Evanna Lynch responds to JK Rowling transgender row: ‘She is on the wrong side of this debate’

The Harry Potter star's comments come after Daniel Radcliffe spoke out on the matter
Getty Images
Rachel McGrath10 June 2020
The Weekender

Sign up to our free weekly newsletter for exclusive competitions, offers and theatre ticket deals

I would like to be emailed about offers, event and updates from Evening Standard. Read our privacy notice.

Evanna Lynch has become the second Harry Potter star to discuss JK Rowling’s latest controversial comments, admitting she feels “saddened to see trans people feeling abandoned by the HP community.”

Over the weekend, Rowling, 54, sparked outrage online when she shared a series of tweets after taking issue with an article that referenced “people who menstruate.”

Numerous Twitter users responded to the author with many accusing her of being transphobic - a claim she denies.

Daniel Radcliffe subsequently spoke out and admitted fears that Rowling’s comments would “taint” the Harry Potter series and his co-star Lynch (who played Luna Lovegood) has now added her voice to the conversation.

Controversial comments: This is far from the first time that Rowling's tweets on the trans community have been criticised
Getty Images

In a lengthy Twitter post, she told fans she initially “wanted to stay out of commenting on JKR’s tweets because it feels impossible to address this subject on Twitter.”

“But I am so saddened to see trans people feeling abandoned by the HP community so here are my thoughts,” the 28-year-old continued. “I imagine that being trans and learning to accept and love yourself is challenging enough and we as a society should not be adding to that pain.

“Feeling like you don’t fit in or aren’t accepted for who you are are the worst, most lonely feelings a human can experience and I won’t be helping to marginalise trans women and men further.”

Lynch then praised “the immense bravery they [trans people] show in embracing themselves and think we all should listen to their stories, especially as it is Pride Month.

“I think it’s irresponsible to discuss such a delicate topic over Twitter through fragmented thoughts and I wish Jo wouldn’t.”

While emphasising that she does disagree with her, Lynch also said she counts herself as “a friend ad admirer of Jo.”

“I can’t forget what a generous and loving person she is,” she wrote. “I am sad to see fans reduce Jo to her tweets and seemingly dismiss her incredible philanthropic work and her determination to help humanity. I see that she is still fighting for vulnerable people.

Harry Potter Films - In pictures

1/33

“I disagree with her opinion that cis-women are the most vulnerable minority in this situation and I think she’s on the wrong side of this debate. But that doesn’t mean she has completely lost her humanity.

In an apparent reference to Caroline Flack, she continued: “We need to break the cycle of bullying and shaming others. Amidst all of this I can’t stop thinking about a woman who, just a few months ago, was bullied and publicly shamed by the media and strangers online, and took her own life and how we all paused and said: ‘If you can be anything in this world, be kind.’”

“I’m so sorry to any trans people who feel that’s been taken away or that this community is no longer that safe place. But the Harry Potter world/fandom/community is literally made up of millions of people now and I for one will work to make it feel inclusive because trans women are women.”

Lynch’s statement has received a mixed reaction from fans, with one writing: “This is honestly so disappointing. JKR’s tweets cant be written off.” [sic]

Another wrote: “Evy. Trans women are dying. Trans men are dying. Because [of] people who think they dont matter. This is no a debate. There's no space to let JK. Rowling say whatever she wants to when she has a huge platform.” [sic]

Lynch’s statement comes a day after Daniel Radcliffe publicly said he disagrees with Rowling.

In a statement issued via an LGBT+ charity, he wrote: Transgender women are women.”

Adding that this is not about “in-fighting between JK Rowling and myself,” he continued: “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.”

Create a FREE account to continue reading

eros

Registration is a free and easy way to support our journalism.

Join our community where you can: comment on stories; sign up to newsletters; enter competitions and access content on our app.

Your email address

Must be at least 6 characters, include an upper and lower case character and a number

You must be at least 18 years old to create an account

* Required fields

Already have an account? SIGN IN

By clicking Create Account you confirm that your data has been entered correctly and you have read and agree to our Terms of use , Cookie policy and Privacy policy .

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged in