Latest news with #J.K
Buzz Feed
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Buzz Feed
J.K. Rowling Has Anti-Trans Fund From Harry Potter Wealth
J.K. Rowling has created a new organization that is a "legal fighting fund for women protecting their sex-based rights," furthering her financial commitment to funding anti-trans legislation. The UK Supreme Court made headlines last month for its ruling that meant that trans women can no longer be legally considered women. Rowling herself celebrated the move and had contributed the equivalent of $92,000 to the group that brought the case against the Scottish government. Last week, the Harry Potter author posted on X saying that she'd "happily fund" legal action "on the basis of sex discrimination." She then confirmed that she'd support a cis woman incarcirated with a transgender woman who wanted to sue, writing, "I'd give financial backing to any woman who wanted to sue because she suffered detriments through being incarcerated with a man." The "J.K. Rowling Women's Fund," which appears to have been created recently, is a private fund, meaning that it gets its money from Rowling's personal wealth. This means that others cannot donate, as she clarified on X, "I looked into all options and a private fund is the most efficient, streamlined way for me to do this." For one, the group funds women and organizations who believe they have been made to comply with "unreasonable inclusion policies" or who have faced professional difficulties because of their "expressed beliefs." Screening questions include asking organizations whether they have "been forced to adopt policies regarding female-only spaces or trans inclusion that you fundamentally disagree with." The news of Rowling's fund comes as HBO has finalized the casting for their series based on the book. As per Forbes, she's estimated to earn around $20 million per year for her involvement in the series. The creation of the fund subsequently attracted backlash, furthering calls for a boycott of licensed Harry Potter products. Meanwhile, Rowling has continued to post anti-trans rhetoric on X, including referring to trans women and "men in skirts" and accusing them of coordinating "a hostile takeover." It's certainly not the first time people have called for a boycott — Pedro Pascal even chimed in last month to write of Rowling, "Awful disgusting SHIT is exactly right. Heinous LOSER behavior." This morning, Forbes wrote that "Rowling's business empire is now larger than ever" and she is once again a billionaire.
Sunday World
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Sunday World
Oscar winner signs up to star in new series about infamous Irish-American gang
The show is set to begin filming this summer Oscar winner J.K. Simmons has signed up to star in a brand new TV series about infamous Irish-American gang The Westies. From the co-creator of Godfather of Harlem, Narcos, and Narcos: Mexico, Chris Brancato, The Westies is an eight-part series set in 1980s New York City. The show takes place when 'the construction of the Jacob Javitz Convention Centre on the Westies' home turf in Hell's Kitchen promises a financial windfall.' 'Despite being outnumbered fifty-to-one by the Five Families of the Italian Mafia, the Westies' legendary brutality and cunning have given them the leverage necessary to share the spoils through a fragile détente,' the show synopsis continues. JK Simmons (Getty Images) News in 90 Seconds - May 30th 'But internal conflict between the brash younger generation and the old-school leadership threatens to set a match to this powder keg, which will sweep the Westies into the FBI's ever-deepening investigation into the Italian mafia.' The show was created by Brancato and Michael Panes, who will both serve as executive producers. The series is set to begin filming in Toronto, Canada this July. J.K Simmons (70) is a multi-award-winning actor. His credits include Whiplash, Juno, Justice League, La La Land, and Red One. He is set to play the role of Eamon Sweeney – 'the charismatic but ruthless leader of The Westies whose old-school charm and neighborhood loyalty mask fierce criminal ambition and calculated brutality.' The Westies were a Manhattan-based Irish-American organised crime outfit. Their activities included racketeering, drug trafficking, burglary, illegal gambling, fraud, and carrying out contract killings. According to the NYPD, they're responsible for between 60 to 100 murders spanning 18 years from 1968 to 1986. The gang was founded in the 1960s and was led by James Coonan until he was jailed for 75 years in 1988.
IOL News
05-05-2025
- Entertainment
- IOL News
J. K. Rowling casts a spell of discontent on 'Harry Potter' stars over pro-trans support
J.K. Rowling has become one of the most high-profile and polarising voices in the ongoing gender identity debate. Image: X/@jk_rowling Author J.K. Rowling has reiterated her views on sex and gender following a UK Supreme Court ruling that clarified the legal definition of the word 'woman' as referring to biological sex. The decision, which drew strong reactions from both sides of the debate, has reignited public discussion around gender identity, rights, and representation. In the days following the ruling, over 2 000 individuals in the arts and creative industries signed an open letter in support of transgender, non-binary, and intersex communities. Among the signatories were "Harry Potter" actors Eddie Redmayne, Katie Leung, and Paapa Essiedu, as well as other British performers including Bella Ramsey, Nicola Coughlan, and Joe Alwyn. The letter expressed concern that the ruling "undermines the lived reality and threatens the safety of trans, non-binary and intersex people living in the UK." In response, Rowling took to X, where she expressed her support for the court's decision. She described the ruling as a recognition of 'sex-based rights' and commented on the open letter and its signatories. She wrote: 'In light of recent open letters from academia and the arts criticising the UK's Supreme Court ruling on sex-based rights, it's possibly worth remembering that nobody sane believes, or has ever believed, that humans can change sex, or that binary sex isn't a material fact.' In a longer thread, Rowling questioned the motivations behind signing such letters, suggesting some individuals may feel pressured by professional or social consequences. She added, 'Some argue that signatories of these sorts of letters are motivated by fear: fear for their careers, the online shamers and doxxers, and influential zealots in the upper echelons of liberal professions.' Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ In light of recent open letters from academia and the arts criticising the UK's Supreme Court ruling on sex-based rights, it's possibly worth remembering that nobody sane believes, or has ever believed, that humans can change sex, or that binary sex isn't a material fact. These… — J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) May 3, 2025 She also expressed concern about what she described as the 'continued sterilisation of vulnerable and troubled kids,' and suggested that gender activism has contributed to a loss of public trust in key institutions. The UK Supreme Court's ruling followed a case involving the campaign group For Women Scotland, which challenged legislation by the Scottish Government that included transgender women under the legal category of 'woman' to increase female representation on public boards. The Court determined that the meaning of 'woman' in that context must align with biological sex as understood in existing equality law. Redmayne, who played Newt Scamander in the "Fantastic Beasts" films, has previously commented on the broader debate, saying in a 2020 interview that he disagreed with Rowling's public remarks but had 'enormous respect' for her work. Rowling has repeatedly stated that she supports the rights of transgender individuals to live 'free from persecution,' and has acknowledged the vulnerability of the trans community. In a 2020 statement, she wrote: 'I know trans people, I love trans people, but erasing the concept of sex removes the ability of many to meaningfully discuss their lives.' 'Trans women' are male. If they weren't male they wouldn't be 'trans'. Prejudice is an irrational fear or dislike. It is entirely rational to state that a man is a man. Only totalitarians and religious zealots insist that others parrot falsehoods on pain of retribution. — J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) April 27, 2025 She added that her interest in the issue stemmed partly from her own experiences as a survivor of abuse and her concerns about safeguarding policies in women-only spaces. At the same time, Rowling has been vocal in her belief that biological sex matters in law, particularly regarding female-only spaces such as shelters, prisons, and sports. She has argued that redefining 'woman' to include anyone who identifies as such could compromise protections meant for biological females. This stance is part of what is often referred to as a 'gender-critical' position.
Sky News AU
05-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Sky News AU
J.K. Rowling responds to ‘Harry Potter' stars signing pro-trans letter with scathing essay: ‘Motivated by fear'
J.K. Rowling is not backing down from her opinions on the trans community. Last week, several 'Harry Potter' actors including Eddie Redmayne, Paapa Essiedu and Katie Leung signed a pro-trans open letter after the UK Supreme Court ruled that the terms 'woman' and 'sex' refer strictly to a biological woman and biological sex. Rowling, 59, publicly supported the ruling in an essay shared on X (formerly Twitter) Saturday, and called out 'back-stabbing colleagues' who she said are 'motivated by fear.' 'In light of recent open letters from academia and the arts criticising the UK's Supreme Court ruling on sex-based rights, it's possibly worth remembering that nobody sane believes, or has ever believed, that humans can change sex, or that binary sex isn't a material fact,' the author wrote. 'These letters do nothing but remind us of what we know only too well: that pretending to believe these things has become an elitist badge of virtue,' Rowling added. She continued: 'Some argue that signatories of these sorts of letters are motivated by fear: fear for their careers, of course, but also fear of their co-religionists, who include angry, narcissistic men who threaten and sometimes enact violence on non-believers; back-stabbing colleagues ever ready to report wrongthink; the online shamers and doxxers and rape threateners, and, of course, the influential zealots in the upper echelons of liberal professions.' Later in her essay, Rowling wrote that 'court losses are starting to stack up' against the trans community and 'women are fighting back and winning significant victories.' To conclude her message, Rowling again called out the people who signed the pro-trans open letter, though she didn't name them. 'I wonder if they ever ask themselves how they got here, and I wonder whether any of them will ever feel shame,' she wrote. There were more than 2,000 signatories on the open letter which argued the court's ruling 'undermines the lived reality and threatens the safety of trans, non-binary and intersex people living in the UK.' Redmayne, 43, signed the letter. He starred in the 'Harry Potter' spin-off prequel franchise 'Fantastic Beasts.' Leung, another signatorie, played Cho Chang in the original 'Harry Potter' films. And Essiedu, who also signed the letter, is set to portray Severus Snape in HBO's upcoming 'Harry Potter' series, which Rowling is serving as an executive producer on. Other British actors who signed the letter include 'The Last of Us' star Bella Ramsey, 'The Brutalist' actor Joe Alwyn and 'Bridgerton' star Nicola Coughlan. Rowling's divisive rhetoric about the trans community has caused fans to threaten to boycott the 'Harry Potter' TV show. But HBO CEO Casey Bloys recently promised that the series will not be 'secretly infused' with the author's controversial views. 'I think it's pretty clear that those are her personal political views. She's entitled to them,' Bloys said on 'The Town' podcast. The HBO exec added: 'And if you want to debate her, you can go on Twitter.' John Lithgow, who will star as Albus Dumbledore in the new 'Harry Potter' series, revealed that he's already received significant backlash for joining the project because of Rowling's views. 'I thought, 'Why is this a factor at all?' I wonder how J.K. Rowling has absorbed it,' the 'Conclave' actor, 79, said to the Times of London. 'I suppose at a certain point I'll meet her, and I'm curious to talk to her,' he added. Originally published as J.K. Rowling responds to 'Harry Potter' stars signing pro-trans letter with scathing essay: 'Motivated by fear'
Hindustan Times
04-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
J.K. Rowling hits back at ‘backstabbing' Harry Potter actors who signed pro-trans letter
J.K. Rowling is standing firm in her views on the trans community despite growing backlash. Last week, a number of Harry Potter actors, including Eddie Redmayne, Paapa Essiedu, and Katie Leung, publicly signed a pro-trans open letter following the UK Supreme Court's decision to define "woman" and "sex" strictly in terms of biological sex. The move has reignited the ongoing debate as the author slammed the actors. Also Read: SNL pokes fun at Bill Belichick's 49-year age gap with his girlfriend: 'Old men can now date far younger women' Rowling did not mince her words as she supported the essay in public on X while making blistering remarks on her 'back-stabbing colleagues', adding that their act was 'motivated by fear.' She wrote on X, 'In light of recent open letters from academia and the arts criticising the UK's Supreme Court ruling on sex-based rights, it's possibly worth remembering that nobody sane believes, or has ever believed, that humans can change sex, or that binary sex isn't a material fact.' She added, 'These letters do nothing but remind us of what we know only too well: that pretending to believe these things has become an elitist badge of virtue.' In her long message on social media, the author continued, 'Some argue that signatories of these sorts of letters are motivated by fear: fear for their careers, of course, but also fear of their co-religionists, who include angry, narcissistic men who threaten and sometimes enact violence on non-believers; back-stabbing colleagues ever ready to report wrongthink; the online shamers and doxxers and rape threateners, and, of course, the influential zealots in the upper echelons of liberal professions.' Somewhere in her note, she also commented that the 'court losses' against the trans community, 'are starting to stack up, meanwhile, 'women are fighting back and winning significant victories.' At the end, she called out the people who signed the pro trans letter, however, she did not drop any names, as reported by The New York Post. She wrote, 'I wonder if they ever ask themselves how they got here, and I wonder whether any of them will ever feel shame.' Also Read: What is the Met Gala curse? List of couples who ended up heartbroken after red carpet appearance The open pro trans letter was decorated with more than 2,000 signatures that argued that the court's ruling 'undermines the lived reality and threatens the safety of trans, non-binary and intersex people living in the UK.' Redmayne, who starred in teh Harry Potter prequel franchise, The Fantastic Beasts, signed the letter. Leung, who was in the original Harry Potter series, was also one of the signatories. Essiedu also signed the letter and is set to play Severus Snape in the upcoming Harry Potter series on HBO. Other British actors who were part of the signatories included Bella Ramsey, Nicola Coughlan and Joe Alwyn.
