Stephen Fry turns back on Harry Potter author JK Rowling, calling her a 'lost cause' over trans views
Speaking on The Show People podcast, Fry said: 'She has been radicalised, I fear – perhaps by TERFs, [trans-exclusionary radical feminist] but also by the vitriol that is thrown at her. It is unhelpful and only hardens her. I'm afraid she seems to be a lost cause for us.'
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Metro
2 days ago
- Metro
Stephen Fry's JK Rowling criticism is welcome - but I'm still disappointed
Pleasantly surprised – and honestly, a bit relieved. That was my immediate reaction when I saw that British national treasure Sir Stephen Fry decided to finally speak out against JK Rowling's relentless demonisation of trans people and the rampant bigotry gripping the UK. Fry, who narrated all seven of Rowling's Harry Potter audiobooks, told a podcast how he no longer had regular dinners with his fellow author, and that her views on trans people were 'strange'. For trans people like me, I think her views are a bit more than that. Fry's comments, in which he claimed Rowling was 'mocking' LGBT people, had said 'inflammatory and distressing' things, describing her as a 'lost cause, radicalised by Trans Exclusionary Radical Feminists', were appreciated. Truly. But I'd be lying if I said I wasn't also saddened that it took him this long to say something. For years, the trans community has raised alarm bells about the festering transphobia spreading across parts of the British media and politics. With thousands of members from all over the world, our vibrant LGBTQ+ WhatsApp channel is a hub for all the latest news and important issues that face the LGBTQ+ community. Simply click on this link, select 'Join Chat' and you're in! Don't forget to turn on notifications! In columns like these, I've increasingly warned about the scale of this transphobia, and raised concerns about the output of JK Rowling in particular. The wider community has also pleaded for recognition, support, and solidarity for years. More often than not, our calls were met with silence – from celebrities, public figures, and others in positions of influence who could've made a difference. Let's be honest: JK Rowling's increasing hostility towards the trans community is no secret, and it is certainly nothing new. The author has clearly been on a journey, and not a positive one. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video From brushing off her liking a post describing trans women as 'men in dresses' as a 'middle-aged moment,' to claiming she'd march with trans people if they were being discriminated against (they are), Rowling is now relentlessly posting online where she openly misgenders and mocks trans people's identities and appearances. Her recent celebration of the Supreme Court's ruling on the definition of sex as it relates to the Equality Act was just the latest move in a long campaign of undermining trans rights, posting a very 'woman of the people' picture from her yacht. Last night, Fry described that picture as Rowling 'crowing' about that decision, and said he was 'very happy to go on the record to say that I am really angry about that.' He's right – but for those of us in the community – and our allies – it's been obvious for years where this was all heading. Fry said he 'always liked' Rowling's company and found her charming. But for trans people, this isn't about an intellectual debate between friends. It's about dog whistles, disinformation, and hateful rhetoric. And sadly, it's worked. Trans people are now more vilified than ever, with our very existence being questioned and our lived experience being cast aside. When Fry previously hid behind a 'both sides' argument and refused to hold his friend JK Rowling to account – I was disappointed. So while I do applaud him for finally speaking out, I can't help but note: Others have been brave enough to do so long before now. Emma Watson, Daniel Radcliffe, and Rupert Grint didn't wait for things to get this bad to show solidarity with trans people. Meanwhile, some actors are still happily signing up for roles in the new Harry Potter series, seemingly unbothered by Rowling's rhetoric. Personally, I know I wouldn't throw a vulnerable group of people under the Knight Bus for a role no matter how much success it gave me. Equality is simply more important than currency. The level of vitriol being hurled at trans people in the UK today, from strangers online to politicians and millionaire authors, is unlike anything I've seen. This isn't a polite disagreement at a dinner party – there are tangible risks to trans people in this country. More Trending So yes, I wish Stephen Fry had spoken up sooner – and used his considerable platform to oppose the damaging views of JK Rowling before now. But I'm ultimately glad he finally has. Because right now, we need more people – especially those with influence – to find their voice and use it. It's never too late to stand on the right side of history. And if Fry's shift can inspire others to do the same, then maybe, just maybe, we're not too far gone. We need allies. We need courage. With that, we can prevent the next 'lost cause'. Do you have a story you'd like to share? Get in touch by emailing Share your views in the comments below. MORE: LGBT+ ally Georgia Tennant admits 'the Pride flag feels heavier this June' MORE: Ralph Fiennes warns new Voldemort in Harry Potter TV series of danger MORE: Donald Trump stuns Juventus players with dig at transgender footballers
The National
2 days ago
- The National
Stephen Fry says JK Rowling has been 'radicalised by Terfs'
The TV presenter and comic described the bestselling writer, whose net worth reportedly stands at £945 million, as a 'lost cause' because of her views. Fry has historically been wary of wading into the transgender debate but has now come out to say he disagrees 'profoundly' with Rowling's views. He narrated the audiobooks for the whole Harry Potter series and said he was 'sorry' about his rift with Rowling over the issue. Fry told The Show People podcast last week that he previously enjoyed Rowling's company but said her gender critical views had 'completely altered the way she talks and engages with the world now'. He said: 'She has been radicalised I fear and it may be she has been radicalised by TERFs, but also by the vitriol that is thrown at her. 'It is unhelpful and only hardens her and will only continue to harden her I am afraid. I am not saying that she not be called out when she says things that are really cruel, wrong and mocking. She seems to be a lost cause for us.' Terf stands for trans-exclusionary radical feminist and is used as an insult by pro-trans activists. Fry, who formerly hosted the quiz show QI, added: 'She started to make these peculiar statements and had very strong difficult views. She seemed to wake up or kick a hornet's nest of transphobia which has been entirely destructive. 'I disagree profoundly with her on this subject. I am angry she does not disavow some of the more revolting and truly horrible, destructive violently destructive things that people say. She does not attack those at all. 'She says things that are inflammatory and contemptuous, mocking and add to a terribly distressing time for trans people.' READ MORE: Group of 'neo-Nazis' thrown out from council meeting about 'far-right racist' banners On Rowling's interventions in Scottish politics, which has been at the centre of UK-wide debates about trans rights, Fry said: 'She has crowed at the success of legislation in Scotland and elsewhere declaring things about gender. 'So I am very happy to go on the record to say that I am really angry about that.' Fry expressed regret about how Rowling (below) had changed, as he saw it. 'I am sorry because I always liked her company,' he said. 'I found her charming, funny and interesting and then this thing happened and it completely altered the way she talks and engages with the world now.' Fry, who is himself gay, previously faced criticism from parts of the LGBTQ+ community for not being more strident in his comments about the trans rights debate. In 2022, he called for both sides to stop fighting one another, saying: 'There is no winner.' He previously described Rowling as a 'friend', adding: 'I have trans friends and intersex friends who are deeply upset by her. That is a circle I have to square personally.' Fry added that he did not intend to 'abandon' friendships.
Metro
2 days ago
- Metro
Sir Stephen Fry turns on JK Rowling and claims she's been ‘radicalised'
Sir Stephen Fry has spoken out against Harry Potter author JK Rowling for being radicalised by TERFs (trans-exclusionary radical feminists). The comedian and actor, 67, famously narrated the Harry Potter book series and in 2022 stood by Rowling despite her 'upsetting' views. Now, years on from this comment, Fry has seemingly had a change of heart as he criticised the author publicly in a live recording of the podcast The Show People in Clapham. 'She has been radicalised, I fear, and it may be she has been radicalised by TERFs, but also by the vitriol that is thrown at her,' he told host Andrew Keates at the live event attended by the MailOnline. 'It is unhelpful and only hardens her and will only continue to harden her, I am afraid.' He added that she is a 'lost cause'. 'I am not saying that she should not be called out when she says things that are really cruel, wrong and mocking. She seems to be a lost cause for us.' The Harry Potter author upset and angered many people as she celebrated the Supreme Court ruling on sex earlier this year in May. The writer posed with a cigarillo in her mouth and a drink in her hand on her yacht in the Caribbean Sea as she toasted the ruling: 'I love it when a plan comes together.' The ruling saw Lord Hodge say the term 'woman' in the Equality Act 2010 should be defined according to biological sex assigned at birth. That definition means trans people can now be blocked from accessing designated single-sex spaces. Fry suggested that her recent comments changed his previous stance: 'She started to make these peculiar statements and had very strong, difficult views. She seemed to wake up or kick a hornet's nest of transphobia, which has been entirely destructive. 'I disagree profoundly with her on this subject. I am angry she does not disavow some of the more revolting and truly horrible, destructive violently destructive things that people say. She does not attack those at all. 'She says things that are inflammatory and contemptuous, mocking and add to a terribly distressing time for trans people.' He emphatically stated that he was 'happy to go on the record' and say he was 'really angry' about her comments. He added that he was 'sorry because I always liked her company' and that he found her 'charming, funny, and interesting'. In 2022, Fry said on the Beeb Watch podcast: 'She is a friend of mine and I have trans friends and intersex friends who are deeply upset by her. 'That is a circle I have to square personally.' 'I know that JK Rowling doesn't want to see trans people bullied, alienated, shut out of society, made to feel ashamed, guilty, laughed at, all those things. He added that he wanted to stay firmly on the fence when it came to this debate. 'It is not an argument I want to get involved in because it is upsetting to both sides and I would wish them both to retreat and to consider that is possible for trans people to live full, accepted lives according to their terms in society, and for women to have all the rights and dignities they demand.' His recent comments show he is no longer comfortable sitting on the fence, and Fry isn't the only celebrity who has worked with Rowling and spoken out against her TERF views. In response to Rowling's initial comments about gender in 2020, Emma Watson shared her support for the transgender community. The actress who played Hermione in the Harry Potter series said on social media: '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. 'I want my trans followers to know that I and so many other people around the world see you, respect you and love you for who you are.' In 2020, Daniel Radcliffe, who played Harry Potter in the film series, commented: ' 'As someone who has been honoured 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. '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,' he said in the lengthy post. Tom Felton, who played Draco Malfoy in the film series, was criticised recently when he refused to take a stance on Rowling as he signed on to reprise his character in the Potter stage play The Cursed Child. More Trending When asked directly whether the controversy around JK Rowling's divisive position on the trans community had impacted his work with the franchise, Felton responded, 'I can't say it does, I'm not really that attuned to it.' He added: 'I have not seen anything bring the world together more than Potter. She's responsible for that, so I'm incredibly grateful.' Metro reached out to JK Rowling's representatives, who declined to comment. Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. MORE: Stephen Fry reveals why he put himself through 'agony' of Celebrity Traitors MORE: Harry Potter star's new TV show with trans icon is coming out imminently MORE: Harry Potter fans spot major casting problem – but there's a simple answer
