Rupert Grint is the last of the famous Harry Potter trio to respond to J.K. Rowling's recent comments about trans people, and he stands firmly with his former co-stars. The series' author caused quite a stir last week when she yet again expressed transphobic sentiments about biological sex and the term "people who menstruate." Since then, several stars of the Harry Potter film franchise, including Emma Watson, Bonnie Wright, Katie Leung and Harry Potter himself, Daniel Radcliffe, have come forward to offer their support to the trans community. Now, Rupert Grint, who played Ron Weasley in the HP films, is expressing similar sentiments.
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"Trans women are women. Trans men are men. We should all be entitled to live with love and without judgment," Grint said to The Times in a statement. "I firmly stand with the trans community and echo the sentiments expressed by many of my peers.”
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In her original tweets, Rowling questioned the term "people who menstruate" before explaining why she thinks the concept of biological sex is important. "‘People who menstruate.’ I’m sure there used to be a word for those people. Someone help me out. Wumben? Wimpund? Woomud?" she tweeted.
"If sex isn’t real, there’s no same-sex attraction," she wrote. "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," she continued. "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 went on to double down on her stance in a 3,000-word essay in which she opened up about her own experiences of sexual abuse and domestic violence.
J.K. Rowling Doubles Down On Trans Stance, Emma Watson Responds
J.K. Rowling caught heat for her recent comments about trans people, and "Harry Potter" actress Emma Watson added her two cents.
Daniel Radcliffe, the actor who portrayed Harry Potter in the celebrated films, recently came forward to speak about transgender women. His comments were prompted by Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling, as she found herself in the midst of controversy following a few remarks she made about being transgender. The public believed Rowling was saying that trans women weren't real women because they couldn't do what biological women could, as well as other remarks, sparking accusations that Rowling was transphobic.
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On Wednesday, J.K. Rowling returned with an over 3,000-word essay about her stance on trans people and while she's received quite a bit of hate mail over the years because of her views, she's not backing down from her position. "I want trans women to be safe. At the same time, I do not want to make natal girls and women less safe," she wrote. "I believe the majority of trans-identified people not only pose zero threat to others, but are vulnerable for all the reasons I've outlined."
"I'm mentioning these things now not in an attempt to garner sympathy, but out of solidarity with the huge numbers of women who have histories like mine, who've been slurred as bigots for having concerns around single-sex spaces," Rowling added. Later, Emma Watson, the actress who played Hermoine Granger in Harry Potter, tweeted, "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."
Daniel Radcliffe Responds To J.K. Rowling: "Trans Women Are Real Women"
Daniel Radcliffe, the actor who portrayed Harry Potter, addressed “HP” author J.K. Rowling and her recent comments regarding trans women.
She may have penned the beloved Harry Potter novels, but that doesn’t mean that J.K. Rowling’s devoted audience, or Daniel Radcliffe who starred in the film adapation of her books, won’t call her out. The famed author recently came under fire for tweets that some stated were transphobic. J.K. Rowling shared a link to an article titled, “Opinion: Creating a more equal post-COVID-19 world for people who menstruate,” and then joked in the caption, “‘People who menstruate.’ I’m sure there used to be a word for those people. Someone help me out. Wumben? Wimpund? Woomud?”
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Some believed that she was taking a jab at the transgender community, so Rowling expounded on her initial thought. “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.“
A few more tweets later, and Rowling was quickly being criticized for what the public called transphobic comments. Daniel Radcliffe responded to J.K. Rowling and her controversial tweets by penning an op-ed piece for The Trevor Project, an organization that Radcliffe has worked alongside for quite some time, writing that “transgender women are women.”
“I realize that certain press outlets will probably want to paint this as in-fighting between J.K. Rowling and myself, but that is really not what this is about, nor is it what’s important right now,” he stated. “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.”
“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,” Daniel Radcliffe added. “According to The Trevor Project, 78% of transgender and nonbinary youth reported being the subject of discrimination due to their gender identity. It’s clear that we need to do more to support transgender and nonbinary people, not invalidate their identities, and not cause further harm.” Do you believe that Rowling was being transphobic?
J.K. Rowling Comes Under Fire For Tweets Labeled As Transphobic
J.K. Rowling is on the hot seat for tweets being labeled anti-trans.
J.K. Rowling, author of the book-series Harry Potter, is under fire on Twitter for posts that fans have labeled as anti-trans.
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The author posted the link to an article titled "Opinion: Creating a more equal post-COVID-19 world for people who menstruate," with the caption, "‘People who menstruate.’ I’m sure there used to be a word for those people. Someone help me out. Wumben? Wimpund? Woomud?"
Many took offensive to condescending tone of the tweet. She has since explained her position on the issue and what she meant with the tweet.
"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 wrote on Twitter.
"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 added.
[Via]
The First-Ever "Harry Potter" Superstore Is Coming To New York
Harry Potter found a permanent home in New York.
Warner Bros. has officially announced that a massive Harry Potter-themed superstore will be making its way to New York in the near future. The retail store located next door to Manhattan’s Flatiron Building will span across a total of 20,000 square feet and will be the first-ever of its kind in the franchise’s history.
The first-ever Harry Potter flagship store will feature three different floors where customers will be able to purchase the books written by J.K Rowling as well as personalized robes, wands, Bertie Bott’s Every Flavor Beans, the films, and a plethora of other memorabilia related to the fantasy franchise. According to Sarah Roots, the Senior Vice President of Worldwide Tours and Retail for Warner Bros, attendees will also be able to participate in virtual/interactive experiences and be presented with a multitude of different photo opportunities.
According to the Wall Street Journal, store designers wanted to construct a giant dragon to sit outside of the store’s entrance for the store’s grand opening but community members and organizers voted to shut down what could have been an epic moment for the opening of the world’s first Harry Potter superstore.
While there is no official opening date for the Harry Potter NYC flagship store, it has been revealed that the retail location will be open for business this summer. An address to the future store can be found below as well.
Harry Potter Flagship Store
935 Broadway
New York, NY 10010
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