Andrew Garfield has joined the chorus of celebs speaking out against JK Rowling’s “inhumane” transphobia, after HBO debuted the new trailer for its upcoming Harry Potter TV reboot.
Garfield addressed the Harry Potter author’s many controversies in a recent Hits Radio interview, after revealing he’d watched the original films for the first time.
The actor refused to mention Rowling by name and instead called back to how Voldemort is referred to in the fantasy franchise.
“I know it’s controversial [to watch the movies] and we shouldn’t be putting money in the pocket of inhumane legislation right now, through she that shall remain nameless,” Garfield said.
He added that Rowling’s transphobic manoeuvres, including her backing of the UK Supreme Court’s 2025 ruling about the legal definition of a woman, have tarnished what was otherwise a “beautiful” series.
“There are so many beautiful artists that worked on those films,” Garfield said. “I have a newfound appreciation for all of the artists, and Daniel is great.”
The actor’s comments echo those of John Lithgow — who portrays Dumbledore in the upcoming HBO series — who said the original franchise is “clearly on the side of the angels, against intolerance and bigotry”.
It comes just days after Rowling, a self-described TERF, again weighed into trans issues by celebrating the Olympic Committee’s decision to ban transgender women from competing in women’s categories at future Games.
“[The] ruling by the [Olympic Committee] means a welcome return to fair sport for women and girls,” Rowling wrote on X.
Garfield and Lithgow are just two of the celebs who’ve addressed Rowling’s transphobia in recent times.
Radcliffe stood in support of trans people in 2020 and said the author’s stance was “really sad”, while fellow Harry Potter star Emma Watson said the situation was “painful” last year.
Elsewhere, castmates of the Harry Potter HBO reboot have also spoken out, with Nick Frost, who portrays Hagrid, saying his views “don’t align” with Rowling’s “in any way, shape or form” and Snape actor Paapa Essiedu signing an open letter in solidarity with trans people last year.
The first season of the Harry Potter TV show will premiere on Christmas Day, with the following instalments to cover each book in the original seven-book series.
Lead images: Getty Images and X
