Rupert Grint is the last of the famous Harry Potter trio to respond to J.K. Rowling's recent comments about trans people, and he stands firmly with his former co-stars. The series' author caused quite a stir last week when she yet again expressed transphobic sentiments about biological sex and the term "people who menstruate." Since then, several stars of the Harry Potter film franchise, including Emma Watson, Bonnie Wright, Katie Leung and Harry Potter himself, Daniel Radcliffe, have come forward to offer their support to the trans community. Now, Rupert Grint, who played Ron Weasley in the HP films, is expressing similar sentiments.
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"Trans women are women. Trans men are men. We should all be entitled to live with love and without judgment," Grint said to The Times in a statement. "I firmly stand with the trans community and echo the sentiments expressed by many of my peers.”
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In her original tweets, Rowling questioned the term "people who menstruate" before explaining why she thinks the concept of biological sex is important. "‘People who menstruate.’ I’m sure there used to be a word for those people. Someone help me out. Wumben? Wimpund? Woomud?" she tweeted.
"If sex isn’t real, there’s no same-sex attraction," she wrote. "If sex isn’t real, the lived reality of women globally is erased. I know and love trans people, but erasing the concept of sex removes the ability of many to meaningfully discuss their lives. It isn’t hate to speak the truth."
"The idea that women like me, who’ve been empathetic to trans people for decades, feeling kinship because they’re vulnerable in the same way as women - ie, to male violence - ‘hate’ trans people because they think sex is real and has lived consequences - is a nonsense," she continued. "I respect every trans person’s right to live any way that feels authentic and comfortable to them. I’d march with you if you were discriminated against on the basis of being trans. At the same time, my life has been shaped by being female. I do not believe it’s hateful to say so."
She went on to double down on her stance in a 3,000-word essay in which she opened up about her own experiences of sexual abuse and domestic violence.
J.K. Rowling Doubles Down On Trans Stance, Emma Watson Responds
J.K. Rowling caught heat for her recent comments about trans people, and "Harry Potter" actress Emma Watson added her two cents.
Daniel Radcliffe, the actor who portrayed Harry Potter in the celebrated films, recently came forward to speak about transgender women. His comments were prompted by Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling, as she found herself in the midst of controversy following a few remarks she made about being transgender. The public believed Rowling was saying that trans women weren't real women because they couldn't do what biological women could, as well as other remarks, sparking accusations that Rowling was transphobic.
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On Wednesday, J.K. Rowling returned with an over 3,000-word essay about her stance on trans people and while she's received quite a bit of hate mail over the years because of her views, she's not backing down from her position. "I want trans women to be safe. At the same time, I do not want to make natal girls and women less safe," she wrote. "I believe the majority of trans-identified people not only pose zero threat to others, but are vulnerable for all the reasons I've outlined."
"I'm mentioning these things now not in an attempt to garner sympathy, but out of solidarity with the huge numbers of women who have histories like mine, who've been slurred as bigots for having concerns around single-sex spaces," Rowling added. Later, Emma Watson, the actress who played Hermoine Granger in Harry Potter, tweeted, "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."
Daniel Radcliffe Jokes About False Coronavirus Diagnosis
Daniel Radcliffe jokes about the rumors of him having the coronavirus.
English actor/producer, Daniel Radcliffe, recently revealed that he did not test positive for the coronavirus after a fake news account reported that he did contract the life-threatening illness. Following the success of playing one of the world’s most recognizable fictional book characters in Harry Potter, the 30-year-old thespian has been showing his range depicting a neo-nazi in Imperium (2016) and recently finding success in an anthology comedy television series entitled, Miracle Workers. Now, Radcliffe has to defend himself from his wrongful diagnosis of testing positive for COVID-19 in an impromptu radio interview. 
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According to The New York Post, a fake Twitter news account with the handle name, @BBCNewsTonight, a non-affiliate of the actual British news publication, released a statement claiming that the London-born actor did contract the COVID-19 virus. Unfortunately, the fake news spread like wildfire throughout the internet which eventually found its way back to Radcliffe who is currently working a play production set.
Radcliffe was forced to break his silence about his wrongful diagnosis during a brief phone interview on the Australian radio show, Smallzy’s Surgery this past Wednesday, according to Entertainment Tonight. During the conversation, the actor turned political activist denied the claims that he had the coronavirus and even joked on himself about his peculiar aesthetic calling himself “ill-looking.” According to audio Radcliffe cleared the air about the hoax and even revealed the first time he heard about the rumor, stating:
“I walked into the hair and makeup room on a play yesterday, and the makeup artist was like, ‘My niece has just texted me and told me you’ve got corona.” Radcliffe continued bringing up the source of the rumor, “I think it was on a fake BBC account, but then enough people saw it… That is the internet.”
Radcliffe joked about his pale look, continuing:
“I think it’s just because I look ill all the time, so you can believably say it about me. ‘Cause I’m very pale, but, you know, flattered they chose me.”
Fortunately, Daniel Radcliffe has escaped the clutches of the coronavirus. Unfortunately, the same can not be said for Tom Hanks and wife, Rita Wilson, as well as NBA players, Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert who all tested positive for the coronavirus recently.
Check out the clip of Radcliffe declaring his negative test status from COVID-19 in the Instagram post provided below.
Daniel Radcliffe On Playing Harry Potter Again: "I Don’t Think So"
While promoting his new film “Escape From Pretoria,” Daniel Radcliffe gave very slight hope for fans hoping to see him as Harry Potter again.
It’s been almost a decade since the last Harry Potter film was released, but many fans are still clinging on to hope that Daniel Radcliffe will suit up in rounded glasses and a bolt scar on his forehead to play the titular character once again. Sorry Potterverse patrons, but it doesn’t look like your king is interested in sitting on the throne anytime soon.
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While sitting down with Variety to promote his new thriller Escape From Pretoria, Radcliffe made it perfectly clear that he wouldn’t be revisiting the franchise or any future spinoffs. Well, not yet anyway. “I don’t think so,” Daniel said, although giving a slightly optimistic follow-up by stating, “I don’t like say no to things, but it’s not something that I’m rushing to do.” Speaking on the Potter prequel spinoff series Fantastic Beasts, which takes place decades before the first film, Radcliffe says, “I feel like those films have moved on and they’re doing just fine without us. I’m happy to keep it that way. I like what my life is now. I’m not saying that I’ll never go back into any franchise, but I like the flexibility that I have with my career now. And I don’t want to get into a situation where I’m signed up for one series for years in advance.”
Do you see Daniel Radcliffe having a change of heart and returning to the Harry Potter series in the future, or should we leave him, Hermione and the Half-Blood Prince in the past? Let us know your thoughts down in the comments.
The First-Ever "Harry Potter" Superstore Is Coming To New York
Harry Potter found a permanent home in New York.
Warner Bros. has officially announced that a massive Harry Potter-themed superstore will be making its way to New York in the near future. The retail store located next door to Manhattan’s Flatiron Building will span across a total of 20,000 square feet and will be the first-ever of its kind in the franchise’s history.
The first-ever Harry Potter flagship store will feature three different floors where customers will be able to purchase the books written by J.K Rowling as well as personalized robes, wands, Bertie Bott’s Every Flavor Beans, the films, and a plethora of other memorabilia related to the fantasy franchise. According to Sarah Roots, the Senior Vice President of Worldwide Tours and Retail for Warner Bros, attendees will also be able to participate in virtual/interactive experiences and be presented with a multitude of different photo opportunities.
According to the Wall Street Journal, store designers wanted to construct a giant dragon to sit outside of the store’s entrance for the store’s grand opening but community members and organizers voted to shut down what could have been an epic moment for the opening of the world’s first Harry Potter superstore.
While there is no official opening date for the Harry Potter NYC flagship store, it has been revealed that the retail location will be open for business this summer. An address to the future store can be found below as well.
Harry Potter Flagship Store
935 Broadway
New York, NY 10010
