Why Andrew Garfield loves 'Harry Potter' despite J.K. Rowling scandal
Why Andrew Garfield loves 'Harry Potter' despite J.K. Rowling scandal
Edward Segarra, USA TODAYFri, March 27, 2026 at 7:48 PM UTC
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Andrew Garfield attends a screening of "The Magic Faraway Tree" at Odeon Luxe Leicester Square in London on March 22, 2026.
Andrew Garfield is no wizard, but he knows movie magic when he sees it.
The Oscar-nominated actor shared his love for the "Harry Potter" franchise during an appearance on Hits Radio released on March 25.
The fantasy drama films, based on the book series by British author J.K. Rowling, have come under scrutiny in recent years following Rowling's public backlash over her anti-transgender views.
The author found scandal in 2019 and 2020 after making a series of social media posts, in which Rowling conflated sex with gender and defended ideas suggesting that transgender people changing their biological sex threatens her own gender identity.
J.K. Rowling arrives at the "Fantastic Beasts: The Secret of Dumbledore" world premiere at The Royal Festival Hall in London on March 29, 2022.
Garfield, 42, told host Olivia Marks that he hadn't seen the films, starring Daniel Radcliffe as young wizard Harry Potter, "until recently." The "Spider-Man" star also addressed the controversy surrounding the franchise, jokingly comparing Rowling to the "Harry Potter" villain Lord Voldemort, who is nicknamed "He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named."
"[Radcliffe is] really good in those movies. Those 'Harry Potter' movies are really good," Garfield said. "I know it's controversial, and we shouldn't be putting money in the pocket of inhumane legislation right now through She-that-Shall-Remain-Nameless. But the soul and spirit of [the films and] the essence of the themes of those films, and the kids and all the artisans and the crafts people."
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Garfield added that he is currently working with a makeup artist who worked on the films.
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"We can't throw the baby out with the bathwater," Garfield said. "There are so many beautiful artists that worked on those films. I have a newfound appreciation for all of the artists, and Daniel is great."
Despite her increasingly controversial image, Rowling has continued to double down on her anti-transgender stance, including showing support for an April 2025 U.K. Supreme Court ruling that stripped trans women of legal protections under Britain's Equality Act.
"I absolutely knew that if I spoke out, many people who would love my books would be deeply unhappy with me," Rowling reflected during a 2023 episode of her podcast, "The Witch Trials of J.K. Rowling."
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"Time will tell whether I've got this wrong," Rowling continued, "I can only say that I've thought about it deeply and hard and long and I've listened, I promise, to the other side."
The "Harry Potter" franchise will continue in the upcoming HBO series, which is set to be released in December. The series stars Dominic McLaughlin as Harry and Alastair Stout and Arabella Stanton as wizarding pals Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger, respectively.
Contributing: Barbara VanDenburgh and Clare Mulroy, USA TODAY
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Andrew Garfield loves 'Harry Potter' films despite J.K. Rowling scandal
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