Ever since J.K. Rowling became a figure in transphobia, a lot of people have been questioned on what their opinion is of her, and what it feels like to be connected to a franchise that she created.
The actors for the original Harry Potter and the upcoming reboot have been asked about their opinions on Rowling, and while some have been very vocal about their disagreement with her, there are some that feel like they’re fence-sitting on the issue—one such actor is Tom Felton.
When asked recently about the controversy surrounding Rowling, Felton replied:
Tom Felton says the controversy around J.K. Rowling's political views doesn't impact him: "I'm not really that attuned to it…I have not seen anything bring the world together more than Potter. She's responsible for that, so I'm incredibly grateful." #TonyAwards pic.twitter.com/T7KSMNbFds
— Variety (@Variety) June 8, 2025
“I’m not really that attuned to it…I have not seen anything bring the world together more than Potter. She’s responsible for that, so I’m incredibly grateful.”
Already, the comments were filled with people saying that Felton is coming out as insensitive to trans issues and that he’s ‘spineless’ for not even saying anything about Rowling.
On the other hand, we have Nick Frost who has been cast as the new Hagrid for the Potter reboot. While he has been getting flak for participating in the reboot in the first place, Frost told The Observer (via Deadline) about his thoughts on Rowling:
“She’s allowed her opinion and I’m allowed mine, they just don’t align in any way, shape or form.”
Besides that, Frost also adds that the controversy surrounding Potter should invite people to do more of their research when it comes to the issue. He adds, “But maybe it shouldn’t blow over? We shouldn’t just hope it will go away, because it makes it easier. Maybe we should educate ourselves.”
Admittedly, I myself needed to do a lot more research on why Rowling has been considered a ‘TERF’ by the LGBTQ+ community; and while a lot of her statements seem very pro-woman and well-informed, several other sources have proved that things that Rowling are saying aren’t backed up by statistics, and they only further the divide when it comes to the understanding of trans people.
For now, no release date has been set for the Potter reboot.
