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Actor John Lithgow said much of J.K. Rowling’s views on transgender issues have been "twisted and misrepresented," despite his own disagreements with "much" of what the author has said.
"I do disagree with much of [what she has said]," Lithgow told journalist David Remnick late last month.
"Much of it, I think, has been twisted and misrepresented, and she has sort of doubled down on it at her own cause."
Lithgow, 80, who is set to portray Hogwarts headmaster Albus Dumbledore in the upcoming "Harry Potter" HBO television series, said he was aware of the controversy surrounding Rowling before signing on, and even faced pressure to walk away from the project.
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"I was urged to walk away, and I was not about to do that," he said, explaining that he felt "the reasons to do it were much, much stronger" than objections to Rowling’s comments.
After Lithgow explained his decision, Remnick pressed further on Rowling’s rhetoric, noting how "surprised" he has been by the "ferocity" and, at times, "cruelty" in the tone of her public comments.
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J.K. Rowling arrived at the world premiere of "Fantastic Beasts: The Secret of Dumbledore" at the Royal Festival Hall on March 29, 2022, in London, England. (Stuart C. Wilson/Getty Images)
Lithgow responded, "Yes, I'm surprised by it, too, and disappointed by it."
Rowling, who authored all seven books in the "Harry Potter" series, has angered transgender activists for years with her outspoken opposition to transgender ideology and her defense of women-only spaces.
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Actor John Lithgow reportedly considered walking away from his role in the upcoming HBO series based on J.K. Rowling’s "Harry Potter" books. (Christopher Polk/Variety)
She has taken to social media multiple times to weigh in on issues relevant to the subject, including transgender athletes in women's sport, biological men entering female-only spaces and the legal definition of a woman while providing support for other women who have opposed transgender ideology.
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Lithgow previously said he had considered walking away from his role due to Rowling's views, according to The New York Times, which cited his "interest in queer culture" while delving into the topic.
Lithgow noted that non-binary actor Aud Mason-Hyde, his co-star in a separate project, called his decision to join the Potter show "disconcerting" and "vaguely hurtful" and, because of the pushback, he "considered quitting the series but decided not to" and pushed forward, well aware of possible ramifications.
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"Every interview I will ever do for the rest of my life this will come up," he told the outlet.
Fox News' Brian Flood contributed to this report.
Taylor Penley is an associate editor with Fox News.
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