Here’s how Pete Davidson feels about his ‘Harry Potter’ tattoos now
For those that don’t know, comedian Pete Davidson is apparently a big Harry Potter fan. In fact, he loves the series so much that he even has a few Harry Potter tattoos.
This weekend, however, Davidson called out J.K. Rowling during Saturday Night Live‘s Weekend Update sketch. He says that he is rethinking his Harry Potter tattoos due to her recent anti-trans comments.
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Over the years, Davidson has openly expressed his love for Harry Potter. He also has inked various tributes to the films and books on his arm. Some of the tattoos in his collection include the Deathly Hallows symbol, the sorting hat, Harry Potter’s lightning bolt scar and a Dumbledore quote.
After getting the tattoos, however, he seemingly predicted Rowling’s controversy in a 2016 interview with Seth Meyers.
“I have, like, a bunch of Harry Potter crap [tattooed],” Davidson said. “Here’s the thing about the Harry Potter crap. At the time, it seemed like a really good idea, but what if one of the people in the cast is like, a sex offender later on? That’s a huge cast, so like, if someone comes out as a sex offender, I’m screwed.”
Now, it looks like Davidson is rethinking his Harry Potter tattoos. During Saturday Night Live over the weekend, the comedian called out Rowling and her recent anti-trans comments.
“I got a Harry Potter tattoo years ago cause I’m not psychic,” he says. “I didn’t know JK Rowling was going to go all Mel Gibson on us.”
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Gibson has previously used racial slurs and made anti-Semitic comments. Along with his Harry Potter tattoos, Davidson has various ink dedicated to Game Of Thrones.
“I have a Game of Thrones tattoo, now I’m terrified one day George RR Martin’s just going to be like, ‘Hey, if you enjoyed what I had to say about dragons and cure wolves, wait till you hear what I think about Puerto Ricans!’”
During the Weekend Update, Davidson reveals that Rowling’s recent comments make him never want to get another tattoo “for the rest of” his life. Davidson also shares that he wants to go back to when Rowling’s work after Harry Potter was the “worst” thing she had done.
“I long for a few years ago when the worst thing she ever did were those Fantastic Beasts movies. No discrimination there, those films harmed us all equally.”
Davidson finds it hard to believe that an author who created a series based on equality in the wizarding world can’t stand for equality in real life.
“I mean, what’s wrong with her Colin? She writes a seven-book fantasy series about all types of mythical creatures living in harmony with wizards and elves and the one thing she can’t wrap her head around is Laverne Cox? She’s a national treasure!”
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Rowling has been in hot water over the past year due to her controversial comments about the transgender community. Back in December, Rowling faced massive backlash for tweeting in support of Maya Forstater who lost her job for misgendering trans people.
Following this, she then began following and liking a number of anti-trans accounts and sentiments including “self-professed transphobe” Magdalen Berns on Twitter. Then, back in June, she shared an article titled Opinion: Creating a more equal post-COVID-19 world for people who menstruate with a caption mocking the phrase “people who menstruate.”
As well, Rowling returned her 2019 Kennedy Human Rights award after Kerry Kennedy denounced the author’s transgender comments. More recently, the synopsis for her new book Troubled Blood caused even more controversy. The book follows a private detective named Cormoran Strike as he investigates a cisgender male serial killer who wears women’s clothing to kill female victims.
In recent weeks, both Fantastic Beasts star Eddie Redmayne and Hagrid actor Robbie Coltrane shared their opinions on Rowling. While Redmayne continues to say he doesn’t agree with Rowling’s views, he also believes the backlash she has received online is uncalled for.
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“As someone who has worked with both J.K. Rowling and members of the trans community, I wanted to make it absolutely clear where I stand,” he said. “I disagree with Jo’s comments. Trans women are women, trans men are men and non-binary identities are valid.”
As for Coltrane, however, he is standing by Rowling’s side.
“I don’t think what she said was offensive really,” Coltrane said. “I don’t know why but there’s a whole Twitter generation of people who hang around waiting to be offended. They wouldn’t have won the war, would they? That’s me talking like a grumpy old man, but you just think, ‘Oh, get over yourself. Wise up, stand up straight and carry on.’”
Emma Watson and Rupert Grint are among the other Harry Potter stars to speak up in support of the trans community. As well, Daniel Radcliffe previously stated “transgender women are women.”
Back in September, Rowling attempted to clarify her stance on the transgender community in a lengthy essay.
“As a longstanding donor to LGBT charities and a supporter of trans people’s right to live free of persecution, I absolutely refute the accusation that I hate trans people or wish them ill, or that standing up for the rights of women is wrong, discriminatory, or incites harm or violence to the trans community.”
Pete Davidson on Saturday Night Live’s Weekend Update is available to watch below.
What are your thoughts on Harry Potter after J.K. Rowling’s recent comments? Let us know in the comments below.
