Rupert Grint comments on his relationship with J.K. Rowling: 'It's a tricky one'
Rupert Grint will forever be recognized and loved as Ron Weasley from the iconic, world-beating Harry Potter film franchise, and that would not have been possible for him had J.K. Rowling never written her Harry Potter novel series.
But the evergreen bond Grint has with Rowling as a result was muddied a bit when Rowling tweeted derogatory commentary about transgender people in the summer of 2020. Days later, she addressed the overflowing controversy with a lengthy blog post defending her stances and sharing she is a sexual assault survivor.
"I liken J.K. Rowling to an auntie," Grint, 33, recently told the U.K.'s The Times publication (h/t Page Six). "I don't necessarily agree with everything my auntie says, but she's still my auntie. It's a tricky one."
At the time of Rowling's comments, Grint and his Harry Potter co-stars spoke out in support of the transgender community:
In March 2021, Grint further explained why he spoke out against Rowling.
"I am hugely grateful [for] everything that she's done," the Servant actor told writer Justin Kirkland for a sprawling Esquire profile. "I think that she's extremely talented, and I mean, clearly, her works are genius. But yeah, I think also you can have huge respect for someone and still disagree with things like that."
Grint added: "I think to stay silent would have spoke—sometimes silence is even louder. I felt like I had to because I think it was important to. I mean, I don't want to talk about all that. ... Generally, I'm not an authority on the subject. Just out of kindness, and just respecting people. I think it's a valuable group that I think needs standing up for."
Grint, Radcliffe and Watson—as well as many other members of the Harry Potter cast and crew—recently reunited for Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts, which began streaming New Year's Day on HBO Max.
Rowling was not present for the reunion special, though archival footage of her from 2019 was used.
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