Harry Potter star Daniel Radcliffe said that people should "trust kids" when they decide they want to change their gender.
Radcliffe said it is "condescending" for adults to doubt a child’s ability to make a competent decision to change gender, the Times reported Wednesday. The actor made the remarks during a discussion with transgender people hosted by the LGBT nonprofit group the Trevor Project, discussing the controversy around children identifying as trans.
"But there are also people who do have a slightly condescending but well-meaning attitude of like, ‘Well, people are young and like, you know, that is a huge decision.’ I’d love to hear from all of you about, like, why we can trust kids to tell us who they are."
HBO Max is working with Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling to roll out a TV adaptation of the series, which has already caught backlash from critics over the author’s views on transgenderism.
"We don’t want any new Harry Potter content if noted transphobe J.K. Rowling is involved," Out magazine tweeted.
"This faithful adaptation of harry potter, announced with absolutely bullshit craven disdain for rowling’s political impact, is bad," a Vulture critic wrote.
Rowling has received threats online for comments on transgenderism.
"I know and love trans people, but erasing the concept of sex removes the ability of many to meaningfully discuss their lives," the author tweeted in 2020. "It isn’t hate to speak the truth."