Nicola Coughlan spoke out against J.K. Rowling and HBO‘s new “Harry Potter” series after the author celebrated the U.K. Supreme Court’s ruling that the legal definition of a woman is based on biological sex.
The ruling, which was handed down on Wednesday, has caused outrage in the trans community as it means trans women will be unable to access women-only spaces such as public toilets and hospital wards and could also prevent them from playing on women’s sports teams. Rowling, who has caused controversy in recent years for views that are widely perceived as anti-trans, celebrated the ruling by posting a photo of herself on X smoking a cigar with the caption: “I love it when a plan comes together.”
In response, Coughlan — who has advocated for trans rights on her social media following the ruling, raising over £100,000 ($132,000) so far for the charity Not a Phase — reposted an article from The Cut on her Instagram Story, with the headline “This Is a New Low for J.K. Rowling.” According to The Telegraph, Coughlan wrote on her Story alongside the article: “Keep your new ‘Harry Potter’ lads. Wouldn’t touch it with a 10 foot pole.”
The “Bridgerton” star is referring to HBO’s new “Harry Potter” series, which just officially revealed the casting for much of its Hogwarts staff last week, including John Lithgow as Dumbledore, Janet McTeer as Professor McGonagall and Paapa Essiedu as Snape. Despite Rowling’s views, she is involved in the series and — as Variety reported in November — was part of the selection process for the show’s creative team, which includes showrunner Francesca Gardiner and director Mark Mylod.
“J.K. Rowling has a right to express her personal views,” an HBO representative told Variety at the time. “We will remain focused on the development of the new series, which will only benefit from her involvement.”
Representatives for Rowling declined to comment, and HBO did not immediately respond to Variety‘s request for comment.
Coughlan further spoke out against the ruling in a separate video post on Instagram, in which she announced that she would match any donations to Not a Phase up to £10,000 ($13,200).
“Like many people, I’m completely horrified by the Supreme Court’s ruling yesterday about trans people,” she said. “To see an already marginalized community being further attacked and attacked in law is really stomach-churning and disgusting, and to see people celebrate it is more stomach-churning and disgusting.”
Coughlan continued: “If you are a cisgender person who is an ally of a trans person, I think now is the time to just speak up and make your voice heard, and let your trans, nonbinary friends and just the community at large know that you’re there for them and will keep fighting for them.”
