J.K. Rowling recently indicated that she may not forgive her Harry Potter stars for disagreeing with her views on transgender rights, following a new report criticizing gender care treatments for young people.
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| Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and author J. K. Rowling at the 2010 'Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows' premiere. JON FURNISS/GETTY IMAGES |
A BBC report on Wednesday highlighted a four-year review commissioned by the NHS that investigated gender care. The report concluded that gender services were based on "remarkably weak" evidence and that medical professionals had "let down" children.
Pediatrician Dr. Hilary Cass wrote, "The reality is we have no good evidence on the long-term outcomes of interventions [such as puberty blockers] to manage gender-related distress. It is unusual for us to give a potentially life-changing treatment to young people and not know what happens to them in adulthood."
Rowling, who has faced significant criticism for her vocal opposition to certain aspects of the transgender rights movement, made several remarks about the report on X.
In response to one of Rowling's followers who expressed anticipation for Harry Potter stars Daniel Radcliffe and Emma Watson to publicly apologize to Rowling for their support of trans rights in 2020, Rowling's response implied that forgiveness may not be forthcoming.
Rowling responded, "Not safe, I'm afraid. Celebrities who aligned themselves with a movement focused on undermining women's hard-fought rights and who used their platforms to support the transitioning of minors should reserve their apologies for traumatized detransitioners and vulnerable women who rely on single-sex spaces."
Rowling's remark was part of a series of tweets discussing the findings of the Cass report.
"Over the past four years, Hilary Cass has conducted the most thorough review of the medical evidence regarding transitioning children to date," Rowling wrote. "Just hours after its release to the press and public, committed ideologues are digging in their heels. The repercussions of this scandal will reverberate for decades. You cheered it on.
You did everything in your power to obstruct and misrepresent research. You attempted to bully people out of their jobs for disagreeing with you. Young people have been experimented on, left infertile, and in pain. I thought my last tweet was going to be my final one, but I couldn't help bursting into tears. The #CassReview may mark a turning point, but it's too late for detransitioners who have sent me heartbreaking letters of regret. Today is not a victory; it's the revelation of a tragedy.
And if I sound angry, it's because I am furious. I read Cass this morning, and my anger has been growing all day. Children have been irreversibly harmed, and thousands are complicit, not just the medical professionals, but the celebrity spokespeople, unquestioning media, and cynical corporations."
In 2020, Radcliffe responded to a tweet from Rowling on the issue, stating, "Transgender women are women. Any statement suggesting otherwise undermines the identity and dignity of transgender individuals and contradicts the guidance provided by professional healthcare organizations, which have significantly more expertise in this area than either Jo or I."
According to The Trevor Project, 78% of transgender and nonbinary youth have experienced discrimination based on their gender identity. This highlights the urgent need to offer greater support to transgender and nonbinary individuals, rather than dismissing their identities and causing further harm.
Meanwhile, Watson tweeted, "Trans people are exactly who they say they are and deserve to live their lives without constant questioning or denial of their identities. I want my transgender followers to know that I, along with many others worldwide, see you, respect you, and love you for who you are."
Rowling's stance on the transgender issue has created some tension in her long-standing and otherwise mutually beneficial relationship with Warner Bros., which continues to explore new avenues for Wizarding World content. Despite this, the studio has announced a reboot of the Harry Potter series as a TV show for Max, featuring a new cast with Rowling involved. Warner Bros. aims to launch the first season in 2026.
"We recently spent time with J.K. and her team in London," said David Zaslav, Warner Bros. Discovery chief. "Both sides are excited to revitalize this franchise. Our discussions were productive, and we're thrilled about the future. We're eager to share a decade of new adventures with fans worldwide on Max."
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