The divide between Harry Potter creator J.K. Rowling and the stars of her blockbuster film franchise continues to deepen as yet another cast member speaks out in support of the transgender community. Sean Biggerstaff, known for his role as Oliver Wood, has joined a growing chorus of Wizarding World alums who have publicly distanced themselves from Rowling’s views.
Rowling, who once enjoyed near-universal acclaim as the mind behind the Harry Potter book series, has faced sharp criticism in recent years over her outspoken opposition to transgender rights. She has repeatedly posted controversial remarks online, suggested transgender women are not "real" women, and celebrated legal decisions that limit protections for transgender individuals in the United Kingdom. Her social media presence has drawn widespread backlash, and she was even named in a harassment lawsuit by Olympian Imane Khelif, who was attacked online despite being a biological woman.
Recently, Rowling applauded a U.K. Supreme Court ruling that declared the Equality Act applies only to "biological sex," effectively denying legal recognition to transgender women under British law—even those with gender recognition certificates. These positions have led many longtime fans and even major Harry Potter actors to denounce Rowling’s stance. Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint have all voiced support for transgender rights in recent years, creating a clear divide between the film series’ stars and its original author.
In response, Rowling has not shied away from mocking the distance between herself and the cast. In March, she replied to a post on X (formerly Twitter) asking about actors who "ruin" movies with: "Three guesses. Sorry, but that was irresistible." Now, Sean Biggerstaff has stepped forward as well. Reacting to a post online that claimed cisgender women should accept invasive physical searches due to recent changes in the law, Biggerstaff replied, "What?" He later responded more forcefully to a follow-up suggesting that transgender women are always identifiable: "Jesus you’re a fucking creep." Rowling has not responded to Biggerstaff’s remarks.
Still, the statement adds his name to the growing list of Harry Potter stars rejecting her beliefs and voicing their support for the transgender community. Biggerstaff criticized Rowling, calling her an "obsessed billionaire" and "bigoted" for her views on transgender rights. This criticism comes in the wake of the Supreme Court ruling that trans women are not legally recognized as women under the law.
In a series of social media posts, Biggerstaff condemned Rowling for celebrating the ruling aboard her lavish yacht. He noted her apparent lack of humor regarding the situation, stating, "Bigotry rots the wit." He also reposted a tweet comparing her to controversial influencer Andrew Tate, who is often criticized for his misogynistic views.
Rowling's celebration of the ruling included a photo of herself smoking a cigar, which she clarified was not a blunt as some had suggested. In response to her post, Biggerstaff remarked, "The majority of Scottish women, who don't agree with these d*heads, aren't being bankrolled by an obsessed billionaire," referencing Rowling's financial backing of the campaign group For Women Scotland, which brought the case to court.
The Supreme Court case saw judges rule that trans women with a gender recognition certificate (GRC) can be excluded from single-sex spaces if "proportionate." It marked the culmination of a long-running legal battle between the Scottish government and women's group For Women Scotland over the definition of a "woman" in Scottish law. The case centered on whether someone with a GRC recognizing their gender as female should be protected from discrimination as a woman under the Equality Act.
The Scottish government had argued that such people were entitled to sex-based protections, meaning a transgender person with a GRC certificate identifying them as female would count towards women's quota. But campaign group For Women Scotland claimed they only applied to people born female. The Supreme Court ruled that the words "sex," "man," and "woman" in the Equality Act must mean "biological sex," rejecting any alternative interpretations as "incoherent and impracticable."
Rowling reacted last Wednesday by posting on X: "It took three extraordinary, tenacious Scottish women with an army behind them to get this case heard by the Supreme Court and, in winning, they've protected the rights of women and girls across the UK. @ForWomenScot, I'm so proud to know you." She later added: "Trans people have lost zero rights today, although I don't doubt some (not all) will be furious that the Supreme Court upheld women's sex-based rights."
Amid Rowling's celebrations, leading Harry Potter stars Radcliffe, Watson, and Grint have so far remained silent after speaking out against her in the past. They have previously expressed support for gender ideology—that biologically male trans women should be regarded as women—which Rowling disagrees with. The author herself appeared to aim a jibe at them last month, when sharing on her X account a response to another user who asked: "What actor/actress instantly ruins a movie for you?" Rowling wrote: "Three guesses. Sorry, but that was irresistible."
Biggerstaff has also stood up for his fellow cast members in light of criticism they have received for their views. When one social media user referred to Radcliffe, Watson, and Grint as "disloyal bags of st" for speaking out against Rowling, he responded, "You don’t have to wonder. You know what they’re doing—leading happy and successful lives, having not driven their families away with their hateful obsessions."
Despite his public criticism of Rowling, Biggerstaff continues to engage with the Harry Potter franchise and frequently attends fan conventions. He was seen at a signing event in France as recently as February 2025, further indicating his connection to the series that catapulted him to fame.
In a broader context, the ongoing debate surrounding transgender rights and the implications of the recent Supreme Court ruling have spurred significant public discourse. Activists and supporters on both sides of the issue continue to voice their opinions, with many arguing that the ruling represents a significant setback for transgender rights in the UK. As the conversation evolves, the divide between Rowling and her former collaborators appears to grow ever wider.
