Ballsy JK’s Pott-shot at sorry stars

JFOR ALMOST four years JK Rowling kept a dignified silence about how she felt when her young on-screen protégés turned on her and berated her for her honestly-held, straightforward opinions on transgender. Like many of you, I wondered quite what she made in particular of her “Harry Potter” – actor Daniel Radcliffe – and his incredibly entitled, pious statement immediately after JK had had the courage to first chuck her hat into a seething ring and brave the consequences.

Remember his pipsqueak, patronising comments? I couldn’t believe their sheer arrogance at the time. Still can’t.

“To all the people,” Radcliffe opined online, “who now feel that their experience of the books has been tarnished or diminished, I am deeply sorry for the pain these comments [Rowling’s] have caused you”.

Uhh? As if HE’D written the books himself! Or had anything to do with publishing them, or promoting them, until of course his lucky, lucky break much later when he was cast in the films’ lead role. How

DARE he apologise to JK’s readers, over her head and behind her back? Colossal cheek doesn’t begin to cover it. Unbelievable arrogance!

Of course, Radcliffe (and co-star EmmaWatson) were and are fully entitled to state their opinions. But to tread – nay, stamp – all over the toes of the woman responsible for making them rich and famous (and giving them a voice into the bargain)?

Such insensitive, insufferable ingratitude. Such rank, even textbook churlishness.

So no surprise when, in response to a tweet last week saying Radcliffe andWatson now owe JK a very public apology “safe in the knowledge” that she will forgive them, the author – with crisp, terse understatement – replied: “Not safe, I’m afraid.” Good for you, Jo.And I loved your corollary too. “Celebs who cosied up to a movement intent on eroding women’s hard-won rights and who used their platforms to cheer on the transitioning of minors can save their apologies for traumatised detransitioners and vulnerable women reliant on single-sex spaces.” Blimey. She’s indomitable, ain’t she?