Harry Potter narrator Sir Stephen Fry has turned on JK Rowling, branding her a ‘lost cause’ and accusing her of being ‘radicalised by TERFs’.
The comedian and television presenter, who previously hosted QI, told how he used to have dinner regularly with the author and described her views towards the trans community as ‘strange’.
Recording podcast The Show People last week, Sir Stephen, who is himself gay, said: ‘She has been radicalised I fear and it may be she has been radicalised by TERFs, but also by the vitriol that is thrown at her.
‘It is unhelpful and only hardens her and will only continue to harden her I am afraid. I am not saying that she not be called out when she says things that are really cruel, wrong and mocking. She seems to be a lost cause for us.’
Sir Stephen recorded audio books for all seven of the Harry Potter series, but has now turned his back on the author, accusing her of ‘mocking’ LGBT+ people and insisting he supports the trans community.
He said: ‘She started to make these peculiar statements and had very strong difficult views. She seemed to wake up or kick a hornet’s nest of transphobia which has been entirely destructive.
‘I disagree profoundly with her on this subject. I am angry she does not disavow some of the more revolting and truly horrible, destructive violently destructive things that people say. She does not attack those at all.
‘She says things that are inflammatory and contemptuous, mocking and add to a terribly distressing time for trans people.
Speaking at a podcast recording last week, Sir Stephen Fry (right) said he feared JK Rowling is a ‘lost cause’ who has been ‘radicalised by TERFs’
It comes weeks after the Harry Potter author posted several gloating tweets from her superyacht in the aftermath of April’s Supreme Court ruling
‘She has crowed at the success of legislation in Scotland and elsewhere declaring things about gender.
‘So I am very happy to go on the record to say that I am really angry about that. My view about all things of sharp and difficult nature is that is is much more important to be effective than to be right.’
Sir Stephen, who has until now not spoken openly about the row, explained that he had previously got on well with the author.
‘I am sorry because I always liked her company. I found her charming, funny and interesting and then this thing happened and it completely altered the way she talks and engages with the world now.’
Sir Stephen has faced criticism from parts of the LGBT+ community for not being more vocal earlier on transgender issues.
He notably called for both sides to stop fighting each other over trans rights in 2022, adding: ‘There is no winner’.
He told Roger Bolton’s Beeb Watch podcast at the time that he refused to get involved in the debate: ‘I definitely wouldn’t because I am aware that you are talking about an issue where two sides are very sore and anxious about their enemies.’
Addressing his friendship with JK Rowling, he said: ‘She is a friend of mine and I have trans friends and intersex friends who are deeply upset by her. That is a circle I have to square personally’, adding he did not plan to ‘abandon’ friendships.
But three years later Sir Stephen has changed his stance and waded head-on into the bitter row.
He called for peace and humanity amid the contentious debate over trans people’s rights, while calling attention to the higher rates of mental health issues, self-harm and suicide that exist for them.
Sir Stephen said the author ‘says things that are inflammatory and contemptuous, mocking and add to a terribly distressing time for trans people’
The comedian, actor and former QI host has not previously addressed Rowling’s views until now
He told the podcast: ‘When it comes to the transphobia issue it is right to remind people that trans people are here and that they are hurting and that they are being abominably treated.
‘The recent way the culture has gone against them means there is a great deal of bullying, violence and suicide and genuine pain and agony in the trans community.
‘But to scream ‘transphobe’ at anybody who does not buy into every single aspect of that particular person’s trans views is so self harming. It does not get the thing done. You have to let people love you.’
One study in the UK found that some 34.4 percent of trans people in the UK had attempted suicide at least once. For the entire population, the figure is closer to six percent.
The comedian is far from the only former Harry Potter star to speak out in criticism of JK Rowling’s views on the subject. Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint, who played the three central characters, have all previously come out and supported the trans community.
By contrast Tom Felton, who played Harry’s nemesis Draco Malfoy in the franchise, said he remains ‘grateful’ to Ms Rowling and her views on trans rights don’t affect his work.
He said: ‘I’m not really that attuned. 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 have not seen anything bring the world together more than Potter, and she’s responsible for that. So I’m incredibly grateful.’
Sir Stephen was speaking in the aftermath of a landmark Supreme Judgment ruling in April that determined that specifically within the terms of the equality act, ‘woman’ meant a biological female and not gender.
Lord Hodge said the five Supreme Court justices had unanimously decided that ‘the terms woman and sex in the Equality Act refer to a ‘biological woman and biological sex‘.
The ruling was celebrated by women’s rights activists including JK Rowling, but its opponents say they fear it could put trans and non-binary people at renewed risk of attacks and discrimination.
Following the Supreme Judgment in April, Rowling posted photographs of herself enjoying champagne on her private yacht
Sir Stephen said he was sad to speak out against her, adding: ‘I am sorry because I always liked her company. I found her charming, funny and interesting and then this thing happened and it completely altered the way she talks and engages with the world now’
The judgement marks the culmination of a long-running legal battle between the Scottish government and a women’s group over the definition of a ‘woman’ in Scottish legislation mandating 50 percent female representation on public boards.
The case centred on whether somebody with a gender recognition certificate (GRC) recognising their gender as female should be treated as a woman under the 2010 Equality Act.
Lord Hodge recognised ‘the strength of feeling on both sides’ and cautioned against seeing the judgement as ‘a triumph for one side over another’, stressing that the law still gives trans people protection against discrimination.
In the judgement, Lord Hodge accepted the trans community are ‘a vulnerable and often harassed minority’ who have a right to protection from discrimination on the basis of their identity in place of their biological sex.
LGBT+ charity Stonewall’s chief executive Simon Blake said at the time: ‘[This ruling] will be incredibly worrying for the trans community and all of us who support them.
‘It’s important to be reminded the Court strongly and clearly re-affirmed the Equality Act protects all trans people against discrimination, based on gender reassignment, and will continue to do so.
‘Once we read and fully digest the judgement, we will work with stakeholders across all sectors to provide as much clarity as possible.’
In the aftermath of the judgement, despite warnings it should not be taken as a ‘victory’ for one side or another, JK Rowling again courted controversy by taking celebratory snaps with champagne and cigars on her multi-million mega-yacht.
