The cauldron of chaos is brewing in the Wizarding World—new castings, a reboot series, and yep, even more J.K. Rowling drama. Turns out both new and old stars of Harry Potter have shared their opinions on Rowling’s anti-trans controversies. And even though both actors have had very different remarks, fans are still pissed at both of them.
New Hagrid actor Nick Frost said J.K. Rowling’s views don’t align with his “in any way, shape or form,” while OG star Tom Felton tiptoed around the controversy by praising the author for uniting the world through Harry Potter. Even though Frost’s educated remark seemed better than Felton’s response, critics still slammed Frost for helping her profit and fueling harmful rhetoric.
What did Nick Frost and Tom Felton say about J.K. Rowling?
Let’s start with the facts. In two very different corners of the Wizarding World, Nick Frost and Tom Felton spoke up about the elephant in the Room of Requirement—J.K. Rowling and her controversial views on trans rights. Turns out, both the actors dropped very different responses to Rowling’s social media controversies.
Nick Frost, who has recently been cast as Rubeus Hagrid in HBO’s Harry Potter reboot, gave what many would call a thoughtful and progressive response. Speaking with The Observer, he made it clear that his opinions don’t match Rowling’s “in any way, shape or form.” Frost even added that maybe we shouldn’t just let this debate blow over.
She’s allowed her opinion and I’m allowed mine, they just don’t align in any way, shape, or form. I don’t know [if the debate over Rowling may overshadow the series]. But maybe it shouldn’t blow over? We shouldn’t just hope it will go away, because it makes it easier. Maybe we should educate ourselves.
Now, while Nick Frost’s carefully framed response earned cautious praise for showing awareness and empathy, Tom Felton’s remarks earned backlash. Known for playing the OG Draco Malfoy in the Harry Potter films, Felton chose a softer, more diplomatic path. Instead of addressing the controversy directly, he offered gratitude to J.K. Rowling for creating the Wizarding World.
I’m not really that attuned to it. 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. And she’s responsible for that, so I’m incredibly grateful.
Turns out, while Nick Frost’s remarks initially proved to be dangerous for Tom Felton, as the Hot Fuzz star sided with the trans community and Felton didn’t—things eventually changed. Despite their totally opposite takes—one calling for education, the other dodging the issue—both actors were met with criticism for still working under Rowling’s influence.
Why are fans pissed at Nick Frost despite his support for the trans community?
Okay, let’s dive into the mess and figure out why Nick Frost started facing criticism despite his public support for the trans community and call for educating the ignorant. Like, isn’t that what people wanted from Tom Felton? Isn’t that the reason why The Flash actor got called out? Because he chose to stay away from the controversy.
So, why exactly did Frost face the backlash when all he did was separate his views from J.K. Rowling, implying that the author is wrong, in his opinion? Well, here’s where it gets complicated—and frankly, uncomfortable. Even though Nick Frost spoke out against Rowling’s views and even encouraged others to educate themselves—fans felt that just wasn’t enough, anymore.
Turns out, Nick Frost is being accused of saying the right thing while still doing the wrong thing. Yes, he disagrees with the British author. Yes, he acknowledged the backlash and took a public stand. But at the end of the day, he’s still starring in a show that J.K. Rowling profits from. And according to many online critics, that makes him complicit—whether he likes it or not.
Taking to Reddit, some fans thus argued that Frost is “funding the problem”. Because J.K. Rowling isn’t just rich—she has allegedly threatened to use her wealth to support anti-trans causes. So even if Frost’s heart is in the right place, fans say his paycheck is helping Rowling push her harmful agenda.
Some even claimed Frost’s statement is worse than Tom Felton’s diplomatic silence, because it shows he knows the damage being done, but is still choosing to participate anyway. “His morals have a price,” yourwhippingboy wrote. That kind of accusation cuts deep, and it shows just how fragile the line between allyship and solidarity really is.
Sure, some people tried to offer a balanced view, arguing that if Nick Frost wasn’t hired as Hagrid, it would’ve been someone else, maybe someone who actually supports the Harry Potter author’s stance. But for many, that logic doesn’t justify the decision. It’s like trying to undo a Dark Mark with a bandage—it doesn’t change the bigger picture.
At the end of the day, people pointed out that no matter what any actor says about J.K. Rowling things won’t change until they boycott the author completely. So, for what’s worth, Frost’s words might have initially felt like a gust of fresh air, but eventually they turned out to be wrapped in smoke. He said all the right things—but in a project where Rowling still holds power, those words feel more like damage control than true rebellion.
Harry Potter films are currently streaming in the US on HBO Max.
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