Harry Potter fans call out JK Rowling for ‘uncalled for’ sarcastic swipe at David Tennant

Harry Potter fans have called out JK Rowling for an ‘uncalled for’ sarcastic swipe at David Tennant.

It’s pretty well known by now that the Wizarding World creator is quite the controversial figure, with many choosing to boycott it altogether because of her comments.

Rowling has been accused of transphobia over recent years, sparking backlash earlier in the summer when she said she’ll never forgive some Harry Potter stars for their support of trans rights.

But she still doesn’t exactly hold back on social media, taking aim at Tennant over the weekend. It came following the news Kemi Badenoch had won the Tory leadership vote on Saturday (2 November).

This traces back to June when the Doctor Who star was awarded a British LGBT Award for Celebrity Ally.

During his acceptance speech, Tennant said he wished Badenoch would ‘shut up’ and longed for a world where she ‘doesn’t exist’.

The new Conservative leader has long been vocal in her criticism of trans rights and had fronted the party’s election pledge to make biological sex a protected characteristic in the Equality Act, which could lead to trans women being barred from sporting events and hospital wards.

And when Badenoch was announced in the role, Rowling decided to repost it with a very sarcastic comment.

A previous donor of the Labour party, she wrote on X: “My thoughts and prayers are with David Tennant at this very difficult time.”

My thoughts and prayers are with David Tennant at this very difficult time. https://t.co/5zM8WmyGSx

— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) November 2, 2024

Users hit out at Rowling as they responded: “Picking a fight with David Tennant is a CRAZY move.”

Referencing the actor’s role as Barty Crouch Jr. in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, one wrote: “Reminder that David Tennant is one of the many people who helped make your story be as famous as it is.”

While some did join with Rowling, others said Tennant is ‘unlikely to give a s**t about who’s in charge’.

And another said: “David Tennant is a much better person than you will ever be.”

Some called the swipe ‘uncalled for’ as people instead shared the actor’s original speech.

Badenoch said in response to Tennant at the time: “I will not shut up. I will not be silenced by men who prioritise applause from Stonewall over the safety of women and girls.

“A rich, lefty, white male celebrity so blinded by ideology he can’t see the optics of attacking the only Black woman in government by calling publicly for my existence to end.”

When launching her campaign to become the new leader, she said she wasn’t ‘afraid of Doctor Who’ while many stand by Tennant’s comments on the importance of trans rights.