Warner Bros, the billion dollar studio behind Harry Potter, pledges ‘inclusivity and empathy’ in response to JK Rowling
Warner Bros has issued a statement following an outcry over JK Rowling’s anti-trans comments (Amy T. Zielinski/Getty Images)
The Harry Potter film studio Warner Bros has issued a statement in response to the controversy surrounding JK Rowling’s anti-trans comments.
Reacting to the author’s claims that women should only be defined by their biological sex and not their gender identity, Warner Bros recognised their “responsibility to foster empathy and advocate understanding of all communities and all people”.
In a statement to Variety, the company said: “The events in the last several weeks have firmed our resolve as a company to confront difficult societal issues.
“Warner Bros’ position on inclusiveness is well established, and fostering a diverse and inclusive culture has never been more important to our company and to our audiences around the world. We deeply value the work of our storytellers who give so much of themselves in sharing their creations with us all.
“We recognise our responsibility to foster empathy and advocate understanding of all communities and all people, particularly those we work with and those we reach through our content.”
The statement comes after GLAAD’s Anthony Ramos demanded more from those who worked with the author, telling Variety: “Studios, networks, and brands affiliated with JK Rowling owe it to their transgender employees and consumers to speak out against her inaccurate and hurtful comments.”
The LGBT+ advocacy group strongly condemned Rowling’s “misinformed and dangerous missive”, saying that she was “sowing divisiveness in a time when real leaders are driving towards unity.”
They were joined by a growing list of Harry Potter stars who have publicly sided with the transgender community, including Daniel Radcliffe, Evanna Lynch, Katie Leung and Chris Rankin.
Actor Eddie Redmayne who leads Rowling’s spinoff franchise Fantastic Beasts also criticised her comments, stating: “Respect for transgender people remains a cultural imperative.”
Rowling has since revealed that she has a history of sexual assault to argue against the rights of trans women using single-sex spaces.
