Protesters Crash Harry Potter Red Carpet: 'Boycott J.K. Rowling!'

Masked transgender rights activists disrupted a red carpet event for the West End production of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child on Thursday, chanting "Boycott J.K. Rowling!" as security guards dragged them away.

Video obtained by The Independent showed the protesters lying on the red carpet as celebrities attempted to enter the gala performance. Security staff were seen pulling the activists off by their arms while photographers' flashes added to the confusion. At least three protesters wore shirts reading "Rowling Money Kills," and one used a bullhorn to read a statement.

"She would rather police women's space than support her trans sisters when they are under attack," that protester said. Another shouted, "Rowling funds transphobia! Boycott J.K. Rowling!"

Rowling's anti-trans activism under scrutiny

Rowling has used her public platform since 2020 to speak out against transgender equality. In 2025, she created the J.K. Rowling Women's Fund, which according to its website is intended to bankroll cisgender women fighting to retain sex-based rights in workplaces, sports, clubs, and single-sex spaces.

The author also reportedly donated around $88,000 to For Women Scotland as that group brought a case to the U.K. Supreme Court. The court ruled that legal definitions of "man" and "woman" in the U.K. would be based strictly on biological sex.

Backlash continues ahead of new Harry Potter projects

The demonstration unfolded as Warner Bros. Discovery prepares to launch its new Harry Potter television series on HBO. The first season, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, premieres December 25, 2026, and Rowling serves as an executive producer.

The protest is the latest sign that tensions over Rowling's views remain high as the Wizarding World expands across stage and screen. Fans will be watching to see how the upcoming HBO series navigates the ongoing controversy surrounding its creator.