JK Rowling has denied ever being friends with Sir Stephen Fry after the Harry Potter audiobook narrator branded her a “lost cause” who had been “radicalised by TERFs” during a recent podcast appearance.
The 67-year-old actor, who previously described himself as a friend of the author, made the comments on The Show People podcast this month, marking a dramatic reversal from his earlier stance of not abandoning friendships despite his trans friends being “deeply upset” by Rowling’s views.
Fry accused the 59-year-old author of making “inflammatory and contemptuous” statements that mock LGBT+ people, expressing anger that she does not disavow “revolting and truly horrible, destructive violently destructive things that people say” about the transgender community.
During the podcast appearance, Fry said: “She has been radicalised I fear and it may be she has been radicalised by TERFs, but also by the vitriol that is thrown at her.”
He added that whilst she should be “called out when she says things that are really cruel, wrong and mocking”, the criticism “only hardens her and will only continue to harden her I am afraid”.
The actor, who narrated all seven Harry Potter audiobooks, said he “disagree[s] profoundly with her on this subject” and expressed particular anger about her response to legislation in Scotland.
“She has crowed at the success of legislation in Scotland and elsewhere declaring things about gender,” he stated, adding he was “really angry about that”.
The author’s response came after barrister Jo Maugham praised Fry’s comments on X, writing: “Really creditable this, from Stephen Fry.
“I’ve spoken to so many of JKR’s once friends who now despair at her privately but won’t do so publicly, which is very much the British way and why nothing ever changes for the better. So well done Stephen.”
Rowling swiftly reposted Maugham’s message with a cutting rejoinder: “It is a great mistake to assume that everyone who claims to have been a friend of mine was ever considered a friend by me.”
The sharp rebuke directly contradicted Fry’s previous public statements about their relationship, in which he had described having regular dinners with the author and finding her “charming, funny and interesting” before her views on transgender issues emerged.
Fry revealed during the podcast that he was “sorry” to speak out against Rowling, saying: “I always liked her company.
“I found her charming, funny and interesting and then this thing happened and it completely altered the way she talks and engages with the world now.”
The comedian and former QI host had previously avoided addressing Rowling’s views publicly.
However, he said she “seemed to wake up or kick a hornet’s nest of transphobia which has been entirely destructive”.
Fry joins other Harry Potter stars including Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint in distancing themselves from the author over her transgender rights stance.
Rowling first made controversial comments about trans people six years ago and has maintained her position that transgender women pose a threat to women in same-sex spaces.
Despite the backlash she’s faced from those she once worked closely with, Tom Felton, who played Draco Malfoy in the Harry Potter films, has publicly supported the author.
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His defensive comments towards Rowling came after it was confirmed Felton will make his Broadway debut reprising his role as Draco Malfoy in Harry Potter and the Cursed Child at the Lyric Theatre in New York.
When Variety’s red carpet reporter questioned whether “the Twitterverse-controversy surrounding JK Rowling’s views” affected him or his work, Felton responded: “No, I can’t say it does. I’m not really that attuned to it.”
The 37-year-old continued: “The only thing I always remind myself is that I’ve been lucky enough to travel the world — here I am in New York — and I have not seen anything bring the world together more than Potter.”