Andrew Garfield tags ‘Harry Potter’ films ‘controversial,’ dubs JKR ‘she that shall remain nameless’

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Hollywood star Andrew Garfield revealed that he recently watched the 'Harry Potter' movies and developed a newfound appreciation for the cast members, but refused to name the author JK Rowling during a recent interview.

Garfield said that watching the films has become "controversial" due to Rowling's anti-trans views and dubbed her "she that shall remain nameless," alluding to Harry Potter antagonist Lord Voldemort being referred to as "He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named" throughout the franchise.

However, 'The Amazing Spider-Man' actor praised the work of the original cast and crew who made the movies.

Andrew Garfield distances himself from JK Rowling

Garfield discussed 'Harry Potter' during a Hits Radio interview, but did not acknowledge Rowling by name. He instead referred to the author as "she that shall remain nameless" and accused her of supporting "inhumane" causes.

While the actor shared that he recently watched the Harry Potter films for the first time, he admitted it is problematic to support them given Rowling's controversial stance on trans rights.

"I know it’s, like, controversial. And, like, we shouldn’t be, you know, putting money in the pocket of inhumane legislation right now through she that shall remain nameless," Garfield said, referencing Voldemort, aka, "He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named."

"But the soul and the spirit of a lot of the essence of the themes of those films and the kids are so good," he added.

Garfield isn’t the first celebrity to publicly speak out against Rowling. 

Daniel Radcliffe, who played Harry Potter in the original films, and his co-star, Emma Watson, who played Hermione Granger, have both condemned Rowling’s opinions.

Actor John Lithgow considered walking away from his role as Dumbledore in the HBO adaptation of the 'Harry Potter' books amid backlash to Rowling’s comments, according to The New York Times. However, he ultimately remained in the role and appeared in a new trailer released this week.

'Harry Potter' franchise faces continued scrutiny

The 'Harry Potter' franchise remains one of the most successful film and book series globally, with a new television adaptation currently in development for HBO. However, the series has also faced scrutiny tied to Rowling’s public comments, particularly on gender identity issues.

Rowling has donated to campaign group For Women Scotland, which legally challenged how the word "woman" is defined by law in the United Kingdom.

In 2025, the UK Supreme Court ruled the legal definition of a woman is based on biological sex.

The author also recently praised the International Olympic Committee’s decision to ban transgender women from competing in women’s sports.

"Today's ruling by the IOC means a welcome return to fair sport for women and girls, but I'll never forget the scandal of Paris 2024, when people who consider themselves supremely virtuous and progressive publicly cheered on men punching women," she wrote on X.

Garfield’s remarks add to an ongoing conversation within the entertainment industry, where several actors connected to the franchise have publicly condemned Rowling’s views in recent years.