'Harry Potter' actor stands by JK Rowling at Tony Awards amid criticism of her transgender views
The British actor was on the red carpet at the awards show Sunday, where he was interviewed by Variety about reprising his film role as Draco Malfoy in the Broadway play, "Harry Potter and the Cursed Child."
The play, based off an original story co-authored by Rowling, takes place 19 years after the final "Harry Potter" novel.
Felton was asked if the controversy surrounding Rowling's transgender views had affected his work at all, which he denied. Rowling has been a strong advocate for single-sex spaces for women and has repeatedly been labeled as transphobic by far-left activists.
"No, I can't say that it does. I'm not really that attuned to it," Felton said before praising the series' author.
"The only thing I always remind myself is that I've been lucky enough to travel the world — here I am in New York — and I have not seen anything bring the world together more than 'Potter,'" Felton explained to Variety. "And she's responsible for that, so I'm incredibly grateful."
Felton previously expressed his admiration for the author in a 2022 interview as she faced criticism from transgender activists for her views.
"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," he told The Times of London in a 2022 interview. "It came from one person, and that's her, so I'm very grateful."
Rowling's hugely popular book series, which launched the hit film franchise which Felton starred in, has not lost its appeal with fans.
Beyond the Broadway play, the series is also being adapted into an upcoming HBO television series.
Felton shared his excitement at reprising his Potter role all these years later with his Broadway debut.
"I think we all thought that the fandom flame might be doused over the years, but clearly it's not," he said Sunday. "The most exciting part is to do it live. It took nine months, more or less, to shoot a film, and this is all compact. This is all reimagined into a very loving, new type of story. And I get to be a dad, which is really fun."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Forbes
9 minutes ago
- Forbes
Morgan Wallen's Blocks One Of Today's Top Pop Stars From His First No. 1
Morgan Wallen's I'm the Problem stays No. 1 on the Billboard 200 for six weeks, keeping Benson ... More Boone's American Heart from debuting atop the chart. Benson Boone at the 2025 Governors Ball Music Festival held at Flushing Meadows Corona Park on June 06, 2025 in New York, New York. (Photo by Nina Westervelt/Billboard via Getty Images) Morgan Wallen scored the largest debut on the Billboard 200 in 2025 when his album I'm the Problem arrived a little more than a month ago. The set launched at No. 1 with just under 500,000 equivalent units shifted, beating a 2025 record previously set by The Weeknd's Hurry Up Tomorrow. In the six weeks since, the country superstar's project has not vacated the top spot, and it will likely continue to dominate for several more frames, if not months. This week, Wallen leads the charge yet again, and as he holds on, he blocks one of today's hottest pop stars from earning a first leader. Benson Boone Debuts at No. 2 Benson Boone launches American Heart at No. 2 on the current edition of the Billboard 200. The pop singer-songwriter reaches a new career high point as his new collection arrives and only misses out on the top spot by one space, although the race wasn't a very close one. I'm the Problem shifted 177,000 units according to Luminate in the past tracking frame. That's almost three times as many as American Heart during the same span. Boone's sophomore full-length arrives with 61,000 equivalent album units moved. Fireworks & Rollerblades Rises on the Billboard 200 Boone became a hitmaker in the pop space last year with 'Beautiful Things,' his breakout track. That tune still ranks above both of his American Heart smashes on the Hot 100 at the moment, as it dips to No. 12 after 74 weeks on the competitive roster. 'Beautiful Things' fronted Fireworks & Rollerblades, his debut album, which peaked at No. 6 on the chart in 2024. As American Heart arrives, Fireworks & Rollerblades skates three spots north to No. 27 after 64 weeks on the Billboard 200. American Heart Gives Benson Boone His First No. 1 While American Heart might miss out on the peak position on the Billboard 200, it does earn Boone a champion on both the Top Album Sales and Vinyl Albums charts. The same project enters the Top Streaming Albums tally at No. 5. Benson Boone's Four Hot 100 Hits It's a big week for Boone in America, and not just on the albums rankings. Three tracks from American Heart — 'Sorry, I'm Here for Someone Else,' 'Mystical Magical,' and 'Mr. Electric Blue' — appear on multiple tallies, and all three live on the Hot 100, alongside 'Beautiful Things.' The latter is brand new, while the previous two, which were selected as singles from the full-length, rise to new heights on several rankings as excitement around Boone's new project reaches a fever pitch.
News24
17 minutes ago
- News24
Rapper Da L.E.S opens up about his stroke recovery and new music - ‘I am grateful to be alive'
He can stand on his own and walk for a short distance, but the movement on his left arm still needs care. Rapper Leslie Jonathan 'Da L.E.S' Mampe is seeing life through a new lens and grateful after surviving a life-threatening stroke on his 39th birthday in July 2024. The stroke took one month of his life, during which he was hospitalised and could not move. 'I woke up a month later,' he says. It's almost a year now since he has been recovering, and he hopes this birthday this year will be different from last year and be filled with good news. 'I am so grateful to be alive to tell the tale,' Da L.E.S says. 'There are days when it becomes frustrating, but every day comes with a new challenge to overcome.' He has documented his recovery process and started a YouTube channel where he will be sharing his story and journey to recovery. 'The channel is to document what happened and just share with my supporters the process of recovery,' he adds. 'I feel good and I am happy to be here.' Currently in the US, getting the best medical care with family. He is also back in the studio, navigating his way into making music again, and plans to release soon. 'This has inspired me to go back to what I love, my passion, and I will be releasing music.' View this post on Instagram A post shared by Da L.E.S (@2freshles)
CNN
17 minutes ago
- CNN
Four killed in Chicago shooting
Four killed in Chicago shooting Four people were killed and 14 others were wounded in a drive-by shooting in Chicago, police said. At least one suspect opened fire from a dark-colored vehicle on a group standing outside a nightclub, according to CNN affiliate WBBM. 00:26 - Source: CNN Vertical Trending Now 13 videos Four killed in Chicago shooting Four people were killed and 14 others were wounded in a drive-by shooting in Chicago, police said. At least one suspect opened fire from a dark-colored vehicle on a group standing outside a nightclub, according to CNN affiliate WBBM. 00:26 - Source: CNN 'Squid Game' season three breaks record for Netflix Season three of 'Squid Game' is setting world records for Netflix with the most views of a show in three days and the number one ranked show in all available countries worldwide in its premiere week, says the streaming company. 00:37 - Source: CNN The teens trying to make 'MAHA' cool Lexi Vrachalus and Grace Price are two of the young influencers behind the newly formed 'MAHA Girls' account. They're bringing their social followings and "Make America Healthy Again" influence together to recruit a younger cohort of MAHA devotees. CNN's Meena Duerson chats with the 19-year-olds about where the movement is going. 02:51 - Source: CNN See swarms of 'lovebugs' invade South Korea Video posted on social media shows thousands of 'lovebugs' blanketing hiking trails on the Gyeyangsan mountain. South Korea is wrestling with an outbreak of the insects, which have been driven into warmer urban areas like Seoul due to climate change, according to a 2022 study. 00:42 - Source: CNN Beyoncé's 'flying' car prop tilts midair A technical mishap led to Beyoncé's 'flying' car prop to tilt during a Cowboy Carter concert in Houston, with fans capturing the moment on video. The singer was quickly lowered down and without injury, according to Beyoncé's entertainment and management company. 00:57 - Source: CNN 'Cobra Kai' star Alicia Hannah-Kim accuses co-star of biting her "Cobra Kai" star Martin Kove allegedly bit co-star Alicia Hannah-Kim during a fan convention in Washington, claiming it was a joke, according to police. 03:02 - Source: CNN See Jonathan Anderson's highly anticipated Dior debut Jonathan Anderson, founder of JW Anderson, made his debut as creative director of Dior. His collection, Dior menswear Spring/Summer 2026, was showcased during Paris Fashion Week. 00:45 - Source: CNN What biohacker Bryan Johnson says is the most powerful drug in existence CNN's Boris Sanchez spoke with controversial biohacker Bryan Johnson about the impact of the medical experiments he's done and what he thinks is the most underrated aspect of health. 01:08 - Source: CNN See swarms of 'lovebugs' invade South Korea Video posted on social media shows thousands of 'lovebugs' blanketing hiking trails on the Gyeyangsan mountain. South Korea is wrestling with an outbreak of the insects, which have been driven into warmer urban areas like Seoul due to climate change, according to a 2022 study. 00:42 - Source: CNN Thousands defy ban on Budapest Pride Protesters in Budapest are marching against a ban on Pride events across Hungary. People came from 30 different countries to show support under scorching heat, organizers said. 00:53 - Source: CNN Two men reunite baby bird with its mother Two men were walking in their neighborhood when they heard chirping near a sewer. When they approached, they could see a baby bird trapped inside the sewer. 01:17 - Source: CNN Newlyweds Bezos and Sanchez spotted on boat ride CNN's Melissa Bell reports from Venice, Italy, following newlyweds Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez as they wave at spectators during their boat ride through the city. 00:45 - Source: CNN Brad Pitt's home burglarized The Los Angeles Police Department said a break-in occurred at a house in the Los Feliz neighborhood. A law enforcement source familiar with the investigation confirmed to CNN that it belongs to actor Brad Pitt. 00:32 - Source: CNN
