Keira Knightley Faces Social Media Backlash After Comments About J.K. Rowling
Keira Knightley has found herself in the middle of online backlash after commenting on her involvement in a new Harry Potter project and the ongoing controversy surrounding J.K. Rowling.
The actress, best known for her roles in Pride & Prejudice and Pirates of the Caribbean, recently joined the cast of Harry Potter: The Full Cast Audio Editions, a new audiobook series from Pottermore Publishing and Audible. She will voice Professor Umbridge, a character well known to fans of the series.
In an interview with Decider, which was later shared on Instagram on October 15, Knightley said she didn’t know about the public boycotts against J.K. Rowling before joining the project. “I’m very sorry,” she said with a laugh. “I think we’re all living in a period of time right now — we’re all gonna have to figure out how to live together, aren’t we? And we’ve all got very different opinions. So I hope that we can all find respect.”
J.K. Rowling has faced strong criticism for her comments about transgender issues and her support of a U.K. ruling that many believe harms transgender rights. Because of this, many fans have chosen to distance themselves from Harry Potter-related content.
Knightley’s response quickly drew negative reactions online. Many fans called her comments out of touch, with some accusing her of pretending not to know about the controversy. One person wrote, “Jeez that response is horrific.” Another said, “So her agent or friends and family never discussed this with her?” Others criticized her tone during the interview, saying the laugh and her call for “respect” felt dismissive.
Despite the backlash, the audiobook project has attracted a major cast. Frankie Treadaway, Max Lester, and Arabella Stanton will voice Harry, Ron, and Hermione in the first three books, with Jaxon Knopf, Rhys Mulligan, and Nina Barker-Francis taking over in later ones. Kit Harington, James McAvoy, Ruth Wilson, and Simon Pegg are also among the well-known names joining the cast.
Leo Woodall, who will play Bill Weasley, said in a statement “In creating Bill Weasley’s adventures through voice, it is genuinely special to be part of bringing this world to life in a new way for listeners.”
While excitement for the audiobook remains high, Knightley’s comments have clearly struck a nerve with fans who expected a stronger stance on the issue.
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