By Neil Blair, agent to J.K. Rowling, has condemned a trans rights protest that disrupted the gala performance of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child in London’s West End, claiming the demonstration put people at risk.
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child at the Palace Theatre (Credits: Deadline)
The incident unfolded on Thursday night at the Palace Theatre, during an event celebrating the newly shortened, single-part version of the long-running stage show. According to reports, a group of masked protesters stormed the red carpet as guests arrived, lying down on the carpet before being removed by security. One demonstrator wore a shirt bearing the slogan “Rowling money kills.”
The gala marked the London debut of the overhauled production, which has been condensed into a single performance running just under three hours. The original two-part staging, which opened in the West End in 2016 and ran for more than five hours, closed on September 20; the new version began performances on October 9.
Celebrities in Attendance
Among the famous faces on the carpet were TV presenter Vanessa Feltz, Good Morning Britain’s Richard Arnold, The Chase star Anne Hegerty, and broadcaster Angellica Bell. The show itself, written by Jack Thorne from an original story by Thorne, Rowling and director John Tiffany, picks up 19 years after the books, following Harry — now an overworked Ministry of Magic employee — and his younger son Albus Severus Potter.
A Long-Running Flashpoint
The protest is the latest in a wave of demonstrations targeting events connected to Rowling, whose views on gender identity — she has said she believes biological sex is “real” and “immutable” — have divided fans and drawn condemnation from trans rights advocates. Prominent franchise stars including Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint have publicly voiced support for the transgender community.
Rowling, who posts frequently on social media, had not publicly addressed the red carpet protest as of Friday evening. Blair’s condemnation, reported as a Deadline exclusive, marks the strongest official response to the incident so far.
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Source: Deadline — read the full story there.
