Tom Felton’s jarring explanations for his continual connection to Harry Potter and JK Rowling

Although many of OG Harry Potter cast seem to have distanced themselves from the franchise of late, Tom Felton (aka Draco Malfoy) has never really stopped banging on about it. He’s even praised JK Rowling, and returned to his role of Draco Malfoy. What exactly is going through his head? Here’s a closer look at Tom Felton’s explanations for his continual connection to the Harry Potter franchise and to JK Rowling.

Tom Felton has kept praising JK Rowling for ‘bringing joy’

After JK Rowling shared her controversial views on transpeople with the world in 2020, many actors from the OG Harry Potter films flat-out criticised her, or seem to have distanced themselves from her. 

Tom has stayed linked to the world of Harry Potter to a greater extent than other lead actors from the films, such as Daniel Radcliffe or Emma Watson. He carried on making TikToks about the franchise (such as edits of himself as Draco Malfoy) throughout 2020, 2021 and 2022.

He published a whole book in 2022 called Beyond the Wand: The Magic and Mayhem of Growing Up a Wizard. The 304-page memoir is about his experiences of the films. In 2023, he did a sponsored video for the game Harry Potter: Magic Awakened.

Tom Felton has also continued to praise JK Rowling for coming up with Harry Potter.

In 2022, he told The Times: “No one has single-handedly done more for bringing joy to so many different generations”.

He returned to the role of Draco ‘to see his story through’

In June 2025, it was confirmed that Tom Felton would reprise the role of Draco in the Broadway version of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.

@t22felton

Guess who’s back 🐍 For tickets, visit HarryPotterBroadway.com

♬ original sound – Tom Felton

In a statement about this decision, he said: “It’s surreal to be stepping back into his shoes – and of course his iconic platinum blond hair – and I am thrilled to be able to see his story through and to share it with the greatest fan community in the world.”

“Being a part of the Harry Potter films has been one of the greatest honours of my life,” he continued, “joining this production will be a full-circle moment for me, because when I begin performances in Cursed Child this fall, I’ll also be the exact age Draco is in the play. I look forward to joining this incredible company and being a part of the Broadway community.”

Most Read

Celebrities are calling out Ariana Grande’s team for ‘absolutely appalling’ petal music video

The internet never forgets: The biggest male celeb nude leaks ever, and how they responded

Love Island’s over, so here’s every 2026 couple’s relationship status and who’s already split

He claims he’s ‘not really that attuned’ to the controversy

Tom Felton pretending to have grown-up in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2
(Image via HBO)

Er, at the 2025 Tony awards, Variety asked Tom Felton: “Does the sort-of Twitterverse controversy around JK Rowling’s views impact you at all, or impact your work on the world at all?”

He replied: “No, I can’t say it does. I’m not really that attuned to it.

“The only thing I always remind myself is that I’ve been lucky enough to travel the world – here I am in New York – and I’ve not seen anything bring the world together more than Potter. And she’s responsible for that, so I’m incredibly grateful.”

Hm, he can’t have seen much of Reddit, then.

Perhaps it’s easier to be “not that attuned” to JK Rowling’s views on women if you are a cishet man?

He showed support to Rupert Grint when he made a similar career move

In August 2026, Rupert Grint made the surprising announcement that he too would reprise his original role from the Wizarding World, and would appear as Ron Weasley in the Broadway production of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. Tom Felton showed his support by posting pictures of them together on Instagram, and writing: “Love you too Weasley x @rupertgrint @cursedchildus.”

For more like this, like The Tab on Facebook.

Featured image via HBO