“Harry Potter” star Miriam Margolyes defended bestselling author J.K. Rowling over recent transgender statements, arguing the response to the author’s views has been “misplaced.”
Margolyes, known for her role as Hogwarts herbology teacher Professor Sprout, shared the comments during an interview with the Radio Times.
“There isn’t one answer to all these trans questions,” the actress shared.
“I think the vituperation JK Rowling has received is misplaced. I don’t know her at all. I admire her as a human being. She’s a generous woman, she’s a brilliant writer,” she added.
The supportive words offer a strong contrast with other “Harry Potter” film cast members who have even apologized over statements Rowling has made regarding transgender issues.
The author’s controversy began in 2019 when she spoke out regarding concerns over women’s rights related to transgender issues.
Rowling spoke out on social media in support of a woman who had been fired for stating “men cannot change into women,” a claim transgender activists argued was transphobic.
“Dress however you please. Call yourself whatever you like. Sleep with any consenting adult who’ll have you. Live your best life in peace and security. But force women out of their jobs for stating that sex is real? #IStandWithMaya #ThisIsNotADrill,” she posted to Twitter.
Dress however you please.
Call yourself whatever you like.
Sleep with any consenting adult who’ll have you.
Live your best life in peace and security.
But force women out of their jobs for stating that sex is real? #IStandWithMaya #ThisIsNotADrill— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) December 19, 2019
The post set off of firestorm of controversy, including attempts to “cancel” Rowling over the view. The Daily Wire’s Cabot Phillips wrote:
Daniel Radcliffe, a man who’s amassed a fortune thanks to Rowling’s creative endeavors, bravely proclaimed “transgender women are women” and apologized to the poor souls who felt their book reading experience was “tarnished”. Emma Watson, likewise a household name thanks to Rowling, told her trans followers that she respects them and sees them before issuing a #PRIDE2020 hashtag. Eddie Redmayne, who plays the main protagonist in the spinoff Fantastic Beats franchise, wanted to make it “absolutely clear where he stands”, which is that Rowling is wrong, and trans women are women, trans men are men – you get the idea.
Earlier this month, Twitter took down a video posted by transgender activist and singer Faye Fadem that included an alleged death threat against Rowling after initially deciding the statement did not violate the social media platform’s policies.
Fadem, who goes by the name “Trust Fund Ozu,” posted a music video on April 1 that included the lyrics, “As I kill (Trans-Exclusionary Radical Feminists)” and “J.K. I hope you fit in a hearse,” according to the New York Post.
Actor James Dreyfus called the video to Twitter’s attention and shared the response he said he got back from the social media site that it hadn’t violated the site’s “safety policies.”
“Surprise, Surprise!” Dreyfus tweeted. “So, death threats=Good. Saying ‘women are women’=Bad. @Twitter @TwitterSupport. Congratulations. You’ve hit rock bottom. Seek help.night all. X.”
Surprise, Surprise!
So, death threats=Good.
Saying ‘women are women’=Bad. @Twitter @TwitterSupport
Congratulations. You’ve hit rock bottom. Seek help.
🙄night all. X pic.twitter.com/VbkFtOIcbQ
— James Dreyfus (@DreyfusJames) April 2, 2022