Harry PotterEvanna Lynch is the newest major franchise actress to address JK Rowlingthe trans controversy.

In an interview with the Telegraphthe Luna Lovegood actress said she was shocked by the backlash Rowling faced since she made comments on Twitter that many considered be transphobic.

“I just felt his character was always about standing up for the most vulnerable members of society,” Lynch said of the author. “The problem is that there is disagreement over who is more vulnerable. I wish people would give him more grace and listen to him.

Lynch responded to Rowling’s initial comments in 2020, where she questioned the use of the phrase “menstruating people” and said, “I’m sure there was a word for these people. Someone help me. Wumben? Wimpund? Woomud? »

The author then doubled down on his comments with a Twitter feed that “if sex isn’t real, there’s no same-sex attraction. If the sex is not real, the lived reality of women in the world is erased. I know and love trans people, but erasing the concept of gender robs many of the ability to meaningfully discuss their lives. It’s not hate to tell the truth.

At the time, Harry Potter stars Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint have come forward and stood up for trans women and trans men, saying “they are who they say they are and deserve to live their lives without being constantly questioned”. Lynch then chimed in, adding that she didn’t want to further marginalize the community, especially not on Twitter.

“I think it’s irresponsible to discuss such a sensitive subject on Twitter through fragmented thoughts and I wish Jo wouldn’t,” she tweeted at the time, adding, “This said, as a friend and admirer of Jo, I cannot forget what a generous and loving person she is.

In his conversation with the Telegraph, Lynch responded to comments she made at the time, which led to her deleting her Twitter account when fans sued her for standing up for Rowling.

“I was very naive when I got dragged into this conversation,” she told the publication. “I didn’t even know there were two sides. I had a vision of good and evil. I have sympathy for both sides of the argument. I know what it was like to be a teenager who hated my body so much I wanted to get out of my skin, so I have great compassion for trans people and don’t want to add to their pain.

Harry Potter stars like Helena Bonham Carter And Ralph Fiennes came forward to defend the author’s comments and the backlash she received. Succession’s Brian Cox also backed Rowling and called her reviews “high and mighty”.