In the wake of J.K. Rowling‘s alleged transphobic tweets, the future of Harry Potter spinoff series Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them could be in jeopardy. For those who missed it, the author received major backlash from fans and celebrities after she retweeted an article titled “Opinion: Creating a more equal post-COVID-19 world for people who menstruate” on June 6, 2020, then continued to speak about trans issues in a subsequent Twitter thread.

Then, the 54-year-old seemingly defended her controversial posts with a lengthy statement posted on her website, explaining that she has been “researching this issue properly” for a while, and listed various psychiatrists and physicians who support her points. Hours before the writer posted the 36,000 word essay online where she addressed accusations that she was a “TERF” (trans-exclusionary radical feminist), actor Eddie Redmayne made his stance on J.K.’s tweets clear, in a statement.

“Respect for transgender people remains a cultural imperative, and over the years I have been trying to constantly educate myself,” the actor told Variety. “This is an ongoing process. As someone who has worked with both J.K. Rowling and members of the trans community, I wanted to make it absolutely clear where I stand. I disagree with Jo’s comments. Trans women are women, trans men are men and non-binary identities are valid.”

He continued, “I would never want to speak on behalf of the community but I do know that my dear transgender friends and colleagues are tired of this constant questioning of their identities, which all too often results in violence and abuse. They simply want to live their lives peacefully, and it’s time to let them do so.”

For those who don’t know, Eddie stars as Newt Scamander in the Fantastic Beasts films and was set to reprise his role for another three. With the upcoming Fantastic Beasts 3 already on hold due to the coronavirus pandemic, and the controversy surrounding J.K.’s social media posts, it’s unclear exactly what the future of this series could look like.

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