Ralph Fiennes aka Lord Voldemort of Harry Potter films has come to the defence of the series’ creator and author JK Rowling who has received severe backlash for her comments on transpeople for quite some time. Ralph, in a recent interview said that the ‘verbal abuse’ directed at Rowling was ‘disgusting, it’s appalling’.
In a recent interview with a publication, Ralph discussed the abuse and death threats received by Rowling for her controversial views on the rights of trans women and said, “J.K. Rowling has written these great books about empowerment, about young children finding themselves as human beings. It’s about how you become a better, stronger, more morally centered human being. The verbal abuse directed at her is disgusting, it’s appalling.”
The actor added that he understood why some of the abuse was happening but also empathized with Rowling’s stance as well. “I mean, I can understand a viewpoint that might be angry at what she says about women. But it’s not some obscene, über-right-wing fascist. It’s just a woman saying, ‘I’m a woman and I feel I’m a woman and I want to be able to say that I’m a woman.’ And I understand where she’s coming from. Even though I’m not a woman.”
Harrpy Potter stars Emma Watson and Daniel Radcliffe have spoken against Rowling’s stance in the past. Earlier this year, after Rowling tweeted in support of author Salman Rushdie following an attack on his life, a Twitter user had responded with, “Don’t worry you are next.” Rowling created the popular and loved Harry Potter fantasy book series that spans seven books that have sold over 500 million copies since the first title was published in 1997. The books were later made into eight movies and three spinoffs which have become box office blockbusters.
(Source: New York Times)
