Pedro Pascal slammed J.K. Rowling while discussing trans rights and his own family’s experiences. The star described Rowling’s action as “heinous loser behavior.” The Harry Potter author has faced widespread criticism since 2020 for promoting anti-trans views online. Pascal’s younger sister, Lux, came out as transgender in 2021, making the issue deeply personal for him.
Pascal previously made headlines in April for calling out Rowling’s reaction to a U.K. Supreme Court ruling that stated transgender women and men are not legally considered women or men. After Rowling celebrated the ruling by posting a photo of herself drinking with the caption, “I love it when a plan comes together,” Pascal fired back, calling it “heinous loser behavior.”
His sister Javiera backed him up in the Vanity Fair interview, saying, “But it is heinous loser behavior. And he said that as the older brother to someone saying that our little sister doesn’t exist.”
The actor admitted he had a moment of self-doubt when his post went viral. He said it brought back memories of “being the kid sent to the principal’s office” and wondering what he had done wrong. “But I knew I couldn’t stay silent,” he added. “The one thing I agonized over a little bit was just, ‘Am I helping? Am I fu*king helping?’ This situation deserves the utmost elegance so that something real can happen. People need to be protected. I want to protect the people I love – but it goes beyond that. Bullies make me fu*king sick.”
Backlash From Fans
As backlash from Rowling supporters circulated online. Some tried to paint Pascal as inappropriate by resurfacing a clip of him holding hands with Fantastic Four co-star Vanessa Kirby at Comic-Con. Kirby quickly shut that narrative down, saying, “We were both incredibly nervous going out in front of thousands of people who love this comic. He wanted me to know we were in this together. I found it a lovely gesture.”
Pascal isn’t alone in speaking out. His The Last of Us co-star Bella Ramsey and Bridgerton star Nicola Coughlan joined dozens of other entertainment professionals in signing an open letter denouncing the Supreme Court’s ruling.
Among the signees was I May Destroy You star and Emmy nominee Paapa Essiedu, who is set to play Severus Snape in HBO’s upcoming Harry Potter reboot.
Rowling, who is actively involved in the series’ development, addressed the news on X (formerly Twitter), claiming she had no issue with actors who disagree with her.
Other actors in the Harry Potter franchise, like Tom Felton have downplayed the controversy surrounding Rowling.
