Jason Isaacs has lent his unwavering support to Tom Felton's controversial decision to revisit the magical realm of Harry Potter. This endorsement from Isaacs, who starred in 'White Lotus,' came shortly after Felton found himself at the receiving end of a social media storm over his remarks regarding J.K. Rowling.
In the film adaptations of Rowling's beloved book series, Isaacs portrayed Lucius Malfoy, the on-screen father of Felton's character, Draco. On Sunday, June 8th, Felton graced the Tony Awards, a prestigious ceremony celebrating excellence in theatre, where he presented an award. His appearance came hot on the heels of the announcement that he would be reprising his role as Draco in the Broadway play 'Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.'
However, Felton's presence at the New York event was somewhat eclipsed by his comments when questioned about Rowling's views on the transgender community. These views have sparked widespread controversy and backlash against the author. Rowling has been repeatedly criticized for her remarks on gender ideology, with numerous individuals, including stars from the Harry Potter adaptations, accusing her of transphobia.
When asked by Variety if Rowling's views "affect you personally or your work within the Harry Potter universe," the 37-year-old actor responded, "No, I can't say they do. I'm not particularly tuned into it." He continued, "The only thing I always keep in mind is that I've been fortunate enough to traverse the globe—here I am in New York—and I've yet to witness anything unite the world quite like Potter. And she's the one responsible for that, so I'm incredibly thankful."
While Felton's response garnered praise from diehard Rowling supporters, many Harry Potter enthusiasts remained unconvinced, accusing him of displaying privilege and "willfully turning a blind eye to the lives of queer individuals jeopardized by Rowling's viewpoints." Shortly after Felton's answer went viral, a devoted Harry Potter fan shared a clip of the actor commending Isaacs's "outstanding" performance in The White Lotus. On X/Twitter, Felton penned, "Caught you presenting at the Tonys tonight, son – you looked sharp, sounded fantastic, and absolutely killed it." He also disclosed that he had secured tickets to witness Felton in Harry Potter and the Cursed Child in November.
Rowling has been ostracized by the trio of child actors who portrayed Potter, Ron Weasley, and Hermione Granger (Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, and Emma Watson) amidst the transgender controversy. She has declared that she would never forgive them for their criticism, urging them to "spare their apologies."
Felton has previously dismissed the Rowling controversy, stating to The Times in 2022, "To be perfectly honest, I can't speak for what others have said or what she said, but I'm frequently reminded, especially at Comic Cons, that no single individual has brought joy to so many diverse generations and walks of life quite like her. I'm continually reminded of her positive contributions in that realm and as a person. I've only had a few encounters with her, but she's always been delightful. So, I'm immensely grateful for that." He added, "I'm pro-everything. I'm pro-choice, pro-life, pro-discussion, and pro-love. I don't take sides easily. I won't delve into specifics, but I enjoy reminding myself and others that many of my close friends hold lifestyles or personal beliefs that I don't necessarily agree with. We should cherish celebrating our differences."
He also told ET Canada that he had "no reaction" to the controversy, asserting, "I didn't even realize that was an issue." Felton will join the cast at the Lyric Theatre in New York City from November 11th, becoming the first original franchise cast member to reprise their role in the stage production.
The actor's involvement in this production, set 19 years after Rowling's final novel, comes on the heels of casting announcements for an upcoming Harry Potter TV series slated to air on HBO in 2027. Among the first wave of stars confirmed for the series are John Lithgow, Janet McTeer, Paapa Essiedu, and Nick Frost. Dumbledore star Lithgow deemed the backlash to the news "peculiar."
