Tom Felton Won't Call Out J.K. Rowling—Here's What He Said Instead
Felton's response sure raised some eyebrows.
Tom Felton is heading back to the Wizarding World, reprising his role as Draco Malfoy in the stage production of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. But when asked whether J.K. Rowling's widely criticized anti-trans views gave him any hesitation about returning, Felton didn't take a position.
His response:
"No, I can't say it does. I'm not really that attuned to it. The only thing that I always remind myself is that I've been lucky enough to travel the world, here I am in New York, and I have not seen anything bring the world together more than Potter. And she's responsible for that, so I'm incredibly grateful."
This isn't the first time Felton has sidestepped the question. Back in 2022, when asked about Rowling's views, he said he didn't "know enough about the specifics," and added:
"My dog takes up far too much time for me to go into such matters."
Felton is one of several actors whose careers remain closely tied to the Harry Potter franchise. While others from the cast have distanced themselves from Rowling or spoken more directly, Felton has continued to appear at Harry Potter events, conventions, and now, officially, in a new Wizarding World production. He reportedly earned $17 million for just 31 minutes and 45 seconds of screen time across all eight Potter films — making him the highest-paid actor per minute in the franchise.
With that context, some fans aren't surprised by his refusal to comment. Rowling remains financially tied to all major Harry Potter properties, including the stage play. Felton's participation is expected to boost attention — and revenue — for the brand.
Rowling's financial influence in this space isn't just symbolic. She has publicly backed political campaigns opposing trans rights in the UK, including involvement in a legal case that redefined "woman" in British law to exclude trans women.
Felton has previously stated that he's "pro-choice, pro-discussion, pro-human rights across the board, and pro-love." But when asked to weigh in on one of the most visible controversies tied to the franchise, he declined to comment — again.
For comparison, other pop culture figures have handled similar situations differently. When Buffy the Vampire Slayer creator Joss Whedon faced multiple accusations of workplace abuse and misconduct, stars like Charisma Carpenter and Sarah Michelle Gellar publicly addressed it. Many of the show's cast and fans have since made clear that the story belongs to them—not to its creator.