Harry Potter’s Daniel Radcliffe hits out at JK Rowling’s ‘transphobic’ comments and says ‘transgender women are women’
HARRY Potter actor Daniel Radcliffe has apologised to the trans community as he hit out at JK Rowling's 'transphobic' Twitter row.
The film star, 30, penned an open letter in which he told fans of the wizarding franchise: "I am deeply sorry for the pain these comments have caused you."
It comes after Rowling, 54, faced a backlash for her comments on Friday about a news story with the headline: 'Creating a more equal post COVID-19 world for people who menstruate.'
She retweeted it and wrote: “I’m sure there used to be a word for those people. Someone help me out. Wumben? Wimpund? Woomud?”
Daniel voiced strong objections to her words in his statement via US organisation The Trevor Project, which aims to prevent suicides in the LGBTQ community.
He wrote: "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."
In a bid to play down any clash between the pair, he continued: "I realize that certain press outlets will probably want to paint this as in-fighting between JK Rowling and myself, but that is really not what this is about, nor is it what's important right now.
"While Jo is unquestionably responsible for the course my life has taken, as someone who has been honored to work with and continues to contribute to The Trevor Project for the last decade, and just as a human being, I feel compelled to say something at this moment.
"To all the people who now feel that their experience of the books has been tarnished or diminished, I am deeply sorry for the pain these comments have caused you."
His letter has been widely welcomed on social media, with one supporter writing that they "loved him for it."
Another posted: "Thank you for this DANIEL RADCLIFFE!"
As a third said: "i knew i could trust daniel radcliffe."
Some Twitter users expressed outrage at JK's tweets, pointing out it was not only women born women who menstruate.
Stars such as Sarah Paulson, Jameela Jamil and Jonathan Van Ness were all critical.
Rowling, who is said to be worth £765million, responded: "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.
"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.
"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 was blasted last year for backing a researcher sacked for tweeting “men cannot change into women”.
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Speaking in defence of Maya Forstater, JK posted: “Live your best life in peace and security. But force women out of their jobs for stating that sex is real?”
While in 2018 she “liked” a message which branded transgender women as “men in dresses”.
The post read: "I was shouted at by men at my first Labour Party meeting aged 18 because I asked them to remove a Page 3 calendar.
"I've been told to toughen up, be louder, stronger, independent. I've not often felt supported. Men in dresses get more brocialist solidarity I never had. That's misogyny!"
The incidents have seen her branded a Terf - a term used to describe feminists who express ideas that other feminists consider to be transphobic — including the belief that trans women are not women.
Recently Ms Rowling announced that she is making a £1m donation to help homeless people and those affected by domestic abuse during the coronavirus pandemic.
The writer said she was "torn between pride and anxiety" for frontline health and care workers.
Rowling has been married to Dr Neil Murray, a Scottish doctor, since 2001.
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