Rowling's agent responds to Lilly Wachowski's 'trans genocide' remark
What's the story
In a recent interview with Variety, filmmaker Lilly Wachowski (The Matrix) accused author J.K. Rowling of "funding trans genocide." Wachowski, a trans woman, also compared Rowling and Elon Musk to "Nazis." Now, Rowling's agent Neil Blair has hit back. He told Entertainment Weekly, "Freedom of speech is a principle we should all cherish." "What matters is that J.K. Rowling's views, as with anyone else's, are represented accurately, fairly, and respectfully and that individual opinion does not detract from those views."
Statement
'She does not support legal actions aimed at harming transgender...'
Blair clarified, "To correct Lilly Wachowski, through The J.K. Rowling Women's Fund, J.K. Rowling supports women taking legal action in the UK to preserve their existing rights under the Equality Act 2010."
He added that these rights are often "overlooked or threatened."
"She does not support legal actions aimed at harming transgender people or efforts to limit trans rights," he further stated.
Defense
He called Wachowski's allegations 'defamatory'
Blair also condemned Wachowski's allegations as "seriously defamatory."
He said, "People are free to disagree with her views but seriously defamatory allegations of this nature, even outrageously invoking the Nazis and the genocide that they committed, should never be presented as fact when they are clearly fabricated and not based on any evidence."
Boycott call
What did the director say?
Wachowski, in her recent interview, suggested that people should boycott Rowling's work, including the upcoming HBO Harry Potter series.
She said, "In the same way that if you are against Elon Musk, you boycott or don't buy Tesla; and if you're against global warming/climate change, you try not to buy as much gas."
"It's simple math. So, your enjoyment of these shows, and continued support of these shows, is supporting my eradication."
Fund's purpose
What is the J.K. Rowling Women's Fund?
In 2025, Rowling launched the J.K. Rowling Women's Fund that "offers legal funding support to individuals and organizations fighting to retain women's and girls' sex-based rights in all aspects of life including the workplace, sports and clubs, and protected single-sex spaces."
Per the website, "It provides women with the means and confidence to bring to justice strategic cases that make legal precedents, enforce existing equality law, and make positive contributions to women's and girls' lives."
Controversy
Rowling has been labeled a 'transphobe' multiple times
Rowling has often been accused of being a "transphobe" for her views on the transgender community.
In 2020, she tweeted, "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."
In 2024, she wrote online, "There are no trans kids."
Her statements have led several Harry Potter stars to support the trans community.