Actors often walk a fine line between personal and professional lives, but John Lithgow has taken his commitment to a new role to an unprecedented level. The 80-year-old actor has expressed disappointment at the backlash he faced after being announced as Albus Dumbledore in the upcoming Harry Potter series, which is set to be one of the most expensive television productions ever made.
Lithgow's response to JK Rowling's transphobic views came during a recent film festival appearance, where he called her stance "ironic and inexplicable." He expressed his commitment to the subject matter of acceptance and kindness, particularly in regards to Dumbledore's portrayal as an advocate for LGBTQ+ rights. The actor pointed out that despite Rowling's views, there is no evidence of transphobic sensitivity in the Harry Potter canon.
Lithgow cited a link sent by a friend with a trans child that prompted him to take on the role and stated that it made him "uncomfortable and unhappy" when people insisted he walk away from the project. He emphasized his willingness to engage in respectful debate, noting, "I'm perfectly ready for collisions of opinion."
This move comes after Rowling posted a lengthy online statement criticizing proposed changes to gender recognition laws, which has sparked outrage among many in the LGBTQ+ community. The controversy surrounding Rowling's views has led several actors from the series to distance themselves from her stance.
As production on the new Harry Potter series is set to begin, fans are eagerly awaiting the adaptation of J.K. Rowling's beloved books. With an ambitious eight-year run, the show promises to be a significant undertaking for all involved.
Lithgow's response to JK Rowling's transphobic views came during a recent film festival appearance, where he called her stance "ironic and inexplicable." He expressed his commitment to the subject matter of acceptance and kindness, particularly in regards to Dumbledore's portrayal as an advocate for LGBTQ+ rights. The actor pointed out that despite Rowling's views, there is no evidence of transphobic sensitivity in the Harry Potter canon.
Lithgow cited a link sent by a friend with a trans child that prompted him to take on the role and stated that it made him "uncomfortable and unhappy" when people insisted he walk away from the project. He emphasized his willingness to engage in respectful debate, noting, "I'm perfectly ready for collisions of opinion."
This move comes after Rowling posted a lengthy online statement criticizing proposed changes to gender recognition laws, which has sparked outrage among many in the LGBTQ+ community. The controversy surrounding Rowling's views has led several actors from the series to distance themselves from her stance.
As production on the new Harry Potter series is set to begin, fans are eagerly awaiting the adaptation of J.K. Rowling's beloved books. With an ambitious eight-year run, the show promises to be a significant undertaking for all involved.
I'm surprised people are still salty about JK Rowling's views 
. Like, isn't it about time we got over the idea that everyone has to agree on everything? 
John Lithgow is totally right in calling out her transphobic comments as "ironic and inexplicable". It's like, if you're going to play a character who's all about acceptance and kindness, shouldn't you be practicing what you preach? 
And yeah, there's no evidence of transphobia in the Harry Potter books, so let's not pretend otherwise. 
The fact that some people are still refusing to watch the show because of Rowling's views is just another example of how we need more nuanced conversations about these issues. Can't we just listen to each other and try to understand where others are coming from? 
as if she thinks trans people dont deserve love and respect. i'm so excited to see lithgow bring dumbledore to life and i hope it brings some positivity to the fandom 
