J.K. Rowling has once again clapped back at "The Last of Us" actor Pedro Pascal after he reignited their ongoing feud during a recent interview.
The latest war of words between the "Harry Potter" creator and the star of "The Mandalorian" came after Pascal accused Rowling of being a "heinous loser" for her views on women’s rights, doubling down on comments he made earlier this year.
J.K. Rowling And Pedro Pascal’s Feud Heats Up
The feud originally began when Rowling praised a Supreme Court ruling that protected women-only spaces, which sparked outrage from Pascal. He publicly lashed out at the Edinburgh-based author on Instagram, calling her comments "awful, disgusting," and labeling her behavior "heinous LOSER behavior."
Pascal revisited the issue a few days ago, explaining that his anger stemmed from a desire to stand up to what he perceives as bullying.
"The one thing that I would say I agonized over a little bit was just, 'Am I helping? Am I f-cking helping?'" Pascal said. "Bullies make me f-cking sick," he added, emphasizing that his position is about protecting those he loves and advocating for those who are at risk.
Pascal’s remarks were widely praised by LGBTQ+ outlets and fans, but the author was quick to retaliate with her signature biting wit.
Clapping Back At Pascal
In a scathing X post, Rowling responded, "Can't say I feel very shut down, but keep at it, Pedro. God loves a trier." The sharp retort was a clear indication that the best-selling author was unfazed by Pascal’s attacks.
Many X users took to the comments section to express their opinions and speak out. "Do you ever leave Twitter, like, is the 'Harry Potter' books all you’ve done in life?" one person said.
"Last I heard about 90% of the grown-up cast of 'Harry Potter' has distanced themselves from you," another wrote.
The Beginning Of The J.K. Rowling Backlash
As many fans recall, the first major public backlash against Rowling came in December 2019, when she made headlines for her comments about the transgender community.
After expressing support for Maya Forstater, a researcher who lost her job for tweeting about her belief that sex is biologically determined, Rowling posted a series of tweets that many saw as transphobic.
She tweeted in support of Forstater, calling the firing “unfair” and arguing that “sex is real.” The comments were criticized by many, particularly those in the LGBTQ+ community, who saw her stance as harmful to transgender people, particularly transgender women.
Rowling’s tweets sparked a fierce debate over gender identity and women’s rights, with some expressing concern that she was conflating biological sex with gender identity.
More Backlash After Defending Views On Gender And Biological Sex In 2020 Essay
Rowling’s controversial views on transgender issues continued into 2020, leading to further public scrutiny.
In June of that year, she released an essay on her website where she reiterated her beliefs about sex and gender. In the essay, Rowling argued that the importance of acknowledging biological sex in laws related to gender rights should not be undermined by the concept of gender identity. She wrote, "If sex isn’t real, the lived reality of women globally is erased.”
Following the essay, many "Harry Potter" stars, including Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint, spoke out against her comments, distancing themselves from her.
