JK Rowling fires off furious rant at former Harry Potter colleague who refused reunion over author’s trans stance
JK Rowling has hit back after film director Chris Columbus declared that any reunion involving the original Harry Potter cast would be “impossible” due to fundamental disagreements over the author’s transgender views.
The filmmaker, who directed the initial two instalments of the wizarding franchise, told The Times that political complications have made his previous ambitions to adapt Harry Potter and the Cursed Child for cinema unfeasible.
“It’s gotten so complicated with all the political stuff,” Mr Columbus stated, highlighting how Daniel Radcliffe and Emma Watson have publicly opposed Ms Rowling’s position on trans rights.
“Everyone in the cast has their own opinion, which is different from her opinion, which makes it impossible,” the director explained.
The divide emerged after Rowling faced criticism for her comments on gender ideology over the past five years, with many accusing her of transphobia.
In 2020, Mr Radcliffe penned an essay for The Trevor Project expressing support for the trans community and apologising “for the pain” Ms Rowling’s comments had caused Harry Potter fans.
Meanwhile, Ms Watson declared on social media: “I want my trans followers to know that I and so many other people around the world see you, respect you and love you for who you are.”
Mr Columbus revealed he hasn’t communicated with Rowling for approximately 10 years, stating: “I have no idea what’s going on with her.”
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Following the public comments, Ms Rowling took to X, formerly Twitter, to unleash a lengthy statement in response.
“As another man who once worked with me declares himself saddened by my beliefs on gender and sex, I thought it might be useful to compile a list for handy reference,” she began.
“Which of the following do you imagine makes actors and directors who aren’t involved with the HBO reboot of Harry Potter so miserable?” Ms Rowling pondered.
“Is it my belief that women and girls should have their own public changing rooms and bathrooms?
“That women should retain female-only rape crisis centres? That men don’t belong in women’s sport? That female prisoners shouldn’t be incarcerated with violent men and male sex offenders?
“That women should remain a protected class in law, because they have sex-specific needs and issues? That language should reflect reality rather than ideological jargon, especially in a medical context?
“That women shouldn’t be harassed, persecuted or fired for refusing to pretend humans can change sex? That women should not be threatened with violence and rape when they assert their rights? That freedom of speech and belief are essential to a pluralistic democratic society?
“That troubled minors, especially those who are gay, autistic and trauma-experienced, should be given mental health support instead of irreversible surgeries and drug treatments on non-existent evidence of benefit?
“That gay people shouldn’t be pressured to include the opposite sex in their dating pools, nor should they be smeared as ‘genital fetishists’ when they don’t?
“That cross-dressing heterosexual male fetishists aren’t actually oppressed, but having the time of their lives piggybacking off gender identity ideology?
Oh, these men are capable of thinking, but it’s easier to mouth platitudes from the back of a comfortable bandwagon.
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) September 1, 2025
“That said ideology, and the privileged, blinkered fools pushing it because they suffer zero consequences themselves, have done more damage to the political left’s credibility than Trump and Farage could have achieved in a century?
“Let me have your thoughts,” the author emphatically signed off.
Despite the distance from the author, the filmmaker maintains strong connections with the film’s stars, particularly Mr Radcliffe, with whom he spoke recently.
“I still have a great relationship with all the kids in the cast,” Mr Columbus confirmed to The Times.
Meanwhile, Ms Rowling publicly distanced herself from the former child actors following their criticism, previously telling them to “save their apologies” and indicating she wouldn’t forgive their public opposition to her views.
Mr Columbus also expressed scepticism about HBO’s planned television adaptation of Rowling’s book series, dismissing it as “more of the same.”