Cliff Notes – Tom Felton admits he’s ‘not attuned’ to JK Rowling controversy
- Tom Felton expressed his support for JK Rowling, stating he is “not really that attuned” to the ongoing controversy regarding her views on trans women.
- His comments, made during the 2025 Tony Awards, sparked backlash from fans who deemed his response “ignorant and disrespectful.”
- Felton’s remarks come as he prepares to reprise his role as Draco Malfoy in the Broadway production of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, amidst mixed reactions from the fanbase.
Tom Felton admits he’s ‘not attuned’ to JK Rowling controversy
Tom Felton has continued to support JK Rowling, saying he’s ‘not attuned’ to the controversy surrounding her and her views on trans women.
His comments come days after the Harry Potter actor confirmed he will reprise his role as Draco Malfoy in the Broadway production of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.
This news, met with mixed reactions from an already polarised fanbase, came after speculation that he could play Lucius in the TV reboot.
While attending the 2025 Tony Awards, the 37-year-old actor was asked if the controversy surrounding Rowling had impacted his decision to return to the franchise.
The Potter author, 59, has lost a huge number of fans and been involved in X spats with several celebrities over her beliefs and backing of controversial campaigns. She denies being transphobic.
However, Felton told Variety he was simply ‘not really that attuned to it’ and praised Rowling for ‘bringing the world together’.
Felton played Harry Potter’s school rival Draco Malfoy (Picture: ©Warner Bros/Courtesy Everett C)
Tom Felton says the controversy around J.K. Rowling’s political views doesn’t impact him: “I’m not really that attuned to it…I have not seen anything bring the world together more than Potter. She’s responsible for that, so I’m incredibly grateful.” #TonyAwards pic.twitter.com/T7KSMNbFds
— Variety (@Variety) June 8, 2025
He said: ‘I have not seen anything bring the world together more than Potter. She’s responsible for that, so I’m incredibly grateful.’
The clip, posted on X, quickly garnered a large amount of backlash for an ‘ignorant and disrespectful’ response.
TrevorBriggs shared: ‘He’s an actor, he needs a job, got it. But “not really attuned to it” is an ignorant and disrespectful response. It’s what you say when you know your boss is a piece of s**t, but don’t want to rock the boat.’
‘Ignorance isn’t the slay you think it is, queen 💁🏼♀️,’ added omgplasticmenus as kennyroysgrammy said: ‘This is actually the worst answer you can come up with I’m almost impressed.’
A slew of comments from various fans called him a ‘loser’ and insisted that he needs to ‘move on’ from the franchise.
Others said the response revealed the ‘privileged’ position Felton was in to not have to think about the controversy surrounding Rowling.
This isn’t the first time the Draco Malfoy actor has shared his thoughts on the matter, though, as in a previous interview with The Times, Felton said he ‘won’t talk specifics’.
He continued: ‘I couldn’t speak for what others have said or what she said, to be completely honest, but I’m often reminded, attending Comic-Cons in particular, that no one has single-handedly done more for bringing joy to so many different generations and walks of life.
‘I’m constantly reminded of her positive work in that field and as a person. I’ve only had a handful of meetings with her but she has always been lovely. So I’m very grateful for that.
‘I’m pro. I’m pro-choice. I’m pro-life. I’m pro-discussion. I’m pro-love. I don’t tend to pick sides.’
Some Harry Potter stars in the franchise have taken similar stances to Felton, including his on-screen dad Jason Isaacs.
Fans were not impressed with the ‘ignorant’ response
The White Lotus actor told The Telegraph in 2022 that he didn’t ‘want to get drawn into the trans issues’ as it is ‘such an extraordinary minefield’.
He added: ‘One of the things that people should know about her too — not as a counter-argument — is that she has poured an enormous amount of her fortune into making the world a much better place, for hundreds of thousands of vulnerable children through her charity Lumos.
‘And that is unequivocally good. Many of us Harry Potter actors have worked for it, and seen on the ground the work that they do.
‘So for all that she has said some very controversial things, I was not going to be jumping to stab her in the front — or back — without a conversation with her, which I’ve not managed to have yet.’
Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, and other cast members have also shared their thoughts over the years, prompting strong reactions from fans either way.
He’s the second Potter actor to go to Broadway
Meanwhile, leading man Daniel Radcliffe — who won a Tony Award for Merrily We Roll Along last year — said he was ‘really sad’ about the rupture between the author and himself.
He has long been a vocal ally of the LGBTQ+ community and previously shared a statement via The Trevor Project affirming his views on transphobia.
‘Transgender women are women,’ Radcliffe wrote. ‘Any statement to the contrary erases the identity and dignity of transgender people and goes against all advice given by professional health care associations who have far more expertise on this subject matter than either Jo or I.’