Trans rights protesters lie on red carpet at London Harry Potter show
Masked activists rolled onto the Palace Theatre red carpet in London during the Harry Potter and the Cursed Child premiere and were swiftly escorted out by security.
During the arrival of cast and guests for the Harry Potter and the Cursed Child show at London’s Palace Theatre, several trans-rights activists concealed their faces with masks and hats and lay down on the red carpet. Security staff intervened quickly, escorting the protesters away. One of the activists displayed a t-shirt that said “Rowling money kills,” directly criticizing J.K.
Rowling. The author has faced backlash in recent years for her statements that biological sex is “real” and “immutable,” and for describing self-identified gender as “quasi-religious” and “anti-science.” Although she denies being transphobic and says she respects every trans person’s right to live authentically, her remarks have divided fans and prompted a wave of protests and boycotts targeting Harry Potter-related venues. The incident occurred as the revised single-part, three-hour version of the play was being presented, a shorter format than the original two-part production that debuted in 2016.
