Hollywood’s most successful and influential trans director has no time for J.K. Rowling sympathizers. In an interview with Variety, The Matrixco-director Lilly Wachowski said that to support the upcoming Harry PotterHBO show is to support “trans genocide.”
“She is funding trans genocide,” Wachowski, who came out as trans in 2016, said of Rowling’s virulently anti-trans politics. “J.K. Rowling funds trans genocide, full stop. So, if you support Harry Potter, you’re supporting trans genocide. The money that goes into you enjoying these products, a portion of that money goes to J.K. Rowling and that money goes into her funding anti-trans legislation all over the world.” Wachowski compared opting out of Harry Potterfandom to boycotting Tesla if you’re against Elon Musk, whom she called a Nazi earlier in the interview.
Rowling has spent the better part of the past decade becoming the world’s most preeminent trans-exclusionary radical feminist. She has, as Wachowski pointed out, used some of her massive Harry Potterfortune to help fund organizations pushing for anti-trans legislation. In 2024, she reportedly donated £70,000 to For Women Scotland, a group that successfully got the U.K. Supreme Court to rule that transgender women are not legally women. When the ruling came out in 2025, Rowling posted a smug photo of herself smoking a cigar, captioned, “I love it when a plan comes together.”
Rowling’s beliefs have been back in the news as the promotion for HBO’s new Harry Potterseries — which will follow the same plot as the books and movies — kicks into gear. Rowling serves as an executive producer on the show, which premieres in December. The cast, an impressive group of high-profile U.K. actors and John Lithgow, has been struggling to address Rowling’s political choices in interviews. “I strongly disagree with J.K. Rowling’s views on gender. I think that the trans community deserves safety and dignity and respect and total acceptance,” said Bel Powley, who plays Petunia Dursley. “But I love Harry Potter.” As soon as you’re saying but, you’ve lost.
The way Wachowski sees it, it’s actually not that difficult a decision. “It’s simple math,” she said. “So, your enjoyment of these shows, and continued support of these shows, is supporting my eradication.”
Lilly Wachowski Has Some Words for Harry Potter Fans
