• iconNews
  • videos
  • entertainment
  • Home
  • News
    • UK News
    • US News
    • Australia
    • Ireland
    • World News
    • Weird News
    • Viral News
    • Sport
    • Technology
    • Science
    • True Crime
    • Travel
  • Entertainment
    • Celebrity
    • TV & Film
    • Netflix
    • Music
    • Gaming
    • TikTok
  • LAD Originals
    • Say Maaate to a Mate
    • Daily Ladness
    • Lad Files
    • UOKM8?
    • FreeToBe
    • Extinct
    • Citizen Reef
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • UNILAD
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
Snapchat
TikTok
YouTube

LAD Entertainment

YouTube

LAD Stories

Submit Your Content
Daniel Radcliffe explains why it was important to speak out against JK Rowling's anti-trans comments

Home> Entertainment

Published 23:25 1 Nov 2022 GMT

Daniel Radcliffe explains why it was important to speak out against JK Rowling's anti-trans comments

The Harry Potter star revealed the reason behind that open letter.

Rachel Lang

Rachel Lang

Harry Potter star Daniel Radcliffe has revealed why he chose to publish an open letter about transgender rights while public backlash against JK Rowling was at its peak.

The now 33-year-old actor published his words on The Trevor Project website, a nonprofit organisation that focuses on suicide prevention efforts in the LGBTQ community, back in 2020.

But now, Radcliffe has explained why he felt it was so important to speak out against Rowling's comments that denied trans women are women.

Advert

"The reason I felt very, very much as though I needed to say something when I did was because, particularly since finishing [Harry Potter]," Radcliffe said, according to Variety.

Radcliffe in Harry Potter.
Collection Christophel / Alamy Stock Photo

"I’ve met so many queer and trans kids and young people who had a huge amount of identification with Potter on that and so seeing them hurt on that day, I wanted them to know that not everybody in the franchise felt that way."

He added: "And that was really important.”

The boy who grew up on the set of the Harry Potter film franchise revealed that, after working for the Trevor Project for more than a decade, he didn't 'think [he] would’ve been able to look [himself] in the mirror' if he had not said anything.

Backlash against the best selling author exploded in June 2020 after she posted a series of tweets where she argued that gender identity negates biological sex and contributes to the erasure of the female experience.

Advert

"If sex isn’t real, there’s no same-sex attraction. If sex isn’t real, the lived reality of women globally is erased," she said.

Rowling added: "I know and love trans people, but erasing the concept of sex removes the ability of many to meaningfully discuss their lives."

She has doubled down on her comments many times since the initial backlash.

Radcliffe ripped into the tweets in his open letter.

"Transgender women are women," the actor said.

Advert

"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 or I."

Rupert Grint, from left, Emma Watson and Daniel Radcliffe star in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.
Abaca Press / Alamy

His letter continued: " To all the people who now feel that their experience of the [Harry Potter] books has been tarnished or diminished, I am deeply sorry for the pain these comments have caused you."

He added: "I really hope that you don’t entirely lose what was valuable in these stories to you.”

Several other Harry Potter stars have hit out against Rowling's comments since she shared them online including Rupert Grint who played Ron Weasley, Emma Watson who played Hermione Granger, and Tom Felton who played Draco Malfoy.

Advert

Rupert told The Times: "Social media can start conversations but if you put your opinions out there, you can get bombarded.

"I do think it’s still important to stand up for what you believe in, and for people and communities that need our support and love.

"I wanted to get some kindness out there."

Featured Image Credit: Warner Bros. PA Images / Alamy.

Topics: JK Rowling, Daniel Radcliffe, Celebrity, TV and Film, LGBTQ

Rachel Lang
Rachel Lang

Rachel Lang is a Digital Journalist at LADbible. During her career, she has interviewed Aussie PM Malcolm Turnbull in the lead up to the 2016 federal election, ran an editorial campaign on the war in Yemen, and reported on homelessness in the lead-up to Harry and Meghan’s wedding in Windsor. She also once wrote a yarn on the cheese and wine version of Fyre Festival.

X

@rlangjournalist

Advert

Advert

Advert

Choose your content:

13 hours ago
14 hours ago
19 hours ago
21 hours ago
  • 13 hours ago

    Mindhunter 'set to return' but it won't be as a Netflix TV series

    There's a 'chance', so hold onto that

    Entertainment
  • 14 hours ago

    Logan Paul shares insane amount of money he made in one year alone

    Logan Paul has shared the eye watering amount he made in a single year during a recent chat with Top FaZe Clan's Stable Ronaldo and Lacy

    Entertainment
  • 19 hours ago

    54-year-old actress explains why she 'won't date people' her own age

    The EastEnders star broke up with her boyfriend 20 years younger than her last year

    Entertainment
  • 21 hours ago

    Jeremy Clarkson reveals new health concern just months after emergency heart surgery

    Seems like he can't catch a break

    Entertainment
  • Tom Felton has blunt response when asked about JK Rowling's feud with Harry Potter co-stars as he's set to reprise role
  • Why JK Rowling will 'never forgive' Daniel Radcliffe and Emma Watson following end of Harry Potter series
  • Nick Frost speaks out on JK Rowling backlash after HBO Harry Potter casting
  • What Daniel Radcliffe has said as JK Rowling said she will ‘not forgive’ him and he can ‘save his apology’