Pedro Pascal doubles down on criticism of 'loser' JK Rowling's anti-trans views: 'Bullies make me sick'

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: Actor Pedro Pascal is once again standing up for transgender rights, aiming at author JK Rowling for her continued support of anti-transgender sentiment.

In a new cover story published by Vanity Fair on Tuesday, June 24, Pascal opened up about the backlash he faced after labeling Rowling's views “heinous loser behavior.”

The 'Last of Us star', whose sister Lux Pascal came out as transgender in 2021, has been a consistent advocate for LGBTQ+ rights, both online and in the spotlight. His recent Instagram comment criticizing Rowling went viral and reignited debate around celebrity activism, allyship, and the impact of public figures on trans rights discourse, as reported by PEOPLE.

Pedro Pascal says 'bullies make me sick’

Pedro Pascal’s comments stemmed from JK Rowling’s public support of an April 16 UK Supreme Court ruling stating that the legal definition of "woman" under the Equality Act is based on biological sex.

Pascal responded by commenting on an Instagram video critical of Rowling, writing, “Awful disgusting s**t is exactly right. Heinous LOSER behavior.”

In his interview, the actor admitted he briefly second-guessed the move, not out of regret, but concern over whether his voice was helping the cause.

“The one thing that I would say I agonized over a little bit was just, 'Am I helping? Am I f*****g helping?' It's a situation that deserves the utmost elegance so that something can actually happen, and people will actually be protected," he said.

“Listen, I want to protect the people I love. But it goes beyond that. Bullies make me f*****g sick.”

Pascal said the brief moment of doubt reminded him of being a kid in school, getting called to the principal’s office, and wondering, “What’d I do?”

Pedro Pascal wears ‘protect the dolls’ shirt as sisters back his stand against JK Rowling’s trans views

Pedro Pascal’s sister, Lux Pascal, publicly came out as transgender in 2021 and has spoken openly about her experience. Their other sister, Javiera Balmaceda Pascal, also defended Pedro in the Vanity Fair interview.

“And he said that as the older brother to someone saying that our little sister doesn’t exist,” Javiera said of Rowling's rhetoric.

She added that the author's behavior was, in her view, also “heinous loser behavior.”

Pedro also used his red carpet appearance at the London premiere of 'Thunderbolts' on April 22 to quietly amplify trans visibility. He wore a white t-shirt reading “PROTECT THE DOLLS,” a phrase rooted in LGBTQ+ culture used affectionately to refer to trans women.

The shirt, part of a campaign by designer Conner Ives, draws attention to anti-transgender sentiment and advocates for protection and respect for trans lives.

Pedro Pascal continues to balance advocacy and acting

Pedro Pascal’s activism comes at a time when his Hollywood profile continues to rise. He stars in the upcoming 'The Fantastic Four: First Steps', set to hit theaters on July 25, and is also featured in the romantic drama Materialists, which is now playing in select theaters.

Pascal has made it clear that defending trans rights — especially when it comes to his own family — is not something he will stay silent about.

“A woman like Rowling saying what she’s saying — it’s not just speech,” a Vanity Fair insider notes. “It trickles down. And Pedro knows that. He acts like a big brother to a community that needs one.”