Harry Potter Stars Who Still Stand With J.K. Rowling—Even as Emma Watson and Daniel Radcliffe Distance Themselves

If you thought the Harry Potter world would quietly move past J.K. Rowling's 2020 essay on trans activism, nope. The fandom and the cast split in very public ways, and the conversation keeps coming back around — especially because Rowling herself has continued to respond. Here is who said what, when they said it, and how Rowling fired back. There are even a few behind-the-scenes wrinkles that make this mess even messier.

Where the Potter cast landed

• Ralph Fiennes (Voldemort): Told The New York Times (via Variety) that the online abuse aimed at Rowling was 'disgusting' and 'appalling.' He framed her work as being about becoming a better, more morally grounded person, and said he understood her perspective even if others were angered by it.
• Helena Bonham Carter (Bellatrix): In The Times, she argued Rowling's comments were not transphobic, suggested they were tied to Rowling's own experience with abuse, called the pile-on 'a load of bollocks,' and said Rowling was 'hounded.'
• Robbie Coltrane (Hagrid): Told RadioTimes (via People) that he did not find Rowling's remarks offensive and took a shot at what he called a Twitter generation waiting to be offended.
• Jim Broadbent (Horace Slughorn): Told The Telegraph he found the backlash 'really sad,' praised Rowling, and said he would support her if it came to it.
• John Cleese (Nearly Headless Nick): On X (via CBR), he pushed back on the idea that disagreeing with some transgender arguments automatically makes him transphobic, joking about whether that would make critics 'Cleesephobic.'
• Evanna Lynch (Luna Lovegood): Initially told Variety she wished Rowling had not tackled such a sensitive topic on Twitter, but also called Rowling generous and loving. Later, speaking to The Telegraph, she said she saw Rowling as an advocate for the vulnerable, noted the disagreement over who the most vulnerable are, and asked people to give Rowling more grace and listen.
• Miriam Margolyes (Professor Sprout): Said via Deadline that Rowling's views were too harsh, but also told Sky News the backlash had turned unkind.
• Emma Watson (Hermione): Issued a statement supporting trans people, saying they are who they say they are and deserve to live without constant questioning. At the 2022 BAFTAs, after host Rebel Wilson introduced her with a pointed 'witch' joke, Watson took the stage and said:

  'I am here for all of the witches.'

  That moment went instantly viral.
• Daniel Radcliffe (Harry): Wrote an open letter via The Trevor Project pushing back on Rowling's comments:

  'Transgender women are women. 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.'

  He also said he hoped Rowling's comments would not ruin the books or films for fans, and that what people found valuable in the stories is theirs to keep.
• Rupert Grint (Ron): In the Sunday Times, he said he stands with the trans community and echoed the message that trans women are women and trans men are men, adding that everyone should be able to live with love and without judgment.
• Bonnie Wright (Ginny): Posted on X that the love and belonging fans felt in Harry Potter is theirs without judgment, adding that trans women are women.
• Eddie Redmayne (Fantastic Beasts): Told Variety he disagreed with Rowling, affirmed that trans women are women, trans men are men, and said nonbinary identities are valid.
• Others who spoke up in support of trans people or against Rowling's comments: Katie Leung, Chris Rankin, Harry Melling, and David Tennant.

Rowling responds to her former stars

Last year, while welcoming a report that raised concerns about gender identity services for children, a social media user told Rowling they were just waiting for Dan and Emma to apologize, assuming she would forgive them. Rowling's reply was short and icy: 'Not safe, I'm afraid.' Then she expanded her point with a statement aimed at famous critics of her stance:

'Celebs who cosied up to a movement intent on eroding women's hard-won rights and who used their platforms to cheer on the transitioning of minors can save their apologies for traumatised detransitioners and vulnerable women reliant on single sex spaces.'

In a more recent tweet, Rowling said Watson and Radcliffe have every right to disagree with her. What she objected to was the way they kept publicly critiquing her and, in her view, positioning themselves as representatives of her work years after the films ended:

'However, Emma and Dan in particular have both made it clear over the last few years that they think our former professional association gives them a particular right – nay, obligation – to critique me and my views in public. Years after they finished acting in Potter, they continue to assume the role of de facto spokespeople for the world I created.'

She added another pointed line about her former child stars and how she had viewed them back then:

'Until quite recently, I hadn't managed to throw off the memory of children who needed to be gently coaxed through their dialogue in a big scary film studio.'

The awkward history underneath it all

Before any of this, Rowling and Watson were on great terms. Rowling even helped Watson land Hermione. Which makes the current back-and-forth feel extra tense — it's not just public disagreement, it's layered with old professional ties and very different ideas about who gets to speak for what Potter means now.

Where I land on this

However you slice it, the split is real and still active: some cast members defend Rowling outright, some oppose her comments and align publicly with trans communities, and Rowling is clearly done playing nice about it. As always, keep it respectful in the comments — this is one of those topics where nuance often gets bulldozed by the quote-tweet button.