Harry Potter star Daniel Radcliffe has further voiced his support for the LGBTQ community and expressed his disappointment over J.K. Rowling’s past anti-trans comments.
Over the past few years, Rowling has consistently made headlines for her statements involving trans people. However, both Radcliffe and fellow Harry Potter star Emma Watson have made their own public statements that have contrasted with Rowling’s comments.
Daniel Radcliffe’s LGBTQ support continues
Daniel Radcliffe recently shared his views in response to a comment that Rowling made, stating that he will continue to support LGBTQ people and their rights.
In the past, Rowling has said that she wouldn’t forgive Daniel Radcliffe and Emma Watson for their stance on trans rights issues, even if they made a public apology to her. Replying to a comment earlier in April, which asked for the actors to apologize to the author, Rowling wrote:
“Celebs who cosied up to a movement intent on eroding women’s hard-won rights and who used their platforms to cheer on the transitioning of minors can save their apologies for traumatised detransitioners and vulnerable women reliant on single sex spaces.”
The Atlantic asked for Radcliffe’s stance on her message, and the actor said:
“I will continue to support the rights of all LGBTQ people, and have no further comment than that.”
Radcliffe is ‘really sad’ about J.K. Rowling’s anti-trans comments
Radcliffe also stated that he is saddened by Rowling’s comments about the trans community. He said:
“It makes me really sad, ultimately, because I do look at the person that I met, the times that we met, and the books that she wrote, and the world that she created, and all of that is to me so deeply empathic.”
The contrasting statements from Rowling and Daniel Radcliffe began when the author made remarks in 2020 that were perceived to be prejudiced against trans people, which was followed by a positive message of support for the trans community from Radcliffe. In his latest interview with The Atlantic, the actor also replied to critics who have called him ungrateful for taking a stand against Rowling.
He acknowledged Rowling’s contributions to his life and career by saying:
“Jo, obviously Harry Potter would not have happened without her, so nothing in my life would have probably happened the way it is without that person. But that doesn’t mean that you owe the things you truly believe to someone else for your entire life.”
