Latest news with #StephenFry
Daily Mail
11 hours ago
- Politics
- Daily Mail
From national treasure to pompous old fool, Stephen Fry's journey of smuggery is now complete: JAN MOIR
Tread on a worm and it will turn. And Stephen Fry has turned on his former friend JK Rowling, piously branding her a 'lost cause' and accusing her of being 'radicalised' with 'strange' views. Hark at him. He sounds like an Iranian cleric trying to wrestle an impudent girl into a burka, not someone who exults in his laughable reputation as a champion of free speech.
News.com.au
14 hours ago
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
Stephen Fry accuses ‘lost cause' J.K. Rowling of being ‘radicalised'
The British actor, broadcaster and writer has criticised the Harry Potter author for her outspoken views on transgender rights. During a recent appearance on The Show People podcast, Fry, who narrated the audiobooks for all seven Harry Potter novels, declared that he disagrees "profoundly" with Rowling's views. "She has been radicalised, I fear - perhaps by TERFs (trans-exclusionary radical feminists), 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."
Telegraph
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Telegraph
Stephen Fry embodies everything wrong with our cultural elite
Another day, another celebrity dunks on JK Rowling. Stephen Fry has joined the long list of Harry Potter beneficiaries like Rupert Grint, Emma Watson and Daniel Ratcliffe to turn on Rowling for her views on biological sex. During a podcast recording for The Show People, Fry told the audience that Rowling 'seems to be a lost cause for us' because she 'says things that are inflammatory and contemptuous, mocking and add to a terribly distressing time for trans people'. He also claimed that Rowling had 'been radicalised by terfs'. If she can be bothered to read about Fry's sniping, Rowling won't be surprised. Back in 2022, Fry made headlines for complaining on a different podcast that he had 'trans friends and intersex friends who are deeply upset by her', but insisted she was still a friend. During that recording, Fry asked Rowling to 'retreat', along with trans activists, to 'consider that it 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 that they demand'. The gender wars are not some dinner party discomfort: Fry's misunderstanding of the fundamental differences in this political battle shows that you can be good at television quizzes but have no sense at all. Rowling seems to live rent-free in the heads of many celebrities who have leeched off her writing talent. Perhaps Fry's decision to come clean with his bitchiness this time was prompted by the Supreme Court ruling that insisted the definition of woman be biological rather than fantastical. Perhaps it was Rowling's celebration of the ruling with champagne and cigars that ticked off Fry – some men find it very hard to watch women enjoy a victory. On the one hand, who cares what Stephen Fry thinks? His desire for Rowling to shut up rather than cause discomfort to his friendship circle is laughable in its bourgeois pomposity. He should also know better than to criticise someone for voicing an unpopular opinion – he himself was almost done by the cancel culture mob for allegedly making about jokes about women shagging and Muslim terrorists at the Marylebone Cricket Club in 2023. Perhaps, like many celebrities, Fry just likes being popular with the woke kids. He's certainly pretty cowardly for someone who fancies himself as the twenty-first-century Oscar Wilde. But, on the other hand, Fry's denunciation of Rowling as someone who 'wakes up' to 'kick a hornet's nest of transphobia' needs contesting. Speaking to The Show People Podcast, Fry said 'to scream 'transphobe' at anybody who does not buy into every single aspect of that particular person's trans views is so self harming. It does not get the thing done. You have to let people love you'. This is the transphobia Fry thinks Rowling is guilty of – not showing 'love'. She's not polite enough. This is what so much of trans activists' complaints boil down to – a demand for love and attention. This from a side who fail to show anything like love for the women they oppose. It's OK if Fry and his acolytes don't like women with opinions of their own – we don't want their 'love'. We demand our freedom, respect and dignity when defending and organising our own spaces, resources and identity. Hate us for it if you like. Rowling, perhaps more than most, is used to men objecting to her speaking her mind. Thankfully, though, it won't stop her.
Telegraph
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Telegraph
JK Rowling radicalised by terfs, says Stephen Fry
JK Rowling has been 'radicalised by terfs', Sir Stephen Fry has claimed. It is the first time the comedian and television presenter, who narrated all seven Harry Potter audio books, has criticised his former friend, describing her as a 'lost cause'. Speaking on the Show People podcast, Sir Stephen 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 [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 term terf is used as a slur to describe 'transgender-exclusionary radical feminists'. Rowling has become a leading voice in the transgender debate. She hailed the Supreme Court's landmark ruling that transgender women are not legally women as a victory and posted a picture of herself enjoying a drink and a cigar in April. Sir Stephen is the latest high profile figure to criticise the author, following well documented fall-outs with original cast members Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint. It is the first time he has criticised his former friend. He claimed she was 'mocking' LGBT+ people and vowed his support for the community. 'Hornet's nest of transphobia' 'She started to make these peculiar statements and had very strong difficult views,' he continued. '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.' He said he was 'very happy' to go on the record and say he was 'really angry' about Rowling's 'crowing' of the gender ruling in court. But added that he had always enjoyed her company and previously found her 'charming, funny and interesting'. ''When it comes to the transphobia issue it is right to remind people that trans people are here and that they are hurting and that they are being abominably treated,' he said. Sir Stephen's comments come after Tom Felton was attacked online for not distancing himself from the author. The actor, who played Draco Malfoy in the Harry Potter films, said he was not 'attuned to trans debate' but remained 'incredibly grateful' to Rowling.
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Now Stephen Fry turns on JK Rowling: Star who narrated Harry Potter books says the author has been 'radicalised by TERFs' and is 'a lost cause'
Harry Potter narrator Sir Stephen Fry has turned on JK Rowling, branding her a 'lost cause' and accusing her of being 'radicalised by TERFs'. The comedian and television presenter, who previously hosted QI, told how he used to have dinner regularly with the author and described her views towards the trans community as 'strange'. Recording podcast The Show People last week, Sir Stephen, who is himself gay, 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.' Sir Stephen recorded audio books for all seven of the Harry Potter series, but has now turned his back on the author, accusing her of 'mocking' LGBT + people and insisting he supports the trans community. He said: '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. '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. My view about all things of sharp and difficult nature is that is is much more important to be effective than to be right.' Sir Stephen, who has until now not spoken openly about the row, explained that he had previously got on well with the author. 'I am sorry because I always liked her company. 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.' Sir Stephen has faced criticism from parts of the LGBT+ community for not being more vocal earlier on transgender issues. He notably called for both sides to stop fighting each other over trans rights in 2022, adding: 'There is no winner'. He told Roger Bolton's Beeb Watch podcast at the time that he refused to get involved in the debate: 'I definitely wouldn't because I am aware that you are talking about an issue where two sides are very sore and anxious about their enemies.' Addressing his friendship with JK Rowling, he said: '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', adding he did not plan to 'abandon' friendships. But three years later Sir Stephen has changed his stance and waded head-on into the bitter row. He called for peace and humanity amid the contentious debate over trans people's rights, while calling attention to the higher rates of mental health issues, self-harm and suicide that exist for them. He told the podcast: 'When it comes to the transphobia issue it is right to remind people that trans people are here and that they are hurting and that they are being abominably treated. 'The recent way the culture has gone against them means there is a great deal of bullying, violence and suicide and genuine pain and agony in the trans community. 'But to scream 'transphobe' at anybody who does not buy into every single aspect of that particular person's trans views is so self harming. It does not get the thing done. You have to let people love you.' One study in the UK found that some 34.4 percent of trans people in the UK had attempted suicide at least once. For the entire population, the figure is closer to six percent. The comedian is far from the only former Harry Potter star to speak out in criticism of JK Rowling's views on the subject. Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint, who played the three central characters, have all previously come out and supported the trans community. By contrast Tom Felton, who played Harry's nemesis Draco Malfoy in the franchise, said he remains 'grateful' to Ms Rowling and her views on trans rights don't affect his work. He said: 'I'm not really that attuned. The only thing I always remind myself is that I've been lucky enough to travel the world. 'Here I am in New York. And I have not seen anything bring the world together more than Potter, and she's responsible for that. So I'm incredibly grateful.' Sir Stephen was speaking in the aftermath of a landmark Supreme Judgment ruling in April that determined that specifically within the terms of the equality act, 'woman' meant a biological female and not gender. Lord Hodge said the five Supreme Court justices had unanimously decided that 'the terms woman and sex in the Equality Act refer to a 'biological woman and biological sex '. The ruling was celebrated by women's rights activists including JK Rowling, but its opponents say they fear it could put trans and non-binary people at renewed risk of attacks and discrimination. Sir Stephen said he was sad to speak out against her, adding: 'I am sorry because I always liked her company. 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' The judgement marks the culmination of a long-running legal battle between the Scottish government and a women's group over the definition of a 'woman' in Scottish legislation mandating 50 percent female representation on public boards. The case centred on whether somebody with a gender recognition certificate (GRC) recognising their gender as female should be treated as a woman under the 2010 Equality Act. Lord Hodge recognised 'the strength of feeling on both sides' and cautioned against seeing the judgement as 'a triumph for one side over another', stressing that the law still gives trans people protection against discrimination. In the judgement, Lord Hodge accepted the trans community are 'a vulnerable and often harassed minority' who have a right to protection from discrimination on the basis of their identity in place of their biological sex. LGBT+ charity Stonewall's chief executive Simon Blake said at the time: '[This ruling] will be incredibly worrying for the trans community and all of us who support them. 'It's important to be reminded the Court strongly and clearly re-affirmed the Equality Act protects all trans people against discrimination, based on gender reassignment, and will continue to do so. 'Once we read and fully digest the judgement, we will work with stakeholders across all sectors to provide as much clarity as possible.' In the aftermath of the judgement, despite warnings it should not be taken as a 'victory' for one side or another, JK Rowling again courted controversy by taking celebratory snaps with champagne and cigars on her multi-million mega-yacht.
