Andrew Garfield speaks out on JK Rowling and controversy surrounding HBO’s Harry Potter

Andrew Garfield has weighed in on the ongoing J.K. Rowling controversy, calling her views “inhumane” while still showing love for the Harry Potter film series.

Speaking in a recent interview with Hits Radio, Garfield revealed he’d only just got around to watching the iconic films for the first time, and had some very mixed feelings.

Hits Radio

While chatting about the franchise, Garfield avoided naming Rowling directly, instead referring to her as “she that shall remain nameless”, a clear nod to Lord Voldemort. Despite the shade, he was full of praise for the films themselves, especially Daniel Radcliffe.

“I hadn’t watched the Harry Potters until recently … and he’s really good in those Harry Potter movies. Those Harry Potter movies are really good,” he said.

But Garfield didn’t ignore the wider controversy surrounding Rowling’s views on trans rights.

“I know it’s, like, controversial. And like, we shouldn’t be, you know, putting money in the pocket of inhumane legislation right now through she that shall remain nameless,” he explained.

I love it when a plan comes together.#SupremeCourt #WomensRights pic.twitter.com/agOkWmhPgb

— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) April 16, 2025

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Still, he made it clear he doesn’t think the films themselves should be written off entirely.

“We can’t throw the baby out with the bathwater,” he added, praising the “beautiful artists” and crew who worked behind the scenes.

Garfield even pointed out he’s currently working with a make-up artist who contributed to the original films, saying it gave him a “newfound appreciation” for the craft and creativity that went into them.

Rowling has faced ongoing backlash in recent years over her views on gender identity, including her support for For Women Scotland in a high-profile legal case.

The UK Supreme Court ruled last year that the terms “woman” and “sex” in the Equality Act refer to biological sex, a decision that has had significant implications for trans rights across the UK.

Rowling has also appeared to take aim at some of the franchise’s biggest stars, including Emma Watson and Rupert Grint, following their public support for the trans community.

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