Fantastic Beasts star Eddie Redmayne wrote to JK Rowling in wake of ‘vitriol’ over Harry Potter author’s transgender comments

Eddie Redmayne JK Rowling
Eddie Redmayne reached out to JK Rowling privately after the author came under fire for her comments about the transgender community (Picture: Taylor Hill/FilmMagic)

Eddie Redmayne wrote to JK Rowling after she came under fire for her comments about transgender people.

The Harry Potter author was criticised for a string of controversial tweets which saw her accused of transphobia.

The actor, 38, plays Newt Scamander in the Fantastic Beasts film series created by Rowling.

While he spoke out against her comments, the Oscar-winner was shocked by the ‘vitriol’ Rowling faced on social media.

Eddie told Daily Mail that the backlash was ‘absolutely disgusting’ and that he wrote to her privately.

However the Les Miserables star added that the abuse faced by trans people on a daily basis is ‘equally disgusting’.

JK Rowling
JK Rowling has been accused of ‘transphobia’ (Picture: Getty/Rex)

‘Similarly, there continues to be a hideous torrent of abuse towards trans people online and out in the world that is devastating,’ the father-of-two said.

Eddie starred in 2015 drama The Danish Girl as artist Lili Ebe, who was one of the earliest recipients to undergo gender reassignment surgery.

In June, he disagreed with Rowling in a statement, telling Variety: ‘Respect for transgender people remains a cultural imperative, and over the years I have been trying to constantly educate myself. This is an ongoing process. 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. I disagree with Jo’s comments.

‘Trans women are women, trans men are men and non-binary identities are valid. I would never want to speak on behalf of the community but I do know that my dear transgender friends and colleagues are tired of this constant questioning of their identities, which all too often results in violence and abuse.

‘They simply want to live their lives peacefully, and it’s time to let them do so.’

Harry Potter stars including Daniel Radcliffe, Evanna Lynch and Katie Leung have also publicly disagreed with Rowling’s tweets.

Got a story?

If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.

MORE: Strictly Come Dancing star Nicola Adams describes micro-aggressions she encounters: ‘People move their handbags away from me’

MORE: The Big Bang Theory’s Jim Parsons didn’t realise he had coronavirus

Enregistrer un commentaire

0 Commentaires