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Harry Potteractor Jason Isaacs is sharing his reaction toJ.K. Rowling’s outspoken views on feminism and trans rights, which many view as controversial.
TheMassactor, 58, played Lucius Malfoy in theHarry Potterfilms, which are based on author Rowling’s mega-hit book series.
Rowling, 56, came under fire in June 2020 when sheappeared to support anti-transgender sentimentsin a series of tweets. Though she denied her views on feminism are transphobic, shedoubled down on her controversial standpointsin a lengthy essay shared on her website days later.
Potterstars Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grinteach spoke out against Rowling’s much-criticized remarksregarding the transgender community.
In a new interview withThe Telegraph, Isaacs acknowledged the charity work Rowling has done over the years, and briefly addressed her “very controversial” views.
“There’s a bunch of stuff about Jo. You know, I play complicated people, I’m interested in complicated people,” he said. “I don’t want to get drawn into the trans issues, talking about them, because it’s such an extraordinary minefield. She has her opinions, I have mine. They differ in many different areas.”
Jason Isaacs.Dave Benett/Getty Images
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“But one of the things that people should know about her too — not as a counter-argument — is that she has poured an enormous amount of her fortune into making the world a much better place, for hundreds of thousands of vulnerable children, throughher charity Lumos,” said Isaacs. “And that is unequivocally good. Many of usHarry Potteractors have worked for it, and seen on the ground the work that they do.”
“So,” he added, “for all that she has said some very controversial things, I was not going to be jumping to stab her in the front — or back — without a conversation with her, which I’ve not managed to have yet.”
Radcliffe, 32,stated definitivelyin a previousessayforThe Trevor Projectthat “transgender women are women.”
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“According to The Trevor Project, 78 percent of transgender and nonbinary youth reported being the subject of discrimination due to their gender identity,” he added. “It’s clear that we need to do more to support transgender and nonbinary people, not invalidate their identities, and not cause further harm.”
Responding to backlashback in June 2020, Rowling wrote that she refuses to “bow down to a movement that I believe is doing demonstrable harm in seeking to erode ‘woman’ as a political and biological class and offering cover to predators like few before it.”
ActorRalph Fiennes, who played Lord Voldemort in thePotterfranchise, toldThe Telegraphback in March that he personallyfeels the “level of hatred” aimed at Rowlingis uncalled for.
“I can’t understand the vitriol directed at her. I can understand the heat of an argument, but I find this age of accusation and the need to condemn irrational,” said Fiennes at the time. “I find the level of hatred that people express about views that differ from theirs, and the violence of language towards others, disturbing.”
source: people.com
