Harry Potter Star Robbie Coltrane Backs JK Rowling In Transgender Row

Harry Potter’s Hagrid a.k.a. Robbie Coltrane has revealed that he supports J.K. Rowling after she was accused of being transphobic.

The author has come under fire time and again for her controversial views on gender identity. Rowling, however, denies being transphobic. Her views resurfaced when her new book, Troubled Blood, was read by book critics. Her new book featured a ‘transvestite serial killer’ which enraged people again.

The Harry Potter author has been criticized by Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint. However, another cast member, who played Hagrid in the fan-favorite movie has come out in support of the author.

Robbie suggested that people get offended really quickly these days and that he does not find Rowling’s views offensive. He told the Radio Times: “I don’t think what she said was offensive really. I don’t know why but there’s a whole Twitter generation of people who hang around waiting to be offended.”

The actor continued, “They wouldn’t have won the war, would they? That’s me talking like a grumpy old man, but you just think, ‘Oh, get over yourself. Wise up, stand up straight and carry on.'” He also added that he does not want to get involved in all of this because of the hate. Robbie says he does not want all of that in this time of his life.

Back in June, J. K. Rowling retweeted an article titled “Opinion: Creating a more equal post-COVID-19 world for people who menstruate,” Rowling wrote. “‘People who menstruate.’ I’m sure, there used to be a word for those people. Someone help me out. Wumben? Wimpund? Woomud?”

J.K Rowling Receives Backlash

After a whole lot of criticism, Rowling sent out a few more tweets in her own defense. Clue, a period tracking app tweeted saying, “Hi @jk_rowling, using non-gendered language is about moving beyond the idea that woman = uterus. Feminists were once mocked for wanting to change sexist language, but it’s now common to say firefighter instead of a fireman.”

“What JK Rowling is saying is harmful and dangerous and the trans and non-binary witches and wizards deserve to feel welcomed and loved in the Harry Potter community dammit!!!!” actress Tessa Netting wrote.

The main characters of the Harry Potter franchise, Daniel, Emma, and Rupert also came forward to express their support to people. While speaking to The Times, Rupert who played fan-favorite, Ron Weasley, said he stands with the trans community. He said he echos the sentiment of his castmates. Rupert said, “Trans women are women. Trans men are men. We should all be entitled to live with love and without judgment.”

While Emma, who played Hermione Granger, said trans people are who they say they are. She said they deserve to live their lives without being constantly questioned or told they aren’t who they say they are. The actress added,  “I want my trans followers to know that I and so many other people around the world see you, respect you, and love you for who you are.”

Emma said she is proud to donate to charities like Mermaids and Mama Cash before encouraging her fans to do the same. She wished her followers a happy pride 2020 and sent love.

‘It’s clear that we need to do more’- Daniel

Daniel Radcliffe, who played Harry Potter, who doesn’t have a public presence on social media, wrote a heartfelt response to Rowling’s comments in a blog post for The Trevor Project. It is a non-profit devoted to suicide prevention among LGBTQ+ youth.

“Transgender women are women,” he wrote. “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.”

The author responded to the backlash in an essay expressing her views and reasons to have said what she said. She included her personal experiences with domestic abuse at the hands of her ex-husband of 18 months, Jorges Arantes. The essay also revealed she was sexually assaulted in her 20s and told of her scars of domestic violence from her first marriage.   

“I couldn’t shut out those memories and I was finding it hard to contain my anger and disappointment about the way I believe my government is playing fast and loose with womens and girls’ safety.”

Rowling also declared she had ‘deep concerns’ about the pressures young people face to transition to another gender. She even suggested she might have become a man herself. She said, “to turn myself into the son my father had openly said he’d have preferred”. If she had been subjected to similar pressures.