Harry Potter star Jim Broadbent backs JK Rowling over trans issues and vows to confront her critics ‘if it came to it’
Actor Jim Broadbent has backed JK Rowling‘s position on transgender issues, pledging to confront her critics ‘if it came to it’.
Broadbent, who played the role of Professor Horace Slughorn in three Harry Potter films, said the abuse aimed at the author was ‘really sad’.
Rowling has received heavy criticism from trans rights activists after arguing four years ago that women should not be ousted from their jobs for believing biological sex is real.
Broadbent, 73, said in an interview with The Daily Telegraph that he never could have imagined ‘cancel culture‘ when he first embarked on his career.
The actor also rejected the argument that able-bodied actors should be barred from playing disabled roles. This is a practice in the industry known as ‘crippling up’.
Actor Jim Broadbent (pictured) has backed JK Rowling’s position on transgender issues, pledging to confront her critics ‘if it came to it’
Broadbent, who played the role of Professor Horace Slughorn in three Harry Potter films, said the abuse aimed at Rowling (pictured) was ‘really sad’
When asked for his opinion on Rowling becoming a ‘lightning rod’ for her abuse on social media for her position on single-sex spaces, trans rights and gender, the Oscar winner said: ‘It’s really sad.
‘I think JK Rowling is amazing. I haven’t had to confront it myself, but I would support her in that, I think, if it came to it.’
Rowling’s views have split opinion among actors in the Potter series, with star Daniel Radcliffe saying many trans individuals were left ‘hurt’ by the author’s comments.
Meanwhile, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint commented: ‘Trans people are who they are and deserve to live their lives without being constantly questioned or told they aren’t who they say they are.’
Jim Broadbent as Professor Horace Slughorn next to Daniel Radcliffe as Harry Potter
