Skip To...
Pedro Pascal and J.K. Rowling had two very different reactions to the UK’s anti-trans ruling. After the Harry Potter author celebrated the news on X, Pascal showed his support for the transgender community by calling Rowling’s post “heinous loser behavior.” Fans have since praised The Last of Us actor for using his platform to “stand up for what’s right.”
What Is Going On Between Pedro Pascal and J.K. Rowling?
The drama between Pedro Pascal and J.K. Rowling began when social media activist Tariq Ra’ouf posted an Instagram video criticizing the author’s role in the ruling. According to MSNBC, the case was brought to the UK Supreme Court by the organization For Women Scotland, which Rowling helped fund. The campaign led to trans women being excluded from the definition of women under Britain’s Equality Act.
In response to the news, Rowling shared a photo of herself smoking a cigar on X alongside the caption, “I love it when a plan comes together.” Ra’ouf called her post “serious Voldemort villain sh*t” for “reveling” in the fact that a minority group was losing their rights. He asked his followers to boycott any Harry Potter-related projects to show corporations that the public wouldn’t support anything attached to Rowling’s name due to her views.
Pedro Pascal, who has openly advocated for the LGBTQ+ community for years, backed Ra’ouf’s message against Rowling. “Awful disgusting SH*T is exactly right,” he wrote. “Heinous LOSER behavior.”
The actor’s comment went viral on Instagram, receiving nearly 4,000 likes and 100 replies in just a few days. Fans applauded Pascal for his allyship. “Thank you Mr. Pascal,” one person wrote. “This is why we love you Pedro,” read another comment.
A Long-Time Ally
The cause hits close to home for Pedro Pascal since his younger sister, Lux Pascal, came out as transgender in 2021. He supported her transition and has publicly continued to advocate for the transgender community since then.
Before feuding with J.K. Rowling, Pascal showed his disapproval of the UK’s anti-trans ruling by wearing a t-shirt featuring the phrase “PROTECT THE DOLLS” to the London premiere of Marvel’s Thunderbolts* movie. Designer Conner Ives created the shirt to raise awareness about the discrimination against transgender people.
According to Ives’ official website, the shirt is currently available for pre-order. All proceeds will go toward Trans Lifeline, which is a nonprofit organization that provides “life-saving services” to the transgender community. That includes peer support and a crisis hotline, financial assistance, as well as several other resources.
The drama between Pedro Pascal and J.K. Rowling comes amid the actor’s press tour for The Last of Us. The series, which is based on the hit video game of the same name, returned for a second season on HBO on April 13. Pascal stars as Joel Miller opposite Bella Ramsey as Ellie. Other cast members include Gabriel Luna as Tommy and Isabela Merced as Dina.
