The actor who plays Hagrid in the “Harry Potter” series has come to novelist J.K. Rowling’s defense, telling anyone outraged by her comments on transgenderism to “get over yourself.”
During a recent interview with Radio Times, actor Robbie Coltrane bemoaned the oversensitivity of the “Twitter generation,” admitting he can’t understand why so many people have been offended by Rowling’s comments on sex and gender.
“I don’t think what she said was offensive, really,” he said. “I don’t know why, but there’s a whole Twitter generation of people who hang around waiting to be offended. They wouldn’t have won the war, would they? That’s me talking like a grumpy old man, but you just think, ‘Oh, get over yourself. Wise up, stand up straight, and carry on.’”
“I don’t want to get involved in all of that because of all the hate mail and all that [expletive], which I don’t need at my time of life,” added Coltrane.
Over the summer, Rowling drew the ire of many a social justice warrior when she argued, quite logically, the radicalized transgender movement could lead to the erasure of womanhood from society. While she has expressed support for those who identify as transgender, the “Harry Potter” author pointed out the obvious: scientifically, there are only two sexes.
“If sex isn’t real, there’s no same-sex attraction,” tweeted the 55-year-old Rowling. “If sex isn’t real, the lived reality of women globally is erased. I know and love trans people, but erasing the concept of sex removes the ability of many to meaningfully discuss their lives. It isn’t hate to speak the truth.”
Her June comments have made some people so mad, they’ve had some real staying power. Even this week, “RIP JK Rowling” was trending on Twitter, because angry tweeters are still spending their time roiling over her scientifically backed opinions, trying to “cancel” the famed and beloved British wordsmith. The fresh anti-Rowling zeal came after it was announced the author’s newest novel will tell the story of a cross-dressing serial killer a la Norman Bates.
We’d also be remiss if we didn’t note the New York literary agent who defended Rowling before being fired in late August for making similarly so-called “anti-trans” arguments.
To Rowling’s credit, she has stood her ground. Alas, Coltrane is the only “Harry Potter”-linked celebrity to come to the novelist’s defense.
“Harry Potter” stars Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, and “Fantastic Beasts” actor Eddie Redmayne have all fallen in line with the cause du jour.