Daniel Radcliffe responds to JK Rowling’s transphobic Twitter rant: ‘Transgender women are women’
‘Transgender women are women’: Daniel Radcliffe lashes out at Harry Potter author JK Rowling and apologizes for her ‘transphobic’ comments
- The Harry Potter author came under fire for her remarks as she tweeted an article about ‘people who menstruate’
- The actor wrote: ‘I am deeply sorry for the pain these comments have caused’ in response to JK Rowling’s Twitter rant about using the word woman
- He went on: ‘Transgender women are women. Any statement to the contrary erases the identity and dignity of transgender people’
- She previously caused controversy in 2018 when she liked a tweet that referred to trans women as ‘men in dresses’
- Rowling also faced backlash from Jameela Jamil, Sarah Paulson, Jonathan Van Ness and other celebs over a recent thread of tweets
- Here’s how to help people impacted by Covid-19
By Glenn Garner For Dailymail.com
Published: 22:15 EDT, 8 June 2020 | Updated: 04:10 EDT, 9 June 2020
Daniel Radcliffe has slammed Harry Potter author JK Rowling over her comments about transgender people.
The actor, 30, felt compelled to make a statement about the acclaimed novelist, after she tweeted about an article entitled ‘Creating a more equal post COVID-19 world for people who menstruate’ on Friday.
Rowling wrote: ”People who menstruate.’ I’m sure there used to be a word for those people. Someone help me out. Wumben? Wimpund? Woomud?’
In response, Radcliffe hit out at the author who made him famous, saying: ‘To all the people who now feel that their experience of the books has been tarnished or diminished, I am deeply sorry for the pain these comments have caused you’.
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Taking a stand: Daniel Radcliffe has slammed Harry Potter author JK Rowling over her comments about transgender people
Radcliffe wrote: ‘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’.
He continued: ‘I realize 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.’
Radcliffe, 30, released his statement via The Trevor Project on Monday.
Taking a stand: He has made a statement about Rowling, after she tweeted about an article entitled ‘Creating a more equal post COVID-19 world for people who menstruate’
Daniel Radcliffe released a statement with The Trevor Project, an American non-profit organization founded in 1998 focused on suicide prevention efforts among lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and questioning youth
The Trevor Project is an American non-profit organization founded in 1998 focused on suicide prevention efforts among lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and questioning youth.
‘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,’ Radcliffe said.
He went on to share resources for trans allies, as he admitted: ‘I am still learning how to be a better ally.’
DANIEL RADCLIFFE RESPONDS TO J.K. ROWLING’S TWEETS ON GENDER IDENTITY
By Daniel Radcliffe
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. 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. 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.
I am still learning how to be a better ally, so if you want to join me in learning more about transgender and nonbinary identities check out The Trevor Project’s Guide to Being an Ally to Transgender and Nonbinary Youth. It’s an introductory educational resource that covers a wide range of topics, including the differences between sex and gender, and shares best practices on how to support transgender and nonbinary people.
To all the people who now feel that their experience of the books has been tarnished or diminished, I am deeply sorry for the pain these comments have caused you. I really hope that you don’t entirely lose what was valuable in these stories to you. If these books taught you that love is the strongest force in the universe, capable of overcoming anything; if they taught you that strength is found in diversity, and that dogmatic ideas of pureness lead to the oppression of vulnerable groups; if you believe that a particular character is trans, nonbinary, or gender fluid, or that they are gay or bisexual; if you found anything in these stories that resonated with you and helped you at any time in your life — then that is between you and the book that you read, and it is sacred. And in my opinion nobody can touch that. It means to you what it means to you and I hope that these comments will not taint that too much.
Love always,
Dan
Discussing: JK Rowling went on an extraordinary rant on Twitter last week
Radcliffe also reached out to loyal Harry Potter fans: ‘If these books taught you that love is the strongest force in the universe, capable of overcoming anything…
‘If they taught you that strength is found in diversity, and that dogmatic ideas of pureness lead to the oppression of vulnerable groups…
‘If you believe that a particular character is trans, nonbinary, or gender fluid, or that they are gay or bisexual; if you found anything in these stories that resonated with you and helped you at any time in your life — then that is between you and the book that you read, and it is sacred.
‘And in my opinion nobody can touch that. It means to you what it means to you and I hope that these comments will not taint that too much.’
Not important: He wrote: ‘I realize 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’ (pictured in July, 2011)
He starred as the titular wizard in all eight of the Harry Potter movies, originating the role at the age of 11 in 2000’s Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone.
The British writer followed up in a thread: ‘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.’
She continued: ‘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.
Hogwarts alum: He starred as the titular wizard in all eight of the Harry Potter movies, originating the role at the age of 11 in 2000’s Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone
‘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.’
In December, Rowling discussed the trans community, in a move which earned her the label of trans-exclusionary radical feminist (TERF).
Her most recent comments were met with backlash from many fans and followers, as well as some notable names like Jameela Jamil, Sarah Paulson, Jonathan Van Ness and more.
Jameela Jamil challenged her to put her money where her mouth is, tweeting her a GoFundMe link for homeless Black trans women in Atlanta.
She wrote: ‘Hey JK as you claim to support trans rights and this is a historical moment where we are globally discussing the impact of white supremacy on Black People, please share some of your $650million mega wealth with this charity.’
Sarah Paulson wrote, ‘Word. Goodnight and shut up @jk_rowling’ while retweeting creative producer Ben O’Keefe.
He wrote: ‘This woman is complete scum. Shut the f*** up you transphobic f***. You don’t know or love any trans people if you won’t even acknowledge their existence…
‘Thanks for ruining the books of my childhood. Just stop talking. We know you’re a TERF. You don’t need to keep doing this.’
Van Ness, who identifies as non-binary, responded to the author: ‘Trans women are women. Trans Black people & trans non-Black people are discriminated against every single day. They’re dying. We’re fighting for Black people & trans people and you’re doing this?’
Tegan and Sara issued an ultimatum to their followers: ‘If you are a TERF and following us, please f*** off and unfollow us.’
Mara Wilson called Rowling out further: ‘How did she manage to have a victim complex about all of this?’
Anthony Rapp used the opportunity to promote GLAAD and some organizations that support Black trans people.
He wrote: ‘Amplifying this. Amazing and horrifying that a hugely powerful, super rich white lady chose to double- and triple- and quadruple-punch down on the #Trans community.’
Mary Lambert responded to Rowling: ‘What the actual fuck??? This is so disgraceful, @jk_rowling. Of all the hills to die on, and for what reason? Trans women are women and they are fighting for their lives. When you push this trans exclusionary agenda, you make their lives infinitely more difficult. Shame on you.’
A representative for Rowling declined to comment when approached by DailyMail.com.
This is not the first time she has come under fire over the topic, liking a 2018 tweet that referred to transgender women as ‘men in dresses.’
At the time, a spokesperson told The Sun that Rowling’s like was a ‘clumsy and middle-aged moment.’
She previously confirmed suspicions of her transphobic views back in December, while showing support for Maya Forstater, who lost a court case against her former employers after they fired her over transphobic comments.
Rowling tweeted: ‘Dress however you please. Call yourself whatever you like. Sleep with any consenting adult who’ll have you…
‘Live your best life in peace and security. But force women out of their jobs for stating that sex is real? #IStandWithMaya #ThisIsNotADrill’.
