JK Rowling Says She Won’t 'Forgive' Daniel Radcliffe And Emma Watson For This Reason

Since 2020, JK Rowling has been at the forefront of the gender debate in the UK. The Harry Potter author has long called for stringent measures regarding the transitioning of children and asserted that freely allowing “trans women in women-only spaces endangers the safety of cis-women.” She has also raised the issue of people regretting gender-affirming surgery and argued that gender dysmorphia should be treated with other means. While many have supported her views, a vast majority have also deemed her views as “transphobic” and labelled her as “TERF or trans-exclusionary radical feminist.”

On Wednesday, JK Rowling shared the findings of the “Independent Review of Gender Identity Services for Children and Young People” or the “Cass Review” by Dr Hilary Cass, which looked into the rise in the cases being referred to the Gender Identity Development Service. The study suggested that children are being harmed by “remarkably weak” evidence on medical intervention in gender care.

The report suggested that gender dysmorphia is exacerbated by mental health issues, exposure to incorrect information online, and possibly abuse. Dr Cass recommended several steps to treat gender dysmorphia such as counseling and restraint with using hormonal therapy for kids. Many, like Rowling, are seeing this report as a win for the “TERF” lobby.

While sharing a series of posts about the “Cass Review”, Rowling wrote, “Over the last four years, Hilary Cass has conducted the most robust review of the medical evidence for transitioning children that’s ever been conducted. Mere hours after it was released to the press and public, committed ideologues are doubling down.” She lambasted people for promoting misleading ideas on gender dysmorphia that left many people “infertile and in pain”.

In response to Rowling’s post, an X user wrote, “Just waiting for Dan and Emma to give you a very public apology … safe in the knowledge that you will forgive them…” In response, Rowling said that she would not forgive “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”. She added that those who opposed her “can save their apologies for traumatised detransitioners and vulnerable women reliant on single-sex spaces.”

Since 2020, many Harry Potter cast members like Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, Bonnie Wright and Eddie Redmayne, the star of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them have openly distanced themselves from Rowling’s remarks on the transgender community.

Daniel Radcliffe shared a statement via non-profit The Trevor Project and apologised to those whose experience of the Harry Potter books or films may have been tarnished following Rowling’s statements. Watson said, “Trans people are who they say they are and deserve to live their lives without being constantly questioned or told they aren’t who they say they are.” Rupert Grint shared the same views. Eddie Redmayne also said in 2020, “I disagree with Jo’s comments. Trans women are women, trans men are men and non-binary identities are valid.”