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Tom Felton struck a nerve with fans after sharing his take on J.K. Rowling’s anti-transgender views.
The 37-year-old actor is preparing to step back into the shoes of his Harry Potter character Draco Malfoy for his Broadway debut in Cursed Child.
In a red carpet interview at the 2025 Tony Awards, he not only brushed off the author’s transphobic sentiments but also said he is “grateful” to her.
Highlights
- Tom Felton’s loyalty to J.K. Rowling landed him in hot water.
- He addressed Rowling’s anti-transgender sentiments during a red carpet interview at the 2025 Tony Awards.
- “This is a terrible response that makes him look both so privileged and also so clueless,” one commenter said about his remarks.
- The British actor is gearing up for his Broadway debut in ‘Cursed Child.’
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Tom Felton struck a nerve with fans after sharing his take on J.K. Rowling’s anti-transgender views
Image credits: Mike Coppola/Getty Images
Felton is gearing up to make his Broadway debut in the play Cursed Child, written by Jack Thorne.
The story unfolds nearly two decades after the end of Rowling’s seventh book, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.
Felton spoke about Rowling during the 2025 Tony Awards on Sunday, June 8
Image credits: Walter McBride/WireImage
During the award show on June 8, Felton chatted with Variety on the red carpet and was asked about whether the controversy around Rowling’s anti-transgender views affected him.
“No, I can’t say it does,” he responded. “I’m not really that attuned.”
“I’m incredibly grateful,” the British actor said about the author on the Tony Awards red carpet
Image credits: Netflix
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“The only thing I always remind myself is that I’ve been lucky enough to travel the world. Here I am in New York,” he went on to say.
The British actor expressed gratitude to the creator of the Hogwarts world.
Image credits: Harry Potter and the Cursed Child
Image credits: austin_parker25
“I have not seen anything bring the world together more than Potter, and she’s responsible for that. So I’m incredibly grateful,” he added.
Fans were left sorely disappointed by his comments, calling it “repulsive” and “typical Slytherin” behavior, referring to the cunning, self-interested traits of the Hogwarts house that Draco Malfoy belongs to.
Felton is reprising his role as Draco Malfoy in Broadway’s Harry Potter and the Cursed Child
Image credits: Harry Potter and the Cursed Child
“I’m not really attuned to [the global struggle for equality and justice],” read one comment on social media, while another wrote, “What a privileged straight white man take.”
“How extremely cishet of him,” said another.
“This is a terrible response that makes him look both so privileged and also so clueless,” another wrote.
Netizens had mixed reactions to the child star’s recent comments
Image credits: The Hollywood Reporter
Image credits: TheGasStovee
Some fans defended him, saying, “He said he doesn’t pay attention and instead focuses on his career. What’s wrong with that? He’s extremely humble and grateful for what he has.”
“Sounds like everything’s good for him. I think throwing some support to trans people would have balanced it,” said another.
Tom Felton says the controversy around J.K. Rowling’s political views doesn’t impact him: “I’m not really that attuned to it…I have not seen anything bring the world together more than Potter. She’s responsible for that, so I’m incredibly grateful.” #TonyAwardspic.twitter.com/T7KSMNbFds
— Variety (@Variety) June 8, 2025
“I wasn’t expecting Tom Felton to publicly disagree with J.K. Rowling, he very much wants to be part of The Wizarding World company so he can’t really oppose her,” read another comment.
Rowling has faced widespread backlash for her vocal transphobic sentiments in 2020. She has since doubled down on her views, despite widespread criticism from fans and former cast members.
Former cast members Daniel Radcliffe and Emma Watson have shown support for the transgender community since the controversy began
Image credits: BBC One
Image credits: lucythegreat123
Daniel Radcliffe, who played the lead role in all eight installments of the original Harry Potter film series, released an essay in 2020 for The Trevor Project to show his support for the transgender community.
He apologized for the “pain” caused to those who “feel that their experience of the books has been tarnished or diminished” by Rowling’s words.
“I am deeply sorry for the pain these comments have caused you. I really hope that you don’t entirely lose what was valuable in these stories to you,” he wrote.
Image credits: Variety
Image credits: Malicious_Hero
Emma Watson, who played Hermione Granger in the films, also released a statement at the time to show her support for the transgender community.
“Trans people are who they say they are and deserve to live their lives without being constantly questioned or told they aren’t who they say they are,” she said. “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.”
Rowling suggested she would never forgive Radcliffe and Watson for their opposing views
Image credits: jkrowling.com
Image credits: HeddyNajjar
Rupert Grint—Ron Weasley in the films—joined the conversation in 2020 and said he firmly stands “with the trans community.”
“Trans women are women,” he added. “Trans men are men. We should all be entitled to live with love and without judgment.”
The author wouldn’t support “celebs who cozied up to a movement intent on eroding women’s hard-won rights,” she claimed
Image credits: Jamie McCarthy/WireImage
Last year, Rowling appeared to say she wouldn’t accept an apology from the former cast members for their opposing views.
Her jibe came in response to a fan comment that said, “Just waiting for Dan and Emma to give you a very public apology … safe in the knowledge that you will forgive them.”
Every other actor distanced themselves from jkr and supports what’s important and then there’s Tom Felton https://t.co/GRrwOCv7tTpic.twitter.com/GfVwigxqE4
— 𝐀𝐲𝐥𝐢𝐧🍁 (@GoodOmensDT) June 9, 2025
“Not safe, I’m afraid,” she responded, seemingly suggesting she wouldn’t forgive them.
“Celebs who cozied up to a movement intent on eroding women’s hard-won rights and who used their platforms to cheer on the transitioning of minors can save their apologies for traumatized detransitioners and vulnerable women reliant on single s*x spaces,” she added.
Felton said Radcliffe, who has experience on Broadway, has been “holding [his] hand” as he makes his own debut
Image credits: Netflix
As he prepares for his Broadway debut, Felton said his “old school chum, Potter, Radcliffe,” has been “holding [his] hand” and helping him “through all the things that are hard to learn,” since Radcliffe has had his own Broadway experience.
“From what I gather, it’s an amazing community of people. The fans are really, really gracious and excited,” he told People on the Tony Awards red carpet. “So I’m just thrilled to be part of it.”
Image credits: The Hollywood Reporter
The actor admitted he initially thought the “fandom flame” for the wizarding world “might douse over the years.”
“But clearly it’s not,” he said during his chat with Variety.
“Saying this at the Tony’s red carpet during pride month is wild,” one netizen said about Felton’s comments
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What do you think ?
Paul C. 6 months ago
He's an actor. good for him for not having much of an opinion. I wish all celebrities would STFU. You are paid to play let's pretend , for cash, stick to that, or go into politics. I don't really care what someone who is totally removed from the everyday struggles, the rest of us have to endure, in their closeted little worlds.
Gozer LeGozerian 5 months ago
So people aren't allowed an opinion because of their chosen profession? Sounds very f*****t to me.
Load More Replies...
Sunny Day 5 months ago
JK is NOT anti-trans people. She is Pro-WOMEN. She is also pro-children and questions how much harm is done allowing a CHILD to make a life-altering decision, and what part professionals play in "diagnosing" a child as Trans after minimal contact. And evidently the European medical community and British government agree with her.
Gozer LeGozerian 5 months ago
I'd like to see some serious statistics showing exactly how many children are having their bodies modified surgically. And do you people also have energy for the thousands of girls and boys that are having their g3nitals mutilated everyday because of religion and culture, or is that not fashionably enough to care about?
Load More Replies...
Apatheist Account2 6 months ago
He possibly could have chosen a better phrase than "attuned to it", but I don't blame him for concentrating on being an actor and not getting involved in politics that could lead to him being "cancelled". Also worth noting that the question was whether her views **affected him**, which is not the same as asking what his views on the subject are.
Paul C. 6 months ago
He's an actor. good for him for not having much of an opinion. I wish all celebrities would STFU. You are paid to play let's pretend , for cash, stick to that, or go into politics. I don't really care what someone who is totally removed from the everyday struggles, the rest of us have to endure, in their closeted little worlds.
Gozer LeGozerian 5 months ago
So people aren't allowed an opinion because of their chosen profession? Sounds very f*****t to me.
Load More Replies... Sunny Day 5 months ago
JK is NOT anti-trans people. She is Pro-WOMEN. She is also pro-children and questions how much harm is done allowing a CHILD to make a life-altering decision, and what part professionals play in "diagnosing" a child as Trans after minimal contact. And evidently the European medical community and British government agree with her.
Gozer LeGozerian 5 months ago
I'd like to see some serious statistics showing exactly how many children are having their bodies modified surgically. And do you people also have energy for the thousands of girls and boys that are having their g3nitals mutilated everyday because of religion and culture, or is that not fashionably enough to care about?
Load More Replies... Apatheist Account2 6 months ago
He possibly could have chosen a better phrase than "attuned to it", but I don't blame him for concentrating on being an actor and not getting involved in politics that could lead to him being "cancelled". Also worth noting that the question was whether her views **affected him**, which is not the same as asking what his views on the subject are.
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