Several protesters campaigning for transgender rights rushed the red carpet ahead of the gala performance of Harry Potter And The Cursed Child on Thursday
A star-studded performance of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child was disrupted last night by trans rights protestors. Wearing black masks to conceal their identity, the group rushed the red carpet outside the Palace Theatre in London.
The book’s best-selling author, JK Rowling, appeared to be targeted in the fracas, with one of the protestors wearing a t.shirt, which read: “Rowling money kills”. The multi-millionaire has faced a huge backlash over her public comments about transgender people, gender identity and biological sex. Her views have also led several major Harry Potter stars, including Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint and Eddie Redmayne, to publicly distance themselves from her views.
Security at the Palace Theatre quickly swooped in on the protestors, who were swiftly removed. The disruption occured as celebrities were arriving ahead of a special performance of the show, which is the stage adaptation and sequel to Rowling’s hit franchise.
Famous faces for the special performance of the new version of the play included TV presenter Vanessa Feltz. Good Morning Britain host Richard Arnold, The Chase star Anne Hegerty and TV host Angellica Bell were also among those in attendance.
Rowling has faced significant controversy in recent years over her stance on gender identity, and has previously stated she thinks biological sex is “real” and “immutable”.
She has also been critical of self-declared gender identity, calling it “quasi-religious” and “anti-science”, but has denied being transphobic and previously said she respects “every trans person’s right to live any way that feels authentic and comfortable to them”.
Her outspoken views have divided fans of the franchise and sparked a recent wave of protests and boycotts by trans rights activists targeting Harry Potter-themed events and locations.
Rowling has been publicly feuding with Harry Potter star, Emma Watson, who played the original Hermione in the film’s franchise, for years since expressing her views.
Emma fiercely disagreed with the author over her views about the transgender community as she posted on social media: “Trans people are who they say they are and deserve to live their lives without being constantly questioned or told they aren’t who they say they are.”
However, the actress later appeared to offer a way back for the pair last year. Speaking to the On Purpose With Jay Shetty podcast, she said she will always “cherish” her memories with Rowling. “I really don’t believe that by having had that experience and holding the love and support and views that I have, mean that I can’t treasure Jo and the person that I had personal experiences with.”
But Rowling wasn’t having any of it. While not directly mentioning Emma’s comments, she was quick to share a clip by a satirist who goes by the name Intel Lady doing an impression of the face of Prada Paradoxe.
“When it comes to my relationship with Jo, obviously I will never forget the opportunity that she gave me,” Intel Lady purred in the mock-up version before adding, sarcastically: “She saw something so, so special in me [and] she knew she had to bring me into her creative vision.”
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