Rupert Grint JK Rowling Harry Potter
[Photos via Rupert Grint/@rupert grint on Instagram, J.K. Rowling/John Matthew Smith via Wikimedia Commons]

Rupert Grint has more to say about J.K. Rowling’s anti-trans comments

Over the past year, Harry Potter author J.K Rowling has been under fire for her various anti-transgender comments. Due to this, Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint are among the franchise’s stars who have spoken out in support of the LGBTQ+ community.

Now, Grint is further opening up about Rowling’s comments and why he decided to speak up on the situation last year.

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As a brief recap, J.K. Rowling has received backlash from fans and colleagues due to her past comments regarding the transgender community. Last year, she liked and followed a number of anti-trans accounts and “self-professed transphobes” on Twitter.

Then, back in June 2020, 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.” Days later, she published a 3,000-word essay titled JK Rowling Writes about Her Reasons for Speaking Out on Sex and Gender Issues.

Additionally, in August 2020, Rowling returned her 2019 Kennedy Human Rights award after Kerry Kennedy denounced the author’s transgender comments. More recently, her new book Troubled Blood sparked even more controversy due to the main storyline.

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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. Many believe this plotline further shows her stance on transgender individuals.

Although Rowling has received support from Hagrid actor Robbie Coltrane, other actors have openly criticized the author’s comments. Last year, Fantastic Beasts star Eddie Redmayne openly distanced himself from Rowling before further clarifying his stance on the situation. As well, Rupert Grint also denounced Rowling’s comments in a statement.

“I firmly stand with the trans community,” he said. “Trans women are women. Trans men are men. We should all be entitled to live with love and without judgment.”

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Now, in a new interview with The Times, Grint has revealed why he decided to speak out on the situation. Ultimately, the actor “wanted to get some kindness out there” amidst all of the things the Harry Potter author was saying.

“Social media can start conversations but if you put your opinions out there, you can get bombarded,” he said. “I do think it’s still important to stand up for what you believe in, and for people and communities that need our support and love. That’s why I spoke out last year, I wanted to get some kindness out there.”

Last year, Grint nearly broke the internet, with the help of Tom Felton, when he officially made an Instagram account. As his first post, he introduced his first child with actress Georgia Groome which they welcomed in May 2020.

As well, Grint really got Potterheads talking back in December. In a recent interview, he revealed the only way fans will ever see him reprise his role as Ron Weasley in future Harry Potter films.

What are your reactions to Rupert Grint’s new comments about J.K. Rowling? Let us know in the comments below.