Bel Powley, who is set to portray Petunia Dursley in HBO's forthcoming adaptation of the Harry Potter novels, has publicly stated her strong disagreement with author J.K. Rowling's views on gender. Powley, 34, emphasized that the transgender community deserves "safety and dignity and respect and total acceptance."
Rowling has become a prominent advocate for women's rights and single-sex spaces, asserting that biological sex is fundamental to women's safety. This stance has previously drawn criticism from within the film industry, including original Harry Potter stars Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint, as well as Paapa Essiedu, who stars as Severus Snape in the new series.
The new Harry Potter television series, with an estimated production cost of £75 million per episode, is scheduled for release in December.
Rowling's public statements on gender issues began drawing scrutiny in 2018. She has since actively campaigned for sex-based rights, opposing legislation in Scotland that aimed to simplify legal gender recognition. The author has also provided financial backing for legal challenges concerning the status of transgender individuals.
In a detailed statement released in 2020, Rowling explained her views were informed by personal experiences with abuse and sexual assault. She expressed concerns that opening access to bathrooms and changing rooms based on gender identity could compromise women's safety.
These positions have resulted in significant criticism for Rowling from figures in the film and television industries. She has previously stated she would "never forgive" Watson, Radcliffe, and Grint for what she described as their support for a movement undermining women's rights. Rowling also critiqued Watson's public stance on transgender rights in September, suggesting it stemmed from a lack of real-life experience.
Rowling countered Watson's assertion that she still valued their professional relationship, interpreting it as a calculated move to align with shifting public opinion. Watson had previously stated on the podcast "On Purpose with Jay Shetty" that her support for trans rights did not negate her respect for Rowling. Rowling, however, maintained that while her former colleagues had the right to their views on gender identity, their public criticism felt like an overreach of their past professional association.
Other figures connected to the franchise have also commented on the controversy. Actor Andrew Garfield, in March, alluded to the franchise becoming "toxic" due to its author's views, referring to Rowling indirectly as "she that shall remain nameless," a phrase reminiscent of the Harry Potter antagonist Lord Voldemort.
John Lithgow, who is cast as Hogwarts headteacher Albus Dumbledore in the upcoming series, has previously described his decision to join the production as difficult, calling Rowling's stance on transgender issues "inexplicable."