Tom Felton Backed J.K. Rowling While The Other "Harry Potter" Stars Condemned Her

The internet has stayed busy canceling J.K. Rowling for her gender-critical views. Harry Potter’s golden trio ran for cover while Felton kept his head down. Now he’s the only one from the original cast who’s secured a role (albeit behind the scenes) in HBO’s new Harry Potter reboot.

Felton reportedly let it slip, "I'll definitely be sneaking into a background shot as an extra" on the adaptation.

A source told the Daily Mail, “Everyone knows that Tom has Jo’s blessing… While others turned their backs on her, he treated her with dignity even if he disagreed with her.” And whether or not he aligns with her opinions, the fact remains: Felton never disowned the woman who helped make his career.  

When asked about Rowling’s views back in 2022, Felton didn’t play defense or serve up a PR-scripted statement. Instead, he said plainly, “No one has single-handedly done more for bringing joy to so many different generations and walks of life.” He added, “I’ve only had a handful of meetings with her, but she has always been lovely. So I’m very grateful for that.”

Compare that with the moves his co-stars made. Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint all publicly distanced themselves from Rowling. Radcliffe went full statement mode, writing that “Transgender women are women,” and Watson, in true activist fashion, 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.” Rupert Grint simply said he stood with the trans community.

In a moment of sharp online honesty, she responded to a fan who asked whether she might one day forgive Radcliffe and Watson. “Not safe, I’m afraid,” she replied. “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.”

Last year, after the release of the Cass Report – a sweeping review of gender medicine for minors in the UK – Rowling wrote: “Over the last four years, Hilary Cass has conducted the most robust review of the medical evidence for transitioning children that’s ever been conducted. Mere hours after it was released to the press and public, committed ideologues are doubling down.”

According to reports, Warner Bros. is looking to bring him in for off-camera contributions, including behind-the-scenes content and possibly even a documentary about the making of the new series. There’s also been talk of Felton visiting the set and meeting the actor taking over as Draco Malfoy.

Evanna Lynch, who played Luna Lovegood, also took a more thoughtful stance. In a 2023 interview with The Telegraph, she said, “I was very naive when I was dragged into that conversation. I didn’t even know there were two sides.” Lynch expressed compassion for both trans people and detransitioners, adding, “I do also think it’s important that J.K. Rowling has been amplifying the voices of detransitioners.” She admitted she used to want to avoid the discourse altogether, but eventually decided that “uncomfortable conversations” were worth having. On the backlash Rowling received, Lynch said, “I just felt that her character has always been to advocate for the most vulnerable members of society... I do wish people would just give her more grace and listen to her.”

Recently, the U.K. Supreme Court ruling that legally defines “woman” as “biological female.” Rowling saw the win as essential to “protect the rights of women and girls across the UK.”  

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