HBO's new race-swapped Professor Snape in Harry Potter series lashes out at JK Rowling over stance on trans

Paapa Essiedu, recently cast as Severus Snape in the upcoming Harry Potter television series, has joined over 400 actors and entertainment industry figures in signing an open letter supporting the transgender community following a landmark UK Supreme Court decision that defined gender based on biological sex.

The letter called for solidarity with individuals who identify as transgender and non-binary, according to the Daily Mail. It urged entertainment organizations such as the BBC and BAFTA to “condemn” the Supreme Court’s decision 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.”

“Film and television are powerful tools for empathy and education, and we believe passionately in the ability of the screen to change hearts and minds. This is our opportunity to be on the right side of history,” the letter stated.

The UK Supreme Court ruled unanimously that under existing equality law, the legal definition of “woman” is based on biological sex. The decision effectively allows businesses and public facilities to exclude biological men who identify as women from women-only spaces such as restrooms and hospital wards. 

Essiedu’s endorsement of the letter has been widely seen as a counter to Harry Potter author JK Rowling. Rowling, who has been outspoken about transgenderism and the need to protect women’s spaces, publicly praised the ruling on social media. On April 16, she posted a photo of herself smoking a cigar with the caption, “I love it when a plan comes together,” along with the hashtags #SupremeCourt and #WomensRights. The decision was applauded by many feminist and women’s rights organizations as a protection of women’s spaces.