Evanna Lynch is the latest Harry Potter star to talk about J.K. Rowling. The author of the beloved saga has become the center of several controversies after, a few years ago, she made a series of comments regarding the trans community.
Since then, the author and creator of the magical world has battled on social media to defend her position, implying on several occasions that she was simply misinterpreted. In addition, many actors and actresses who have been part of the franchise have spoken about it, with most rejecting her statements and a few defending her.
Lynch, who played the peculiar Luna Lovegood in the movie saga, is the latest to raise her voice on the subject to defend the writer. In a chat with The Telegraph, the actress asks for people to listen to Rowling:
"I just felt that her personality has always been to advocate for the most vulnerable members of society. The problem is that there is a disagreement about who is more vulnerable. I wish people would treat her with more grace and listen to her."
Previously, Evanna had spoken about the matter through Twitter, referring to the fact that social media was not the right place to start such a sensitive and important debate. On that occasion, she also dedicated words of support to the author, but made it clear that she was against her opinion. The post was deleted but can be read via BuzzFeed:
"That said, as a friend and admirer of Jo's, I can't forget what a generous and loving person she is (…) I don't agree with her view that cisgender women are the most vulnerable minority in this situation and I think she's on the wrong side of this discussion. But that doesn't mean she has completely lost her humanity."
J.K. Rowling Will Speak Her Truth in a Podcast
On Feb. 21, Rowling launched a documentary in the form of a podcast called The Witch Trials of J.K. Rowling, where she will shed light on the whole matter. The project was born as an initiative of the production company The Free Press, a media company founded by Bari Weiss, a former columnist for the New York Times.
Directed by Megan Phelps-Roper, the documentary examines some of the most contentious conflicts of our time through the life and career of the world's most successful author.
"I never set out to anger anyone. However, it did not bother me to get off my pedestal. What has interested me in recent years, particularly on social media [is when fans say], 'You've ruined your legacy. Oh, you could have been loved forever, but you chose to say this. And I think, 'You couldn't have misunderstood me more profoundly," said the author in the teaser.