Pedro Pascal has publicly blasted JK Rowling as a “heinous loser” after the author’s celebratory post on the UK’s Supreme Court ruling regarding transgender rights.
The 50-year-old actor shared the comment under a viral video on Instagram from activist Tariq Ra’ouf.
In the clip, Ra’ouf attached a picture of Rowling, 59, on her superyacht, smoking a cigar, alongside the caption: “I love it when a plan comes together,” after five judges ruled unanimously that the terms “woman” and “sex” in the Equality Act refer to a biological woman and biological sex last week.
The activist called the ruling and Rowling’s celebratory reaction “awful and disgusting,” and urged a full cultural boycott of Harry Potter projects.
“Don’t watch the show. Don’t go to Universal… It’s time to tell these corporations that transphobia loses money,” he said.
“It has become our mission as the general public to make sure that every single thing that’s Harry Potter related fails… because that awful disgusting s***, that has consequences,” he added.
Pascal, whose sister Lux came out as transgender in 2021, not only liked the video but responded with a scathing comment of his own: “Awful disgusting S**T is exactly right. Heinous LOSER behavior.”
The UK Supreme Court’s ruling means that trans women, even with a Gender Recognition Certificate (GRC), are not legally classified as women and may be excluded from single-sex spaces if such exclusion is deemed “proportionate”, per the Daily Mail.
The controversial author, who reportedly supported the legal case financially, defended the legislation on social media.
“It took three extraordinary, tenacious Scottish women with an army behind them to get this case heard by the Supreme Court, and, in winning, they’ve protected the rights of women and girls across the UK. @ForWomenScot, I’m so proud to know you,” she said.
She later added: “Trans people have lost zero rights today, although I don’t doubt some (not all) will be furious that the Supreme Court upheld women’s sex-based rights.”
The Last of Us actor’s sharp criticism adds to the growing chorus of public figures condemning the ruling and Rowling’s ongoing commentary on trans issues.
At the London premiere of Thunderbolts, Pascal appeared wearing a “Protect The Dolls” T-shirt in support of the transgender community.
Earlier this year, he also posted a message on Instagram stating: “A world without trans people has never existed and never will,” with a caption that read: “I can’t think of anything more vile and small and pathetic than terrorising the smallest, most vulnerable community of people who want nothing from you, except the right to exist.”
Bridgerton star Nicola Coughlan also denounced the ruling on Instagram, calling it “completely horrifying”.
“To see an already marginalised community being further attacked, and attacked in law, is stomach-churning and disgusting, and to see people celebrate it is more stomach-churning and disgusting,” she continued. “Now’s the time to speak up and make your voice heard.
“Let your trans, non-binary friends and the community at large know that you’re there for them and will keep fighting for them,” she said, adding a pointed jab at Rowling’s forthcoming Harry Potter reboot: “Keep your new Harry Potter lads. Wouldn’t touch it with a 10ft pole.”
Sean Biggerstaff, who played Oliver Wood in the Harry Potter film series, also weighed in on the controversy. Taking to social media, he labelled Rowling a “bigoted” and “obsessed billionaire”.
The court ruling has most likely reignited tensions among the Harry Potter cast as Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint have previously distanced themselves from Rowling’s views.
In 2020, Radcliffe, 35, wrote an open letter declaring “transgender women are women,” and said he felt sorry for fans whose experience with the books had been “tarnished”.
Watson, 35, asserted that trans people should be able to live “without being constantly questioned,” and Grint, 36, echoed their support.