Daniel Radcliffe gets involved in J.K. Rowling controversy
Harry Potter star Daniel Radcliffe has spoken out following J.K. Rowling's controversial comments.
The author made headlines over the weekend for her tweets about the transgender community.
J.K. Rowling's comments
Rowling faced major backlash after sharing her confusion over an article discussing, 'people who menstruate.'
The 54-year-old commented, 'I’m sure there used to be a word for those people.'
'Someone help me out. Wumben? Wimpund? Woomud?'
‘People who menstruate.’ I’m sure there used to be a word for those people. Someone help me out. Wumben? Wimpund? Woomud?
Opinion: Creating a more equal post-COVID-19 world for people who menstruate https://t.co/cVpZxG7gaA
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) June 6, 2020
The author faced major backlash, with many branding her transphobic.
Rowling responded in a follow-up series of tweets, 'If sex isn’t real, there’s no same-sex attraction.'
'If sex isn’t real, the lived reality of women globally is erased.'
'I know and love trans people, but erasing the concept of sex removes the ability of many to meaningfully discuss their lives.'
'It isn’t hate to speak the truth,' Rowling added.
In another tweet, she continued, 'The idea that women like me, who’ve been empathetic to trans people for decades, feeling kinship because they’re vulnerable in the same way as women - ie, to male violence - ‘hate’ trans people because they think sex is real and has lived consequences - is a nonsense'
'My life has been shaped by being female'
In her final tweet of the thread, the Harry Potter author said, 'I respect every trans person’s right to live any way that feels authentic and comfortable to them.'
'I’d march with you if you were discriminated against on the basis of being trans.'
'At the same time, my life has been shaped by being female. I do not believe it’s hateful to say so,' she finished.
I respect every trans person’s right to live any way that feels authentic and comfortable to them. I’d march with you if you were discriminated against on the basis of being trans. At the same time, my life has been shaped by being female. I do not believe it’s hateful to say so.
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) June 6, 2020
Daniel Radcliffe's response
Harry Potter actor Daniel Radcliffe has spoken out following the author's controversial comments.
In a blog post shared by The Trevor Project, Daniel wrote that he feels, 'compelled to say something at this moment.'
He began his post by recognising that Rowling is, 'responsible for the course [his] life has taken.'
Despite this, he stands by the idea that, 'Transgender women are women.'
The 30-year-old wrote, '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.'
'I'm still learning how to be a better ally'
Daniel admitted he's, 'still learning how to be a better ally,' before pointing readers in the direction of an article on how to do that.
Later in his post, he addresses the Harry Potter fans who, 'feel that their experience of the books has been tarnished or diminished.'
He apologised, 'I am deeply sorry for the pain these comments have caused you.'
'I really hope that you don’t entirely lose what was valuable in these stories to you,' Daniel said.
'If these books taught you that love is the strongest force in the universe, capable of overcoming anything; if they taught you that strength is found in diversity, and that dogmatic ideas of pureness lead to the oppression of vulnerable groups; if you believe that a particular character is trans, nonbinary, or gender fluid, or that they are gay or bisexual; if you found anything in these stories that resonated with you and helped you at any time in your life — then that is between you and the book that you read, and it is sacred.'
'And in my opinion nobody can touch that.'
'It means to you what it means to you and I hope that these comments will not taint that too much,' Daniel finished.
Rowling hasn't responded to Daniel's comments.
