Another actor from the Harry Potter film series is speaking out against author J.K. Rowling following years of controversy surrounding her views on transgender people. Sean Biggerstaff, who played Oliver Wood in several of the Wizarding World films, has publicly rebuffed Rowling’s latest commentary, further widening the rift between the author and the stars who helped bring her magical world to life.
Rowling, once one of the most beloved children’s authors worldwide, has come under increasing fire in recent years for her vocal support of anti-transgender legislation and rhetoric. She has been widely labeled a TERF (trans-exclusionary radical feminist) and has repeatedly made statements implying that transgender women are not “real” women. Her posts on X (formerly Twitter) have drawn backlash across the internet and were even referenced in a harassment lawsuit filed by Olympian Imane Khelif, who was targeted online despite being a biological woman.
Rowling recently celebrated a controversial United Kingdom Supreme Court decision affirming that the Equality Act applies only to “biological sex,” effectively excluding transgender women—even those with gender recognition certificates—from full legal recognition as women in the U.K.
In the wake of her ongoing comments and actions, Rowling has faced criticism not only from fans but also from the core Harry Potter cast. Daniel Radcliffe (Harry Potter), Emma Watson (Hermione Granger), and Rupert Grint (Ron Weasley) have each publicly shown support for the transgender community in recent years, distancing themselves from the author.
Rowling, for her part, has addressed this fractured relationship with the cast. In March, she responded to a post on X asking about actors who “ruin” films with the comment:
Three guesses.
Sorry, but that was irresistible.
🤣🤣🤣
Three guesses.
Sorry, but that was irresistible.
🤣🤣🤣 https://t.co/hAMHw2b8EV— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) March 18, 2025
Now, Biggerstaff has added his voice to the growing list of Harry Potter alums opposing Rowling’s stance. Responding to a post that suggested cisgender women shouldn’t mind being subject to invasive searches due to the recent anti-transgender court ruling, Biggerstaff (@seanchuckle) simply wrote: “What?”
What? https://t.co/RZZHwDwhAk
— Sean Biggerstaff (@Seanchuckle) April 19, 2025
When another user replied with the claim that people “can always tell” a transgender woman from a cisgender woman, Biggerstaff did not hold back. “Jesus you’re a fucking creep,” he replied.
Jesus you're a fucking creep.
— Sean Biggerstaff (@Seanchuckle) April 20, 2025
Rowling has not yet responded to Biggerstaff’s comments.
Do you agree with the Harry Potter cast members who turned on J.K. Rowling? Disney Fanatic would love to hear your thoughts in the comments.
You have a different opinion from these so called stars and you’re automatically wrong . Great democratic society. Before anyone starts I am not saying wither I agree or disagree
I fully agree with JKR. I’m sorry, but in this case, the law is the law, and they should abide by it, and stop wailing like little babies.