Johnny Flynn Addresses JK Rowling Controversy After Taking On Harry Potter Role

Posted on 17/02/2026 by Boris Clair

Harry Potter newcomer Johnny Flynn is addressing the backlash surrounding JK Rowling after he accepted a role in the latest adaptation of her novels.

Johnny is set to play Lucius Malfoy in HBO’s new Harry Potter TV show, which will dedicate one season to each of Rowling’s books.

Since the project was announced, several cast members have received backlash for accepting roles in the series due to the author’s involvement as an executive producer, as she has become a polarising figure in recent years due to her commentary on issues relating to transgender people.

This has included – but is not limited to – deliberately and repeatedly misgendering transgender public figures, and donating tens of thousands of pounds to the campaign group which raised the initial legal challenge that led to the UK Supreme Court’s 2025 ruling that the legal definition of a woman should include only those who were assigned female at birth.

During a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Johnny was asked about the new Harry Potter series and raised the issue of Rowling himself.

“Obviously, there’s quite a lot of stuff around Jo Rowling,” he began. “I suppose that’s been quite interesting to navigate, the conversations there – but all important conversations to have.

“The people working on this are really, really great and create a really special atmosphere, [like] Francesca [Gardiner] the showrunner, and Mark Mylod and various directors. There’s such care.”

He pointed out that his character is “hardly in book one”, meaning his appearances in season one are limited, although he insisted the show has “such a welcoming environment” on set.

Among the prolific names already cast in the Harry Potter series are John Lithgow as Albus Dumbledore, Nick Frost as Rubeus Hagrid and Paapa Essiedu as Severus Snape.

Shortly after John’s casting was announced, the two-time Oscar nominee admitted he was “absolutely not” expecting the backlash he received for accepting the role of Dumbledore, pondering: “I wonder how JK Rowling has absorbed it. I suppose at a certain point I’ll meet her and I’m curious to talk to her.”

More recently, the Conclave star told The Hollywood Reporter of the controversy: “I take the subject and the issue extremely seriously.

“JK Rowling has created this amazing canon for young people, young kids’ literature that has jumped into the consciousness of society. Young and old people love Harry Potter and the Harry Potter stories. It’s so much about acceptance. It’s about good versus evil. It’s about kindness versus cruelty. It’s deeply felt.”

He added that, because of this, he found Rowling expressing “such views” on transgender people both “ironic and somewhat inexplicable”.

Meanwhile, after ruffling feathers with his own casting, Nick Frost insisted last year that his and Rowling’s views on the trans community are markedly different.

“She’s allowed her opinion and I’m allowed mine,” he insisted. “They just don’t align in any way, shape or form.”

Ed Sheeran Shuts Down ‘Divisive’ Reports He Attended JK Rowling’s New Year’s Eve Party

Posted on 23/01/2025 by Boris Clair

Ed Sheeran has denied reports that he recently attended an event thrown by JK Rowling.

Journalist India Willoughby shared a screenshot earlier this week of an opinion piece claiming that Ed had “brought joy to wounded IDF [Israel Defense Forces] soldiers”. She then alleged he’d also attended a New Year’s Eve party at the home of the Harry Potter author, based on recent reports in the press.

Ed later responded to both of the claims in India’s post on his Instagram story, insisting: “Respectfully, India Willoughby, and any other journalist who has reported both these stories, neither are true.”

“I spent New Year with my family and friends,” he wrote. “The story about wounded soldiers at my show, was a charity that sourced tickets to my show in Cyprus last year, which was a large scale public concert.”

The Lego House singer added: “This sort of reporting is [divisive] and damaging, please research before you post things.”

The former Celebrity Big Brother housemate then responded: “This is great to hear. I used the word ‘reportedly’ about JK Rowling’s NYE party, because it was widely reported by UK and international media at the time.

“I also reached out directly to you in the first [week of January] via Twitter to ask if the story was correct – but no reply. Delighted to hear you didn’t go!”

“Delighted I can still be an Ed Sheeran fan,” she added in a follow-up post.

<div class="js-react-hydrator" data-component-name="Twitter" data-component-id="1358" data-component-props="{"itemType":"rich","index":15,"contentIndexByType":2,"contentListType":"embed","code":"

Here’s my original tweet asking directly. I note the Daily Express has now removed their made-up story. Delighted I can still be an @edsheeran fan 😊✌️❤️🏳️⚧️ pic.twitter.com/oMN9KhxrTC

— India Willoughby (@IndiaWilloughby) January 21, 2025

","type":"rich","meta":{"author":"India Willoughby","author_url":"https://twitter.com/IndiaWilloughby","cache_age":86400,"description":"Here’s my original tweet asking directly. I note the Daily Express has now removed their made-up story. Delighted I can still be an @edsheeran fan 😊✌️❤️🏳️‍⚧️ pic.twitter.com/oMN9KhxrTC— India Willoughby (@IndiaWilloughby) January 21, 2025\n\n\n","options":{"_hide_media":{"label":"Hide photos, videos, and cards","value":false},"_hide_thread":{"label":"Hide previous Tweet in conversation thread","value":true},"_maxwidth":{"label":"Adjust width","placeholder":"220-550, in px","value":""},"_theme":{"value":"","values":{"dark":"Use dark theme"}}},"provider_name":"Twitter","thumbnail_height":814,"thumbnail_url":"https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Gh1lDRjWwAAlzPA.jpg:large","thumbnail_width":1170,"title":"India Willoughby on Twitter / X","type":"rich","url":"https://twitter.com/IndiaWilloughby/status/1881771331764810094","version":"1.0"},"flags":[],"enhancements":{},"fullBleed":false,"options":{"theme":"news","device":"desktop","editionInfo":{"id":"uk","name":"U.K.","link":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk","locale":"en_GB"},"originalEdition":"uk","isMapi":false,"isAmp":false,"isVideoEntry":false,"isEntry":true,"isMt":false,"entryId":"67920532e4b06448cdc87e63","entryPermalink":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/ed-sheeran-addresses-jk-rowling-party-reports_uk_67920532e4b06448cdc87e63","entryTagsList":"ed-sheeran,jk-rowling,india-willoughby","sectionSlug":"entertainment","deptSlug":null,"sectionRedirectUrl":null,"subcategories":"","isWide":false,"headerOverride":null,"noVideoAds":false,"disableFloat":false,"isNative":false,"commercialVideo":{"provider":"custom","site_and_category":"uk.entertainment","package":null},"isHighline":false,"vidibleConfigValues":{"cid":"60afc140cf94592c45d7390c","disabledWithMapiEntries":false,"overrides":{"all":"60b8e525cdd90620331baaf4"},"whitelisted":["56c5f12ee4b03a39c93c9439","56c6056ee4b01f2b7e1b5f35","59bfee7f9e451049f87f550b","5acccbaac269d609ef44c529","570278d2e4b070ff77b98217","57027b4be4b070ff77b98d5c","56fe95c4e4b0041c4242016b","570279cfe4b06d08e3629954","5ba9e8821c2e65639162ccf1","5bcd9904821576674bc55ced","5d076ca127f25f504327c72e","5b35266b158f855373e28256","5ebac2e8abddfb04f877dff2","60b8e525cdd90620331baaf4","60b64354b171b7444beaff4d","60d0d8e09340d7032ad0fb1a","60d0d90f9340d7032ad0fbeb","60d0d9949340d7032ad0fed3","60d0d9f99340d7032ad10113","60d0daa69340d7032ad104cf","60d0de02b627221e9d819408"],"playlists":{"default":"57bc306888d2ff1a7f6b5579","news":"56c6dbcee4b04edee8beb49c","politics":"56c6dbcee4b04edee8beb49c","entertainment":"56c6e7f2e4b0983aa64c60fc","tech":"56c6f70ae4b043c5bdcaebf9","parents":"56cc65c2e4b0239099455b42","lifestyle":"56cc66a9e4b01f81ef94e98c"},"playerUpdates":{"56c6056ee4b01f2b7e1b5f35":"60b8e525cdd90620331baaf4","56c5f12ee4b03a39c93c9439":"60d0d8e09340d7032ad0fb1a","59bfee7f9e451049f87f550b":"60d0d90f9340d7032ad0fbeb","5acccbaac269d609ef44c529":"60d0d9949340d7032ad0fed3","5bcd9904821576674bc55ced":"60d0d9f99340d7032ad10113","5d076ca127f25f504327c72e":"60d0daa69340d7032ad104cf","5ebac2e8abddfb04f877dff2":"60d0de02b627221e9d819408"}},"connatixConfigValues":{"defaultPlayer":"8b034f64-513c-4987-b16f-42d6008f7feb","clickToPlayPlayer":"5a777b9b-81fe-41a6-8302-59e9953ee8a2","videoPagePlayer":"19654b65-409c-4b38-90db-80cbdea02cf4"},"topConnatixThumnbailSrc":"data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAABCAQAAAC1HAwCAAAAC0lEQVR42mNkYAAAAAYAAjCB0C8AAAAASUVORK5CYII=","customAmpComponents":[],"ampAssetsUrl":"https://amp.assets.huffpost.com","videoTraits":null,"positionInUnitCounts":{"buzz_head":{"count":0},"buzz_body":{"count":0},"buzz_bottom":{"count":0}},"positionInSubUnitCounts":{"article_body":{"count":11},"blog_summary":{"count":0},"before_you_go_content":{"count":0}},"connatixCountsHelper":{"count":0},"buzzfeedTracking":{"context_page_id":"67920532e4b06448cdc87e63","context_page_type":"buzz","destination":"huffpost","mode":"desktop","page_edition":"en-uk"},"tags":[{"name":"Ed Sheeran","slug":"ed-sheeran","links":{"relativeLink":"news/ed-sheeran","permalink":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/ed-sheeran","mobileWebLink":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/ed-sheeran"},"relegenceId":6019493,"url":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/ed-sheeran/"},{"name":"JK Rowling","slug":"jk-rowling","links":{"relativeLink":"news/jk-rowling","permalink":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/jk-rowling","mobileWebLink":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/jk-rowling"},"relegenceId":3687670,"url":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/jk-rowling/"},{"name":"india willoughby","slug":"india-willoughby","links":{"relativeLink":"news/india-willoughby","permalink":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/india-willoughby","mobileWebLink":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/india-willoughby"},"url":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/india-willoughby/"}],"isLiveblogLive":null,"isLiveblog":false,"cetUnit":"buzz_body","bodyAds":["

\r\n\r\n HPGam.cmd.push(function(){\r\n\t\treturn HPGam.render(\"inline-1\", \"entry_paragraph_1\", false, false);\r\n });\r\n\r\n","

\r\n\r\n HPGam.cmd.push(function(){\r\n\t\treturn HPGam.render(\"inline\", \"entry_paragraph_2\", false, false);\r\n });\r\n\r\n","

\r\n\r\n HPGam.cmd.push(function(){\r\n\t\treturn HPGam.render(\"inline-2\", \"entry_paragraph_3\", false, false);\r\n });\r\n\r\n","

\r\n\r\n HPGam.cmd.push(function(){\r\n\t\treturn HPGam.render(\"inline-infinite\", \"repeating_dynamic_display\", false, false);\r\n });\r\n\r\n"],"adCount":0},"isCollectionEmbed":false}”>

Here’s my original tweet asking directly. I note the Daily Express has now removed their made-up story. Delighted I can still be an @edsheeran fan 😊✌️❤️🏳️⚧️ pic.twitter.com/oMN9KhxrTC

— India Willoughby (@IndiaWilloughby) January 21, 2025

According to People magazine, the original story was first published in The Sun.

The tabloid’s article on Rowling’s party is still live, but makes no reference to Ed Sheeran, having been updated five days after it was originally published on New Year’s Day.

Daniel Radcliffe ‘Saddened’ By JK Rowling’s Stance On Transgender Issues

Posted on 01/05/2024 by Boris Clair

Daniel Radcliffe has admitted that Harry Potter author JK Rowling’s continued stance on transgender issues “makes me really sad”.

Back in 2020, the actor said he felt “compelled” to speak out in solidarity with the trans community after a string of comments made by Rowling on social media.

In the years since, Rowling has repeatedly faced criticism for her views on issues relating to trans people, recently going as far as deliberately misgendering prominent transgender women.

When one of her followers (apparently using the account name @FarRightHooligan) claimed that Daniel and his co-star Emma Watson owed the Harry Potter creator a “very public apology” for having spoken out against her views on trans people, Rowling responded: “Celebs who cosied up to a movement intent on eroding women’s hard-won rights and who used their platforms to cheer on the transitioning of minors can save their apologies for traumatised detransitioners and vulnerable women reliant on single-sex spaces.”

It’s worth noting that neither Daniel nor Emma had ever indicated that they were going to make an apology for their support of trans people.

During a new interview with The Atlantic, Daniel admitted that seeing Rowling’s views “makes me really sad, ultimately”.

“I do look at the person that I met, the times that we met, and the books that she wrote and the world that she created, and all of that is to me so deeply empathic,” he explained.

“Jo, obviously Harry Potter would not have happened without her, so nothing in my life would have probably happened the way it is without that person. But that doesn’t mean that you owe the things you truly believe to someone else for your entire life.”

Asked about her “save their apologies” comment, Daniel responded simply: “I will continue to support the rights of all LGBTQ people, and have no further comment than that.”

In his initial statement, released via the LGBTQ+ suicide prevention charity The Trevor Project, Daniel wrote: “I realise that certain press outlets will probably want to paint this as in-fighting between JK Rowling and myself, but that is really not what this is about, nor is it what’s important right now.

“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.”

Reflecting on his statement in 2022, Daniel insisted: “It was really important as I’ve worked with the Trevor Project for more than 10 years, and so I don’t think I would’ve been able to look myself in the mirror had I not said anything.”

Help and support:

The Gender Trust supports anyone affected by gender identity | 01527 894 838
Mermaids offers information, support, friendship and shared experiences for young people with gender identity issues | 0208 1234819
LGBT Youth Scotland is the largest youth and community-based organisation for LGBT people in Scotland. Text 07786 202 370
Gires provides information for trans people, their families and professionals who care for them | 01372 801554
Depend provides support, advice and information for anyone who knows, or is related to, a transsexual person in the UK

Harry Potter Fan Stunned To Discover Value Of Battered Books On Antiques Roadshow

Posted on 23/05/2022 by Boris Clair

If you’ve got some very old copies of the Harry Potter books stuffed away somewhere then you might want to dig them out.

One fan, Helen, was left stunned during an appearance on Sunday’s Antiques Roadshow when she brought along a battered old copy of the Philosopher’s Stone (complete with detached cover) to be valued.

She also brought along a hardback copy of The Chamber Of Secrets, which was in better shape.

Despite their condition, Potter fan Helen was told by the show’s expert Justin Croft that they could fetch thousands of pounds, despite the state of them.

“These are possibly the worst condition I’ve seen on the Roadshow,” Justin told her.

Crucially, the Chamber of Secrets was a first-edition – and both books had been signed by author JK Rowling.

Helen explained: “Growing up, Harry Potter meant an awful lot to me and my family.

“The Harry Potter paperback I have there I was given in my stocking one year for Christmas and when I started reading it I couldn’t put it down.

“When the second book came out JK Rowling came to the Edinburgh book festival and she did a signing afterwards. She signed it for me.”

Viewers then saw the Harry Potter author’s message, which read: “To Helen – This is the condition I like to see my books in! (Read).”

Referring to the first book, Justin said: “I think I would say £1,000 to £1,500 on this which is really just for the inscription.”

Speaking about the second book, he added: “And this, being a first edition albeit without the dust jacket, £3,000 to £3,500.”

A stunned Helen appeared momentarily speechless before replying: “Thank you very much.”

Putin Tries To Stoke Culture Wars By Citing JK Rowling Being ‘Cancelled’

Posted on 25/03/2022 by Boris Clair

Russian president Vladimir Putin has been accused of a thinly-veiled attempt to divide the West by claiming his country was being victimised by “cancel culture” after its invasion of Ukraine.

Putin likened the world’s condemnation of Russia to the backlash that Harry Potter author JK Rowling received for controversial comments about the transgender community. Rowling was “cancelled”, Putin said, “just because she didn’t satisfy the demands of gender rights”, according to an interpreter’s translation.

He also claimed Western countries were trying to cancel the works of composers Tchaikovsky, Shostakovich and Rachmaninoff.

On Twitter, Rowling responded to Putin’s suggestion, and shared an article about incarcerated Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny.

She wrote: “Critiques of Western cancel culture are possibly not best made by those currently slaughtering civilians for the crime of resistance, or who jail and poison their critics.”

The writer also shared the hashtag #IStandWithUkraine.

Liberal Deocrat MP and ex-leader Tim Farron led the chorus urging people to avoid “amplifying (Russian) propaganda just because they affirm things that you already think”.

When the Kremlin briefs that Putin’s biggest enemy is our PM… or that Putin’s in the same boat as JKRowling… don’t go amplifying their propaganda just because they affirm things that you already think. That’s what they want you to do!!!

— Tim Farron (@timfarron) March 25, 2022

In a subsequent tweet, Rowling detailed the work her Lumos charity is doing in Ukraine.

“Children trapped in orphanages and other institutions are exceptionally vulnerable right now,” she said.

“Thank you so, so much to everyone who has already donated to Lumos’s Ukraine appeal.”

Rowling said she was personally matching all donations to the Lumos emergency appeal up to £1 million.

Putin is reported as saying: “They cancelled Joanne Rowling recently, the children’s author.

“Her books are published all over the world. Just because she did not satisfy the demands of gender rights.

“They are trying to cancel our country. I am talking about the progressive discrimination of everything to do with Russia – this trend that is unfolding in a number of Western states.”

Rowling in June 2020 wrote an essay explaining how she was partly motivated to speak about transgender issues because of her experience of domestic abuse and sexual assault.

Critics have accused the writer of being transphobic, an allegation she strongly denies.

Her critics have included Harry Potter stars Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint.

Hmmmm I could remember that JK Rowling is donating millions to Ukrainian orphans – or I could let myself be successfully trolled by Putin and denounce JK Rowling as a witch. What to choose? https://t.co/x4V15RL4kG

— Hadley Freeman (@HadleyFreeman) March 25, 2022

Nothing Putin says about our society is of any worth. He’s a smear on the face of the planet.

— Ian Dunt (@IanDunt) March 25, 2022

The biggest troll in global politics lays the most obvious trap and people walk right into it

— Dorian Lynskey (@Dorianlynskey) March 25, 2022

But other commentators, including journalist Owen Jones, argued Putin was not be especially sophisticated.

I’m seeing a lot of commentary that Putin is playing 3D chess by supporting JK Rowling, to promote division in the West.

No: he sees trans rights as a striking example of how morally corrupt and dissolute the West is. That’s it. It’s not more complicated than that!

— Owen Jones 🌹 (@OwenJones84) March 25, 2022

If a man currently invading Ukraine took time out from bombing civilians and hospitals to endorse my views then that, for me, would be a moment to reflect a bit but to each their own

— James Felton (@JimMFelton) March 25, 2022

JK Rowling Is Releasing Unpublished Story The Ickabog She Wrote 10 Years Ago

Posted on 26/05/2020 by Boris Clair

HuffPost is part of Verizon Media. Click ‘I agree‘ to allow Verizon Media and our partners to use cookies and similar technologies to access your device and use your data (including location) to understand your interests, and provide and measure personalised ads. We will also provide you with personalised ads on partner products. Learn more about how we use your data in our Privacy Centre. Once you confirm your privacy choices here, you can make changes at any time by visiting your Privacy dashboard.

Click ‘Learn more‘ to learn and customise how Verizon Media and our partners collect and use data.

WellnessMaster

Get The Latest News on Holistic Wellness

Tag Archives: JK Rowling