‘No-one has brought more people together over past 20 years’: Harry Potter star Tom Felton tells Radio 4 JK Rowling should be ‘celebrated’ and he is ‘grateful’ to her as he continues praise of author amid ‘transphobia’ row

• Harry Potter star Tom Felton, 35, praised JK Rowling for Harry Potter creation
• He said he did not feel the need to shun her over her views on women’s rights
• Instead he declared Potter had brought more people together than anything else

Harry Potter star Tom Felton has praised JK Rowling and says her work should be celebrated, declaring ‘It came from one person and that’s her.’

The 35-year-old, who portrayed Draco Malfoy in the wizarding series, said her creations had brought people and generations together.

Ms Rowling is frequently attacked on Twitter over her views on women’s rights, which has seen some stars of the Potter films attack her opinions.

But Mr Felton said he would not shun or criticise her as others had, instead insisting he was grateful to her for her books.

He told Radio 4’s Today programme: ‘I can’t speak for what other individuals have said. I am constantly reminded that the Potter-verse, certainly when we were finishing the films, there was an expectation that the fandom would be dwindling slowly over the years, whereas most fans that say hello to me, shout ‘Potter’ or ‘Draco’ at me weren’t even born when the books were being made.

‘I am quick to remind myself and others that Potter for some reason has brought more people together across the world and more generations than probably anything else has in the past 20 years and I’m quick to celebrate that.

‘It came from one person and that’s her so I’m very grateful.’

Harry Potter star Tom Felton, 35, today praised JK Rowling for her Harry Potter creation

Mr Felton said he did not feel the need to shun Ms Rowling over her views on women’s rights

The actor, who portrayed Draco Malfoy in the wizarding series, said he was grateful to her

Ms Rowling came under fire in early June 2020 over tweets she posted.

Referring to an article that referenced ‘people who menstruate’, the auther tweeted: ‘I’m sure there used to be a word for those people. Someone help me out. Wumben? Wimpund? Woomud?’

The stance prompted some Harry Potter stars such as Emma Watson and Daniel Radcliffe to speak out against her views.

Ms Watson made her remarks after Ms Rowling wrote an essay to address the controversy, revealing she was sexually assaulted in her 20s and still felt the scars of ‘domestic violence’ in her first marriage.

The actress said: ‘Trans people are who they say they are and deserve to live their lives without being constantly questioned or told they aren’t who they say they are.

‘I want my trans followers to know that I and so many other people around the world see you, respect you and love you for who you are.’ 

Ms Rowling ridiculed article which used the term ‘people who menstruate’ instead of women

Daniel Radcliffe slammed Harry Potter author JK Rowling over her comments online

Hogwarts alum: He starred as the titular wizard in all eight of the Harry Potter movies, originating the role at the age of 11 in 2000’s Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone

She went on to say that she was proud to donate to charities such as Mermaids and Mama Cash before encouraging her fans to do the same.

Emma concluded: ‘Happy #Pride2020 Sending love x.’ 

Daniel Radcliffe also felt compelled to make a statement.

He insisted: ‘To all the people who now feel that their experience of the books has been tarnished or diminished, I am deeply sorry for the pain these comments have caused you.

‘Transgender women are women. Any statement to the contrary erases the identity and dignity of transgender people and goes against all advice given by professional health care associations who have far more expertise on this subject matter than either Jo or I. 

‘While Jo is unquestionably responsible for the course my life has taken, as someone who has been honored to work with and continues to contribute to The Trevor Project for the last decade, and just as a human being, I feel compelled to say something at this moment.’

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