Actor Pedro Pascal has recently condemned J.K. Rowling for her recent discourse on transgender rights. All of this he characterized her conduct as “heinous,” “awful,” and “disgusting.” The statements were released amid a growing storm of displeasure directed at the author. She has been under fire for some time for her opinion that transgender women are not women.
Pascal, known for his roles in “The Last of Us” and “The Mandalorian,” has been a vocal supporter of the transgender community. He made his green credentials very clear last week at the world premiere of Marvel’s Thunderbolts in London. At this event, he wore a shirt bearing the phrase “Protect the Dolls,” an affectionate nickname for transgender women within the LGBTQ community. Connor Ives, along with the other ambassadors, helped to design the textile shirt. Trans Lifeline, a nonprofit that provides crisis support to transgender people, will receive proceeds from its sales, Coleman told The New York Times.
Pascal went further to share his solidarity with the transgender community in an Instagram comment. He referenced this in response to a video from Tariq Raouf, which condemned Rowling for praising a recent U.K. Supreme Court ruling against any kind of definition of women. Raouf has previously denounced Rowling as a “villain” and called on fans to stop supporting the “Harry Potter” industry. Predictably enough, one of the most liked comments on Raouf’s post was from Pascal’s verified account, which has nearly 10 million followers.
Rowling’s inflammatory position on transgender people has led to significant arguments on social media. Following the Supreme Court ruling, she shared a photo of herself on X, holding a drink and cigar, along with the caption: “I love it when a plan comes together. #SupremeCourt #WomensRights.” This announcement sparked even more outrage from a variety of activists and defenders of transgender rights.
Pascal’s advocacy includes his sister, Lux Pascal, who came out as transgender in 2021. He’s posted many times celebrating her progress on her path. Conversion pride rings out when he says, “Mi hermana, mi corazón, nuestra Lux! That’s my sister, my heart, our Lux. His heartfelt words about his sister serve to highlight his overall advocacy on behalf of the transgender community.
A representative for J.K. Rowling didn’t respond to Pascal’s comments. Since then, tensions have only continued to climb between Rowling and advocates for transgender rights. Now more public figures are wading into the discussion, further deepening the contentious national debate.