Ralph Fiennes Continues To Defend J.K. Rowling’s Transphobic Remarks & Calls Out “Verbal Abuse” Author Has Received

It’s been more than two years since ‘Harry Potter’ creator J.K. Rowling went full transphobic on social media, alienating entire swaths of her fanbase and having multiple members of the film franchise speak out against her. Since then, she has not only doubled down on her rhetoric but she’s continued to defend her transphobic beliefs on a near-daily basis, often engaging in fights with people on Twitter. It would seem as if Rowling is running out of friends, as it’s incredibly difficult to do the mental gymnastics to justify what she said and still be a fan of the ‘Harry Potter’ franchise. That said, it appears Rowling will always have a defender in Ralph Fiennes.

Speaking to the New York Times, while promoting his upcoming film, “The Menu,” Ralph Fiennes went to bat for J.K. Rowling one more time, continuing his defense of the author and screenwriter. However, he’s not only upset over the fact that people are directing “verbal abuse” at her, but he also thinks what she said about trans people isn’t all that bad. 

READ MORE: Ralph Fiennes Defends J.K. Rowling & Calls Backlash Against The Author’s Transphobic Comments “Disturbing”

“J.K. Rowling has written these great books about empowerment, about young children finding themselves as human beings,” said Fiennes. “It’s about how you become a better, stronger, more morally centered human being,” he said. “The verbal abuse directed at her is disgusting, it’s appalling. 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.”

Obviously, there are plenty of people who would say that Fiennes is completely offbase here in justifying Rowling’s comments about gender identity. By framing it as a woman saying that she’s a woman, it glosses over all the harmful words Rowling has said about trans people over the years. Plus, as mentioned above, it’s not like Rowling is some defenseless person on Twitter being berated daily for no reason. She not only continues to post her transphobic beliefs but she actively engages in Twitter fights with random users. 

READ MORE: Emma Watson Voices Support For Trans Community After J.K. Rowling’s Transphobic Comments

That said, it would appear that Fiennes, who starred as Voldemort in the ‘Harry Potter’ franchise is content with continuing his defense of Rowling, whereas most of the rest of the actors involved in the Wizarding World have distanced themselves and condemned her words. Honestly, this is just something that will seemingly continue from now until Rowling decides to pack it up and go away.