Harry Potter star John Lithgow shocked by J.K. Rowling backlash after joining HBO show

He's no stranger to starring in top movies, but even
Hollywood great John Lithgow
was stunned by the reaction he got from starring in J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter show for HBO.
Fans rejoiced as the star was cast as Dumblemore in the
Harry Potter reboot
. However, John was not expecting the backlash he got too. The book's author, J.K. Rowling, has endured widespread criticism for her
remarks about the trans community
.
Now in a new interview, the legendary actor has opened up about the backlash over taking part in the HBO series. John explained that it all got quite personal. He said a very good friend who is the mother of a trans child sent him an open letter entitled 'An Open Letter to John Lithgow: Please Walk Away from Harry Potter' after he picked up the role.
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John said, "That was the canary in the coal mine.". Lithgow went on to question why Rowling's past comments should affect the project.
J.K. Rowling has been slammed for remarks about the transgender community
(Image: Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
"I thought, 'Why is this a factor at all?' I wonder how J.K. Rowling has absorbed it,' Lithgow said to
The Times
. 'I suppose at a certain point I'll meet her, and I'm curious to talk to her.'
Still, it did not deter him from taking on the part. When asked if the backlash has made him reconsider the role, Lithgow said, "Oh, heavens no." J.K Rowling recently hit headlines again after she hailed a landmark UK Supreme Court ruling that defined trans women as legally distinct from women.
The decision last week brought clarity to the Equality Act's language: "woman" and "sex" are to be understood as referring to "a biological woman and biological sex."
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The pronouncement by Lord Hodge was couched in terms of impartiality, advising that it shouldn't be interpreted as favoring certain societal groups over others while affirming that transgender people remain safeguarded against discrimination.
He expressed, "The unanimous decision of this court is that the terms' woman and sex in the Equality Act 2010 refer to a biological woman and biological sex. But we counsel against reading this judgement as a triumph of one or more groups in our society at the expense of another."
The judgement arrived in the wake of For Women Scotland (FWS), a Scottish advocacy group, contesting the legal definition of a woman in Scottish statutes pertaining to gender balance on public boards. Rowling subsequently shared her take on the verdict via social platforms.
The writer, recognized for her substantial £70,000 ($92,769) contribution to a cause opposing transgender rights, lauded the legal challengers saying, "It took three extraordinary, tenacious Scottish women with an army behind them to get this case heard by the Supreme Court and, in winning, they've protected the rights of women and girls across the UK. @ForWomenScot, I'm so proud to know you."
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News.com.au

13-06-2025

• News.com.au

Nick Frost on How To Train Your Dragon, Harry Potter reboot and his special link to Robbie Coltrane

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Vogue Arabia

31-05-2025

• Vogue Arabia

Everything We Know About The Harry Potter Series—Cast, Crew, Filming and more

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Tatler Asia

08-05-2025

• Tatler Asia

Opinion: At Met Gala 2025, how jewellery symbolised cultural representation

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