Overview
- Andrew Garfield said in a Hits Radio interview that he only recently watched the Harry Potter films, called doing so “controversial,” and refused to say J.K. Rowling’s name.
- He argued viewers should not put “money in the pocket of inhumane legislation,” a remark widely understood to reference Rowling’s activism on transgender issues.
- Garfield praised Daniel Radcliffe’s performance and the work of craftspeople on the movies, saying you “can’t throw the baby out with the bathwater” when many artists helped make the films.
- Coverage links his “legislation” comment to Rowling’s donations to For Women Scotland and an April 2025 UK Supreme Court ruling that defined “woman” by biological sex, a decision with real‑world effects on public boards and single‑sex spaces.
- The remarks arrived as HBO rolled out a new series trailer with Rowling as executive producer, drawing fresh attention to her role, her recent praise for the IOC’s ban on trans women in women’s events, and a broader split where right‑leaning outlets attacked Garfield while entertainment press emphasized his nuanced stance.