‘Aunt Petunia’ in new HBO ‘Harry Potter’ series takes stand for trans against creator JK Rowling

The debut season of the series is expected to launch this coming Christmas. As the premiere approaches, with Rowling serving as an executive producer, the newly cast actors have been repeatedly asked about being involved given Rowling's stance that men cannot become women. Some of the actors have said that it is a view that is hostile towards transgender people.

https://x.com/OliLondonTV/status/2087235475090346383?s=20

Powley told reporters at the Telegraph: "I strongly disagree with J.K. Rowling's views on gender. I think that the trans community deserve safety and dignity and respect and total acceptance."

She continued, "But I love 'Harry Potter.' I grew up with the books. I am from that first generation of readers and, again, I love magic and spookiness."

John Lithgow, who portrays Dumbledore in the series, has repeatedly talked about Rowling’s opinions.

Lithgow previously claimed that he thought about leaving the production altogether but chose to stay on. "The reasons to do it were much, much stronger than the reasons to protest against what Rowling has done and said," he explained back in April. "I do disagree with much of it, much of it I think has been twisted and misrepresented, and she has doubled down on it at her own cost."

Paapa Essiedu, who plays Severus Snape, also signed an open letter supportive of trans issues last year in the UK. The letter urged entertainment organisations to "condemn" a landmark UK Supreme Court decision that defined gender on biological sex by “using their public platforms to make meaningful commitments to protecting trans, non-binary, and intersex members, talent and staff from discrimination within their respective organisations.”

Rowling, responding to an article that speculated Rowling would terminate him for the position, said, “I don’t have the power to sack an actor from the series and I wouldn’t exercise it if I did. I don’t believe in taking away people’s jobs or livelihoods because they hold legally protected beliefs that differ from mine.”

Stars from the original Harry Potter movies, including Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint, have all publicly condemned her views.

https://rumble.com/embed/v7btx1k/?pub=2n05b