Mads Mikkelsen Defends J.K. Rowling Amid Trans Rights Controversy

Actor Mads Mikkelsen is speaking out about "Harry Potter" author J.K. Rowling.

Mikkelsen recently replaced "Pirates of the Caribbean" actor Johnny Depp as Gellert Grindelwald in the last film in the "Fantastic Beasts" trilogy, titled "Secrets of Dumbledore."

Several "Harry Potter" stars have spoken out against the children's book author after she published an op-ed on her website explaining her views on gender and the trans community. Stars like Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Eddie Redmayne have all spoken out against Rowling and expressed their support for the trans community.

In a recent interview with GQ, Mads admitted that he hadn't read her op-ed as he labeled the reactions to her comments "crazy."

The 56-year-old actor encouraged her fans to engage in “adult conversation” and called for mutual respect from everyone on all sides of the issue.

In response to people judging Rowling for her views, Mads said, “People treat it a little flippantly, like, 'Isn't that a disgrace?' And every time you ask somebody, you can't really figure out what she said.”

He called the reaction to her comments “crazy” and said that people who are criticizing her need to understand what they’re talking about. He said, “But if the reaction is that crazy, we have to be very careful that we know what we're talking about.”

The star of the “Hannibal” series also admitted that he had not read Rowling’s blog or her controversial op-ed, admitting, “I have a habit of not commenting on things that I don't know anything about, and I actually think that that would suit the entire world.”

Mads said that he doesn’t know what it will take to mend the rift between Rowling and the trans community, but said a “good start” would be “no hateful rhetoric towards either women or trans [individuals].”

“But we have to be honest—and it seems to me, when you turn science into ideology, and politics into science, then you're not talking from an honest place,” he continued. “And I think that's muddying the waters regarding what side you're on, and rarely leads to anywhere good.”

Many fans thought that Emma Watson, who plays witch Hermione Granger in the “Harry Potter” series, took a dig at Rowling at the 2022 BAFTA awards ceremony. Host Rebel Wilson welcomed her to the stage, saying, “Here to present the next award is Emma Watson. She calls herself a feminist, but we all know she’s a witch.”

While walking on stage, Watson replied, “I’m here for ALL the witches… bar one.” Many fans took this to mean that she was throwing shade at Rowling.” One user tweeted, “I love the shade Emma Watson just threw at JK Rowling at the BAFTAs. She said, ‘I’m here for ALL of the witches, bar one.’ Emma is a QUEEN.”

Back in 2020, Rowling came under fire after posting an opinion article from a global health website titled, “Creating a More Equal Post-COVID-19 World for People Who Menstruate.”

One user commented, “Hi @jk_rowling, using non-gendered language is about moving beyond the idea that woman = uterus. Feminists were once mocked for wanting to change sexist language, but it’s now common to say firefighter instead of fireman.”

Rowling later tweeted, “If sex isn’t real, there’s no same-sex attraction. If sex isn’t real, the lived reality of women globally is erased. I know and love trans people, but erasing the concept of sex removes the ability of many to meaningfully discuss their lives. It isn’t hate to speak the truth.”

She added, “I respect every trans person’s right to live any way that feels authentic and comfortable to them. I’d march with you if you were discriminated against on the basis of being trans. At the same time, my life has been shaped by being female. I do not believe it’s hateful to say so.”