Director John Waters has a few words to say about Harry Potter writer JK Rowling regarding some of her statements about transgender rights.
Director John Waters believes that the one person in the world who really needs to be “canceled” is Harry Potter author JK Rowling.
The director spoke New York Times about, among other things, what he thought about modern “cancellation culture”. When asked about the controversy surrounding Johnny Depp, who was the star of Waters’ 1990 film Cry Baby, the filmmaker said there was only one person he wanted to cancel. “I have one thing about who I would cancel: JK Rowling. Give her some preparation H for that transphobia. What’s wrong with her?”
Waters has a long history of directing films that traditionally shock audiences, including Pink flamingothe original 1988 version of Hair sprayand Cecil B. Dement. Despite his reputation for “offensive” films, Waters apparently pushes the boundaries of transphobia.
Waters is far from the first person to criticize Rowling for her views on transgender and transgender rights. Rowling has come under public fire in recent years for his perceived transphobia. Some of the earliest incidents included when Rowling criticized an article about the effect of COVID-19 on menstruation for using the term “people who menstruate” instead of “women.” This led to the author writing an essay defending her position, which many feel simply made things worse. Even some of the actors who appeared in Harry Potter films came out against the author’s position, including Eddie Redmayne, Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, and Evanna Lynch.
A number of celebrities outside of Rowlingverse who previously supported the author have changed their tone in light of her remarks. wonder Woman TV actress Lynda Carter recently declared her support for the transgender community in light of recent comments from Rowling.
Despite Rowling saying she’s not transphobic, the author tweeted a recommendation from a “radical feminist” website in 2020 that sold anti-trans merchandise. Robert F. Kennedy’s human rights group, which awarded Rowling their Ripple of Hope Award in 2019, criticized Rowling’s stance on transgender issues. Rowling returned his award in protest.
Films based on Rowling’s work are beginning to feel the setback from Rowling’s comments. The coming Harry Potter spin off, Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledorefaces a potential rise at the box office that may be related to Rowling’s anti-transgender comments.
Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore appliances in the cinema on April 15, 2022.
Source: New York Times
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