and she's responsible for that, so I'm incredibly grateful." Felton's comments sparked a mixed reaction on X, with some fans lashing out at the star for his disregard. ''I'm not really that attuned to it', in other words, 'They don't affect me, so I can't bring myself to care'," one person said. "I course, they don't impact him. He's not the target of her scorn," another person said. However, other people praised Felton for his views, arguing the Harry Potter stars shouldn't bite the hand which fed them. "What an upstanding gentleman," said one fan. "Fair play, Tom, for showing strength of character and loyalty in acknowledgment of someone who opened a lot of doors for you." Another person said it was "amazing" that Felton played one of the "meanest characters" but was "one of the nicest people in real life." Felton's support for Rowling comes as he continues to capitalise on his fame after the success of the films. It was recently announced he will reprise his role as Draco Malfoy in Harry Potter and the Cursed Child on Broadway. Harry Potter and the Cursed Child takes place 19 years after the series' final novel, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Now, parents Draco and Harry, Ron and Hermione, are waving their children off on Platform 9¾ before school starts again at Hogwarts. Felton's Broadway run will last from November 11 through March 22, 2026, and marks the first time an original Harry Potter star joins the production. His comments stand in stark contrast to the views of the three main original stars—Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, and Emma Watson. All three stars have criticised Rowling's anti-trans views in separate statements where they expressed solidarity with the trans community. The author, 59, responded by saying she would not forgive the trio, who she told to "save their apologies" for 'traumatised de transitioners'. Despite Rowling and her leading actors being torn apart over the years, the Harry Potter franchise remains strong despite her contentious views. A HBO adaptation of her seven-volume fantasy series is currently in production as a long-form TV show. Dominic McLaughlin has been cast for the titular role of Harry Potter, with Alastair Stout as Ron Weasley and Arabella Stanton as Hermoine Granger. Last November, HBO chief Casey Bloys said Rowling's views have not "affected the casting or hiring of writers or productions staff'. A spokesperson for the network added the author "has a right to express her personal views" and the new series will "only benefit from her involvement." Rowling recently celebrated the ruling that only biological women meet the definition of a woman under equality laws in a landmark case. She has previously mocked the phrase "people who menstruate", said women's rights and "lived reality" would be "erased" if "sex isn't real", and called a list of trans women "men, every last one of them".
News.com.au
3 hours ago
- News.com.au
Stars' rarely-seen daughter now looks very different
Sharon and Ozzy Osbourne's rarely seen eldest child, Aimee Osbourne, was spotted out in the UK on Sunday. Aimee, 41, was photographed exiting a Manchester hotel alongside Brigitte Calls Me Baby frontman Wes Leavins, who is currently on tour in the country. She wore a chic black leather jacket and jeans while rolling her luggage and clutching a cell phone. She accessorised with black boots and layered necklaces, and styled her long brown hair down with bangs. Aimee, now a member of synth pop band ARO, famously moved out of her family's home at the age of 16 over their decision to star in MTV's hit reality series The Osbournes, which premiered in 2002. Her younger siblings, Jack, now 39, and Kelly, now 40, remained and rose to fame on the chaotic and beloved show alongside Ozzy and Sharon. Aimee defended her decision not to star in the series in 2008. 'I'm not some weirdo depressed daughter that's afraid of the world and locks herself in her room all day. I just didn't choose to do the show,' she explained in an interview, per the Independent. 'I want to be a singer, and I felt if I'd stayed with the Osbournes and done the whole thing I would have been typecast right away. [Sharon] was hurt, and we definitely had a tough time with disagreements. I'm more reserved and my private life is very important.' Aimee elaborated on prioritising her privacy in a 2020 radio interview. 'For me, I had grown up around having a pretty well-known dad anyway, and … I always really valued my privacy within that family,' she told New York's Q1043 radio at the time, per People. 'And for me personally, and for who I am, you know, as far as morally and also just to give myself a chance to actually develop into a human being as opposed to just being remembered for being a teenager, it didn't really line up with what I saw my future as.' In 2018, Sharon, now 72, admitted she deeply regretted allowing Aimee to move out. 'She couldn't live in our house because we were filming, and it drove her insane,' the mother of three said on The Talk. 'She felt too that she didn't want to grow up on camera,' Sharon added. 'She hated the idea. It was appalling to her. And so she left at 16, and I regret every day that she did.' Aimee appeared in MTV's 2003 musical Wuthering Heights, but mostly retreated into a life of privacy as the family became household names. She was previously spotted stepping out with her mother in LA last year. Her sister, Kelly, however, has said they 'don't talk.' 'We're just really different,' Kelly told Dax Shepard on a 2021 episode of the Armchair Expert podcast. 'She doesn't understand me, and I don't understand her.'
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- ABC News
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