In the wake of J.K. Rowling‘s celebratory response to the UK Supreme Court’s ruling defining “woman” strictly as biological sex, celebrities have been swift and vocal in their condemnation.
Many celebrities including Nicola Coughlan (Bridgerton, Derry Girls) and Bowen Yang (Saturday Night Live) immediately used their platforms to denounce Rowling’s stance and express solidarity with the transgender community.
Here are the other celebrities that have called out the ruling.
Nicola Coughlan
“Keep your new Harry Potter lads,” the 38-year-old Irish actress (and icon) wrote in an Instagram Story, referencing the upcoming HBO series that will act as a reboot for the Potter franchise.
“Wouldn’t touch it with a ten foot pole.”
Coughlan also shared an article written by The Cut criticising the author’s actions, as well as a fundraiser by LGBT+ charity Not A Phase. It has accumulated almost €100k ($178k AUD) as of April 19.
Coughlan’s Instagram Story on Rowling. (Source: Instagram/@nicolacoughlan)
Coughlan also published an Instagram Post sharing support to the transgender and non-binary community.
The backlash against Rowling stemmed from the recent ruling made by the UK Supreme Court on April 16 that determined that gender can only be defined by biology, which Rowling has celebrated as a “victory” on X (formerly Twitter).
X is the same social media platform currently owned by Elon Musk, who is closely linked to President Donald Trump’s current administration and who is in multiple custody battles with his many estranged ex-partners, ICYMI.
“It took three extraordinary, tenacious Scottish women with an army behind them to get this case heard by the Supreme Court and, in winning, they’ve protected the rights of women and girls across the UK,” The 59-year-old wrote.
Rowling also shared an image of her smoking a cigar — not a blunt, as she weirdly made sure to emphasise — and stated that she “loves when a plan comes together”.
Nothing says ‘feminism’ like a billionaire smoking a cigar on a yacht….Elon Musk who?? (Source: X)
Charithra Chandran
Coughlan wasn’t the only celebrity to call out Rowling on her transphobia, as fellow Bridgerton star Charithra Chandran described the latter’s actions as “loser behaviour” and that she has “never felt unsafe” around a transwoman in a TikTok posted on April 17.
“I’ve never felt unsafe around a transwoman, ever. My womanhood has never felt threatened by a transwoman, ever,” Chandran said in the video.
“How pathetic to target one of the most oppressed groups in our society. Honestly, loser behaviour.
“And for all those people who say they care about women’s sports and women’s safety, where were you [when people were] petitioning for funding for women’s sports? Where are you petitioning for better legislation to persecute sexual assault against women?”
Chandran ended her TikTok by saying that transphobic women “don’t care” about women’s safety, they just want to “target” individuals who are already marginalised.
Bowen Yang
Saturday Night Live (SNL) star and actor Bowen Yang also chimed in, sharing a Story of him with a middle finger and succinctly saying “fuck you” to Rowling.
“Absolute fuck you to J.K. Rowling,” Yang captioned alongside an emoji of the transgender flag.
Yang’s Instagram Story. PLEASE NOTE: PEDESTRIAN.TV did not blur this image. (Source: Instagram/@fayedunaway)
The Harry Potter cast
Previously other stars have criticised Rowling’s views — including the cast of the Harry Potter films, Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint.
In response to Rowling’s anti-trans philosophy, Radcliffe stated that it made him “really sad” for The Atlantic in 2024, and that he had not been in contact with her since.
“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,” Radcliffe said.
Watson also spoke out against Rowling’s transphobia in 2020, tweeting support for the trans community and that they shouldn’t be “constantly questioned” about their identities.
Rowling has taken to social media to reference her dislike of the actors since then, including posting a shady response to a tweet that asked: “What actor/actress instantly ruins a movie for you?” with “three guesses”, alluding to Radcliffe, Watson and Grint.
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