Pedro Pascal Blasts J.K. Rowling: “Bullies Make Me Sick” in Fiery Defense of Trans Rights

Pedro Pascal didn’t stay quiet when J.K. Rowling showed support for a U.K. court decision that said transgender people are not legally recognized as the gender they identify with. In an interview with Vanity Fair, the actor made it clear how strongly he felt. He called Rowling’s actions “heinous loser behavior” and said that “bullies make me f***** sick.”*

For Pascal, this issue is deeply personal. His sister, Lux Pascal, came out as transgender in 2021. He said he felt the need to speak up for her and for others affected by the ruling. “I want to protect the people I love. But it goes beyond that,” he told Vanity Fair.

Pascal admitted that once his comments went viral, he had some second thoughts. He said it felt like getting in trouble at school again and wondered, “Am I helping?” Still, he chose to stand by what he said, hoping that by speaking out, he could support real change.

His older sister, Javiera, also spoke to Vanity Fair and backed him up. She said his words weren’t just about politics or online drama. “He said that as the older brother to someone saying that our little sister doesn’t exist,” she explained.

Some people online tried to criticize Pascal by sharing a video of him holding actress Vanessa Kirby’s hand during a Comic-Con event. They claimed he was being inappropriate, but Kirby responded by setting the record straight. She said they were both nervous, and Pascal was simply being supportive. “I found it a lovely gesture and was very glad to squeeze his hand back,” she told the magazine.

Pascal wasn’t the only one speaking out. A group of actors, including Bella Ramsey from The Last of Us and Nicola Coughlan from Bridgerton, signed an open letter pushing back against the U.K. court’s ruling. The letter said that the decision puts trans and non-binary people at risk and ignores their real-life experiences.

Actor Paapa Essiedu, who is set to play Snape in HBO’s upcoming Harry Potter series, also signed the letter. Even though Rowling is heavily involved in the show, she later wrote online that she wouldn’t remove anyone from the cast over their beliefs. “I don’t have the power to sack an actor,” she said, “and I wouldn’t exercise it if I did.”

In my view, Pedro Pascal showed courage by speaking out, especially knowing how quickly people can twist things online. He made his message personal and direct, which is sometimes what it takes to get people to pay attention. What do you think about his comments and the way others responded? Share your thoughts in the comments below.