Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

Pedro Pascal Absolutely Shreds JK Rowling Over Anti-Trans Court Ruling Celebration

Picture of Pedro Pascal; Picture of J.K. Rowling
Karwai Tang / Contributor/Getty Images; Dave J Hogan / Contributor/Getty Images

In response to a video from writer Tariq Ra’ouf calling out Rowling's celebration of the U.K. Supreme Court's ruling that trans women aren't included in the definition of "woman," Pascal left a scathing comment—and he didn't mince words.

Make us preferred on Google

Transgender rights recently suffered a massive blow in the United Kingdom, when the U.K. Supreme Court decided that the term "women" in the 2010 Equality Act referred solely to "biological women.

Unfortunately, not everyone was upset by this news, with Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling even finding it cause for celebration.


The author, who has openly expressed views that heavily criticize the transgender community (particularly transgender women), took to X (formerly Twitter) on the day of the ruling and posted celebratory pictures.

One post featured a picture of two glasses, with the caption reading "We toasted you @ForWomenScot. Neil says it's TERF VE day."

@ForWomenScot is the X page of For Women Scotland, a Scottish activist group whose mandate claims they are "working to protect and strengthen women and children's rights," but who share Rowling's staunch "gender critical" ideologies, and for whom Rowling has been an active supporter and donor.

Neil is Rowling's husband, Neil Murray, TERF is an acronym for "trans-exclusionary radical feminist" and VE day references the annual celebration of Europe fighting the Nazis, held on May 8.

A second post featured Rowling holding a cocktail and smoking a cigar while sitting somewhere with an ocean view, the caption reading, "I love it when a plan comes together".

Rowling's views and opinions have been met with criticism from both the transgender community and the larger entertainment industry, including the stars of the hugely successful Harry Potter films.

In a viral Instagram post, actor and activist Tariq Ra’ouf called Rowling's celebration of the U.K. Supreme Court ruling "serious Voldemort villain sh*t," and called for a boycott of all things Harry Potter:

“[It should be] our mission as the general public to make sure that every single thing 'Harry-Potter'-related fails."
“That means posting in every Harry Potter TV show update, in every article, that trans rights are human rights, that trans women are women."
"It means not buying a ticket to Universal to see 'Harry Potter' World."
“That awful, disgusting sh*t, that has consequences”.

In agreement with Ra’ouf's stance was film and TV star Pedro Pascal, who responded to the post.

Pascal wrote, "Awful disgusting 'SH*T is exactly right. Heinous LOSER behavior."

@tariq_raouf/Instagram

Pascal has been an outspoken supporter of transgender and LGBTQIA+ rights.

Pascal's sister, actress and activist Lux Pascal, is a transgender woman, and the actor was recently seen on the red carpet at the U.K. Premiere of Marvel's Thunderbolts* wearing a T-shirt designed by Connor Ives reading "Protect The Dolls."

Dolls references transgender women, and all proceeds from the shirts, first seen at London Fashion Week, raised money for the non-profit TransLifeline.

This past February, Pascal posted a speech by activist Cecilia Gentili to his Instagram page in which she declared that those who are anti- trans "can do nothing to erase us or make us disappear."

Pascal wrote in the caption:

"Know who you are."
"Progress is inevitable."

Known for playing warrior and/or heroic roles in Game of Thrones, The Mandalorian, and The Last Of Us, X users found Pascal equally heroic off-screen for taking Rowling to task:





Not everyone was in favor of Pascal's response, particularly those on the far-right, as well as some die-hard J.K. Rowling fans, with some wondering if his support of transgender rights could damage his leading man status.



Pascal, however, is used to people with anti-trans beliefs trolling or attacking him on social media.

When the actor expressed his support in an Instagram post showing a sign that read "A world without trans people has never existed and never will," he was met with opposition from the far right.

But the actor buckled down, responding to one Instagram user who said he would unfollow the actor "That’s too bad. Wait, no I don’t give a sh*t," while making his stance even clearer in the post's comments section:

"I can't think of anything more vile, small, and pathetic than terrorizing the smallest, most vulnerable group of people who want nothing from you, except the right to exist."

It seems clear that Pascal will likely be unfazed by those who choose to boycott his upcoming participation in the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Mr. Fantastic in the latest Fantastic Four reboot.

Just as one can equally assume that Pascal will not be tuning in for HBO's upcoming series of the Harry Potter books.

More from News/lgbtq

Nancy Mace; Lindsey Graham; Shri Thanedar
Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images; Amir Levy/Getty Images; Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images

Nancy Mace Called Out By Fellow Congressman For 'Insane' Post To Tease Replacing Lindsey Graham

South Carolina Republican Representative Nancy Mace was criticized after she teased a bid to replace the late Senator Lindsey Graham with a "pull me back in" quote from The Godfather: Part III.

According to a preliminary finding from the medical examiner, shared by his office, Graham died after suffering an aortic dissection—a tear in the inner wall of the aorta—linked to hardening of the arteries. His official cause of death will be determined after toxicology and microscopic testing are completed.

Keep ReadingShow less
Actor Tom Holland; Historian Tom Holland
Eamonn M. McCormack/Getty Images; David Levenson/Getty Images

The Two Tom Hollands Finally Meet For Discussion About 'The Odyssey'—And The Jokes Came Flooding In

Tom Holland took the world by storm when he stepped into the Marvel Cinematic Universe as the latest Peter Parker and Spider-Man, giving the character his youngest, most talkative, and most earnest portrayal yet.

He's since made quite a name for himself outside of the MCU, as well, including Uncharted, The Impossible, his voice acting part in the Pixar film Onward, and most recently, his role as Telemachus in Christopher Nolan's adaptation of The Odyssey.

Keep ReadingShow less
Julie Andrews
Steve Granitz/FilmMagic

Princess Diaries' Author Hilariously Explains How She Reacted To Disney Killing Character For Julie Andrews

Disney recently announced that a third installment of its beloved The Princess Diaries franchise is in the works, and with it some secrets about the original have come to light.

Specifically, that the father of Princess Mia, the lead character played by Anne Hathaway, was killed off for the express purpose of giving the iconic Julia Andrews more lines.

Keep ReadingShow less
Brandy Norwood
Josh Brasted/Getty Images for ESSENCE

Brandy Gracefully Addresses Body-Shaming Comments From Fans With Powerful Message—And We're Clapping

In 1990 at just 11years old, actor and singer Brandy Norwood had already established herself in the entertainment industry as a backing vocalist and had signed her first recording contract. She was only 14 years old when she landed her first major acting role on the ABC television sitcom Thea in 1993.

Known in the industry as simply Brandy, she scored her first hit song a year later with "I Wanna Be Down." At 17, she was tapped to star in her own TV show, Moesha.

Keep ReadingShow less
Kash Patel; Lindsey Graham
Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images; Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images

Kash Patel Slammed Over 'Reckless' Offer From FBI For Stoking Conspiracy Theories In Lindsey Graham Tribute

FBI Director Kash Patel was called out for stoking conspiracy theories after announcing in a post on X that the FBI would be "assisting local authorities" in the wake of late South Carlina Republican Senator Lindsey Graham's death.

According to a preliminary finding from the medical examiner, shared by his office, Graham died after suffering an aortic dissection—a tear in the inner wall of the aorta—linked to hardening of the arteries. His official cause of death will be determined after toxicology and microscopic testing are completed.

Keep ReadingShow less