JK Rowling Says She Doesn’t Have ‘Power’ to Fire Harry Potter Actor Paapa Essiedu For His Pro Trans Views

There were rumors suggesting that J.K. Rowling might influence the firing of Paapa Essiedu from the upcoming Harry Potter series adaptation. Essiedu, playing Severus Snape in the series, is one of many industry professionals who have endorsed a letter advocating for transgender rights.

Notable personalities have expressed solidarity with the LGBT+ community following a contentious Supreme Court decision in the UK, where “female” and “male” were established as the sole legally acknowledged genders.

J.K. Rowling expressed her joy over the disputed decision on social media, but faced criticism from activist organizations. Similarly, the actor was accused of being insincere for endorsing a pro-transgender letter while collaborating on a project featuring Rowling, who is known for her contentious views on trans issues.

Initially, a source informed MailOnline that Rowling was completely unconcerned about the actor’s pro-trans views and had no intention of dismissing him based on this stance. Recently, the author herself has decided to clarify the matter publicly through social media.

She stated that she doesn’t possess the authority to fire an actor from the series, and even if she did, she wouldn’t use it. Rowling also wrote that she doesn’t support taking away someone’s job or income because they hold views different from hers, which are legally protected beliefs. (Transferred to X, formerly Twitter)

The writer has faced backlash after posting a contentious tweet in response to the UK court’s decision on April 17. She uploaded a photo of herself with a festive drink and captioned it, “It’s great when things go as planned #SupremeCourt #WomensRights.

After the decision, numerous celebrities have shown their backing for transgender rights and other impacted communities, with The Sun reporting over 400 signatories from industry insiders on a supportive letter.

The petition emphasizes that the decision poses a threat to the well-being of the LGBT+ community, and it restricts their participation in daily activities.

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2025-05-06 19:37