A trans EastEnders actor has said JK Rowling is “invalidating the identity of people who look up to her” – but said she should only apologise if she actually means it.
Riley Carter, who played Kyle Slater on the BBC soap, made his comments during an appearance on Loose Women yesterday (June 9).
Carter told the show’s hosts about the alarmingly high suicide rate among trans people and said young people who look up to the Harry Potter author would be heartbroken by her comments.
He branded Rowling’s anti-trans views as “ridiculous, ill-timed and distasteful” and added: “She is invalidating the identity of people who look up to her.”
Trans EastEnders actor hopes JK Rowling will apologise – but only if she actually means it.
The actor said he hopes Rowling will make an effort to educate herself on trans issues.
“I personally believe that for many, many people, an apology would be the most effective thing,” Carter added.
However, he said that “if she doesn’t actually mean it” he wouldn’t want her to apologise.
He said that trans people are “already really at risk of discrimination and bullying” and pointed out that many are killed for simply trying to live their lives.
I personally believe that for many, many people, an apology would be the most effective thing.
“It’s absolutely ridiculous, it’s very ill-timed and distasteful with what’s happening at the moment,” he added.
Carter is the latest in a long line of people to criticise Rowling after she posted a string of anti-trans tweets last weekend.
The Harry Potter author has come under fire for her anti-trans tweets.
The author hit out at an opinion article for using the trans-inclusive phrase “people who menstruate” and wrote: “I’m sure there used to be a word for those people. Someone help me out. Wumben? Wimpund? Woomud?”
Since then, Harry Potter stars Daniel Radcliffe and Evanna Lynch have shown their support for trans and non-binary people, and Fantastic Beasts actor Eddie Redmayne expressed similar sentiments.
Radcliffe released a strongly worded statement yesterday in which he insisted that “trans women are women” and expressed his disappointment with Rowling’s views.
“Transgender women are women. Any statement to the contrary erases the identity and dignity of transgender people and goes against all advice given by professional health care associations who have far more expertise on this subject matter than either Jo or I,” he said.