{"id":7573,"date":"2026-08-10T18:06:02","date_gmt":"2026-08-10T17:06:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thetab.com\/filmshrine\/?p=7573"},"modified":"2026-08-10T18:06:02","modified_gmt":"2026-08-10T17:06:02","slug":"harry-potter-bel-powley-tries-to-separate-jk-rowling-from-franchise-hbo-show-reaction","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thetab.com\/filmshrine\/2026\/08\/10\/harry-potter-bel-powley-tries-to-separate-jk-rowling-from-franchise-hbo-show-reaction\/","title":{"rendered":"Harry Potter star tries to separate JK Rowling from the franchise and people are fuming"},"content":{"rendered":"

Bel Powley, who\u2019s playing Petunia Dursley in the upcoming HBO adaptation of Harry Potter<\/a>, has given her views on the JK Rowling<\/a> controversy, and her argument hasn\u2019t gone down well.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Harry Potter<\/a> franchise has been at the centre of an ongoing debate ever since 2018, when the author and creator liked a tweet that referred to trans women as \u201cmen in dresses\u201d.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

At the time, her representatives said the interaction was accidental, but months later the author began publicly sharing her views on trans issues and gender identity, even writing an essay where she said she was \u201cworried about the new trans activism\u201d.<\/span><\/p>\n

In 2023, HBO<\/a> announced it would be adapting Rowling\u2019s Harry Potter book series for the small screen, with each season covering one novel.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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A post shared by AIDAN MONAGHAN | PHOTOGRAPHER (@aidanmonaghanphotographer)<\/a>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n

While a number of the adult cast members have distanced themselves from Rowling\u2019s views<\/a>, it\u2019s estimated that she\u2019ll still make tens of millions of pounds each year<\/a> as an executive producer and the primary rights holder, which has reignited debate online.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

This week, Powley weighed in on the debate in a conversation with The Telegraph<\/a>, commenting on whether she\u2019s worried her career might be affected due to the association with the author.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI strongly disagree with JK Rowling\u2019s views on gender. I think that the trans community deserve safety and dignity and respect and total acceptance,\u201d the actress replied.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBut [she threw up her palms] I love Harry Potter. I grew up with the books. I am from that first generation of readers and, again, I love magic and spookiness.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Her comments have sparked similar backlash to other cast members who have spoken against Rowling while continuing to work on the series. Many argue it\u2019s impossible to separate the Harry Potter franchise<\/a> from its creator when Rowling continues to profit from it.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBel’s still taking the paycheck generated from JK’s work though, isn’t she?\u201d wrote on X user, while another said, \u201cShouldn’t have agreed to work for JKKK Rowling and become a sad part of her anti-rights crusade, then. We won’t soon forget.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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Bel Powley, who is starring in the new \u2018Harry Potter\u2019 series, says that she \u201cstrongly disagrees with JK Rowling's views on gender.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI think that the trans community deserve safety and dignity and respect and total acceptance. But I love Harry Potter.\u201d<\/p>\n

(Source:\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/dAdw6uQtcD<\/a><\/p>\n

— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) August 10, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n