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Harry Potter Star Paapa Essiedu Stands Firm on Trans Rights
· Confirmed
In Short: Harry Potter star Paapa Essiedu, who plays Severus Snape in the upcoming HBO series, reaffirmed his support for trans rights despite facing backlash for his stance.
Harry Potter star Paapa Essiedu, who plays Severus Snape in the upcoming HBO series, reaffirmed his support for trans rights despite facing backlash for his stance.
The controversy surrounding author J.K. Rowling's anti-transgender views has led to significant protests and demonstrations, particularly at the opening of the new Harry Potter flagship store on Oxford Street in London.
Essiedu, who has been vocal about his support for trans rights, told People, 'I don’t think some 17-year-old boy being put in jail for two weeks for threatening to murder me would actually make me feel any better.'
Protesters gathered outside the store, urging fans not to visit the new shop and chanting in support of transgender rights.
Essiedu’s co-stars, John Lithgow and Bel Powley, have also expressed their disagreement with Rowling’s anti-trans views.
The series will feature a new cast to lead a new generation of fandom, full of the fantastic detail, much-loved characters, and dramatic locations that Harry Potter fans have loved for over 25 years.
What this adds
Essiedu joined more than 400 professionals from the U.K. Film and TV industry in signing an open letter supporting trans rights earlier this year.
The protests and demonstrations have led to an online petition by the Good Law Project to stop the installation of Harry Potter-themed Christmas lights on Oxford Street, which has been signed by over 11,000 people.
Background
Despite ongoing controversy, Warner Bros. Discovery is moving forward with casting for the new Harry Potter series, including a protest against the author's views.
Harry Potter star Paapa Essiedu, who plays Severus Snape in the upcoming HBO series, reaffirms his support for trans rights despite backlash.
What's confirmed
- Harry Potter star Paapa Essiedu, who plays Severus Snape in the upcoming HBO series, reaffirmed his support for trans rights despite facing backlash for his stance.
- The controversy surrounding author J.K. Rowling's anti-transgender views has led to significant protests and demonstrations, particularly at the opening of the new Harry Potter flagship store on Oxford Street in London.
- Protesters gathered outside the store, urging fans not to visit the new shop and chanting in support of transgender rights.
- Essiedu’s co-stars, John Lithgow and Bel Powley, have also expressed their disagreement with Rowling’s anti-trans views.
- The series will feature a new cast to lead a new generation of fandom, full of the fantastic detail, much-loved characters, and dramatic locations that Harry Potter fans have loved for over 25 years.
What's still developing
- He said the anti-trans question was one he was " getting asked constantly. I suppose I should get used to that, but JK Rowling has created an amazing canon of books for kids."
- Pedro Pascal, who has a transgender sister, called her out for "heinous loser behavior" after a Supreme Court ruling in the UK ruled that trans women were not women.
- At the time, more than 400 people signed a letter urging the country’s film and television industry to take action on trans rights, including Essiedu.
- They may be female now but biologically (before) they did not start that way and there are differences between biological women and trans-women.
- Additionally, BBC is working on a two-part documentary about Rowling that explores the rise of Harry Potter and the author’s use of her platform to fight trans rights.
- “The fact is that the franchise is losing its popularity — and for good reason.” The demonstration was at the opening of the U.K.’s largest official “Harry Potter” store, a 21,000-square-foot retail destination spanning two floors at The Ribbon development on Oxford Street.
- More than 11,000 people have signed a petition calling for London Mayor Sadiq Khan to “pull the plug on transphobia” and ax the Potter-themed display.
- Demonstrators chanted in support of transgender rights amid continued controversy around JK Rowling’s gender critical views To use the search feature, we need your consent to load Google Custom Search, which may use cookies or similar technologies.
- 27, three more roles were cast for the second installment: Harry Gilby as Charlie Weasley, the second oldest son of Molly and Arthur; and Jasper Talbot as James Potter and Hannah Chinn as Lily Potter, Harry's parents.
- Hoult blamed a scheduling conflict, though conspiracy theorists suspected he dropped out after experiencing backlash for daring to be associated with Rowling, whose public support ( both politically and financially ) of anti-trans initiatives has made her an online pariah.
- "Honestly, I'd rather be involved in this [ Harry Potter ] than not," Lithgow went on.
- An online petition by the Good Law Project to stop the installation of Harry Potter-themed Christmas lights on Oxford Street has been signed by over 11,000 people.