Daniel Radcliffe Explains Why He Called Out JK Rowling Over Her Transphobic Comments

Back in June of 2020, actor Daniel Radcliffe called out Harry Potter author JK Rowling for her opinions and controversial tweets surrounding the transgender community.

Rowling's transphobic tweets, which were in response to the phrase "people who menstruate," garnered a reaction from Radcliffe, and he felt the need to speak out:

"Transgender women are women."

"Any statement to the contrary erases the identity and dignity of transgender people and goes against all advice given by professional health care associations who have far more expertise on this subject matter than either Jo or I."

Earlier this week, Radcliffe opened up to IndieWire and shared why he felt the need to speak out against Rowling's opinions.

The actor said:

"The reason I felt very, very much as though I needed to say something when I did was because, particularly since finishing 'Potter,' I've met so many queer and trans kids and young people who had a huge amount of identification with Potter on that."

"And so seeing them hurt on that day... I wanted them to know that not everybody in the franchise felt that way. And that was really important."

Fans applauded the actor's choice to speak out and also tweeted their gratitude for his support.

Radcliffe said he would not have been able to look himself in the mirror if he refrained from speaking out.

He added, "But it's not mine to guess what's going on in someone else's head."