‘Spoken like a true Slytherin': Harry Potter star Tom Felton faces major backlash from Potterheads for his ‘admiration' of J.K. Rowling

Time of India

09-06-2025

Turns out, Draco Malfoy has made a comeback!
No, it's not just about
Tom Felton
coming back to the Wizarding World and reprising his role as Draco Malfoy for Harry Potter and the Cursed Child on Broadway.
The actor who rose to fame as a child artist from the sets of Harry Potter, playing the role of Draco Malfoy, has recently faced significant backlash from the Potterhead community following his public admiration for author J.K.
Rowling.
What happened?
After Felton's comeback as Draco Malfoy in Harry Potter and the Cursed Child on Broadway was declared, the 37-year-old English actor made an appearance at this year's Tony Awards. During the interview at the Tony Awards, Felton addressed questions about Rowling's controversial views, stating, "I'm not really that attuned to it."
When asked if various remarks by Rowling, which has time and again has made the author's stance clear on transgender women and the issues related to them and hence fueled transphobia, played any role in his decision to step back into Malfoy's shoes, Felton responded, 'If anything, I remind myself I've been lucky to travel the world, and I've not seen anything bring the world together more than Potter, and she's responsible for that.
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He emphasized the unifying power of the Harry Potter series, noting its ability to bring together people from diverse backgrounds. Felton expressed gratitude for Rowling's creation, saying, 'I'm incredibly grateful.'
The comeback of Draco Malfoy:
After Felton conveyed how he felt about his comeback to the Wizarding World and his relentless gratitude towards Rowling, Potterheads did not delay in expressing how disappointed they were in him.
Fans took to X, formerly known as Twitter, where the snippet of his interview was posted to express their displeasure at his answer. One fan said, "What a privileged straight white man take."
While most of the Potterheads tagged him as an 'actual Slytherin', who are often associated with ambition beyond the consideration of right and wrong, a second fan said, "Tom felton….. you've lost any respect you've ever had from me."
Another said, "Translation: I do not have anyone close to me who is trans. And since it doesn't affect me personally, it doesn't matter. Nothing has brought the world more together than Potter? She has made the world less safe for an entire group of people. Shame on Tom Felton."
A fourth fan said, "Must be nice for Tom Felton to not have to be 'attuned' to Rowling's awfulness. Doesn't personally affect him, so why should he care?"
However, that's not all.
Several internet users, on the other hand, called Felton 'most level headed' for not going on to 'bite the hand that feeds him.'
While one user wrote, 'Turns out the villain was the good guy after all. What a gracious, respectful reply,' another echoed the same sentiment, by saying, 'It's amazing how the guy who played one of the meanest characters in the franchise is literally one of the nicest people in real life.'
Felton's comeback:
Felton's casting in Harry Potter and the Cursed Child was announced earlier this month.
The Tony-award winning play returns to Hogwarts 19 years after the events of the last book in the series — Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows — and follows the new alliances and antagonisms between the children of the Potter generation.
Felton is set to take over for Aaron Bartz in a 19-week limited engagement at the Lyric Theatre in New York City from Nov. 11 to March 22. Sharing his happiness for being able to come back to the Potterverse, Felton said, "It's such a huge part of my childhood. It's like me going back to high school!"
Despite the criticism for his comments during the interview at the Tony Awards, Felton has maintained a diplomatic stance.
He has stated that he is "pro-discussion, pro-love," and prefers to focus on positive aspects rather than engaging in divisive debates. Felton has also mentioned that the Harry Potter cast's group chats focus solely on "wizarding puns and banter," avoiding discussions about Rowling's views.
The legacy of J.K. Rowling:
J.K. Rowling's contributions to literature, particularly the Harry Potter series, have had a profound impact on readers worldwide.
The series has inspired generations, promoting themes of friendship, bravery, and the fight against injustice.
However, Rowling's statements on transgender issues have overshadowed her literary achievements for many fans and cast members. The author has a very public history of opposing transgender identities and rights and has often characterized many trans activists as bullies, and accused the movement of reducing women's rights and jeopardizing gay rights.
Rowling, time and again, has also questioned the very nature of transgenderism. Last year in December, she took to X, stating, 'There are no trans kids. No child is 'born in the wrong body'' and accused adults of subjecting children to gender-affirming treatments she equated to 'lobotomies.'
In fact, after the UK Supreme Court declared that the legal definition of "woman" under the Equality Act 2010 refers strictly to biological sex, which excludes transgender women, even though they have gender recognition certificates (GRCs) this April, the Harry Potter author shared a photo of her with champagne glasses and a cigar in hand, indicating the celebration of the controversial verdict, writing, 'I love it when a plan comes together.
#SupremeCourt #WomensRights.'
However, Rowling's stance has not been endorsed by all who have risen to prominence through the Harry Potter franchise. Actors from the wildly popular franchise, such as the ones who portrayed the main three (Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, Ron Weasley), spoke out against Rowling and condemned her. Daniel Radcliffe wrote in part in his statement that "transgender women are women.
Any statement to the contrary erases the identity and dignity of transgender people and goes against all advice given by professional health care associations who have far more expertise on this subject matter than either Jo or I.
"
However, Felton's public support for J.K. Rowling has placed him at the center of a complex debate within the Harry Potter fandom. While he remains grateful for the opportunities the series has provided him, his continued admiration for Rowling has led to criticism from fans who feel that her views are incompatible with the values promoted by the series.
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