J.K. Rowling, 58, the best-selling author of the Harry Potter series, which has sold millions of copies globally and spawned one of the most successful film franchises ever, is no stranger to controversy. In recent years, her views on sex and gender have sparked significant backlash.
Now, Rowling has turned her ire toward two of the franchise’s biggest stars, vowing that she will never forgive them.
The controversy began in 2020 when Rowling retweeted an op-ed that discussed “people who menstruate.” She seemed to take issue with the use of the term, feeling that it overlooked the word “women.”
In response, the writer of the piece tweeted: “‘People who menstruate.’
“I’m sure there used to be a word for those people. Can anyone help me out? Wumben? Wimpund? Woomud?”
“Transgender women are women. Any statement to the contrary erases the identity and dignity of transgender people, and it goes against the guidance of professional healthcare organizations, who have far more expertise on this matter than either Jo or I,” said Radcliffe.
The Woman in Black actor also expressed his deep regret, saying he was “truly sorry” if the Harry Potter books had been “tarnished or diminished” for readers because of the controversy.
This week, Rowling shared a tweet about the Cass Review, an independent examination of gender identity services for children and young people.
Mermaids, a charity that supports trans, non-binary, and gender-questioning children, expressed concern, warning that “some of the language in the report is open to misinterpretation and could be used to create additional barriers to care for some trans young people,” according to The Guardian.
However, Rowling praised the review, calling it “the most robust investigation into the medical evidence for transitioning children that’s ever been conducted.” She argued that the findings revealed “kids have been irreversibly harmed,” and added, “Thousands are complicit — not just medics, but the celebrity mouthpieces, unquestioning media, and cynical corporations.”
However, Rowling maintains that she will not forgive the pair.
“Not safe, I’m afraid,” she wrote. “Celebrities who aligned themselves with a movement aimed at undermining women’s hard-won rights and who used their platforms to support the transitioning of minors can keep their apologies for traumatized detransitioners and vulnerable women who rely on single-sex spaces.”
