Helena Bonham Carter Defends J.K. Rowling Against “Horrendous” Treatment After Transphobic Comments

Typically, when a celebrity says something problematic, they will quickly apologize (sincere or not) and attempt to move on. Then, when you have folks defending them, it’s at least understandable because there is an apology and a seemingly sincere desire to grow. Well, that’s not the case with J.K. Rowling and her litany of transphobic tweets and public statements over the years. This has made it increasingly rare when you find another celebrity who is willing to step up and defend the “Harry Potter” author. Really, it’s been Ralph Fiennes beating the drum of support for Rowling. And now, it appears we have Helena Bonham Carter wholeheartedly defending the author.

READ MORE: Ralph Fiennes Continues To Defend J.K. Rowling’s Transphobic Remarks & Calls Out “Verbal Abuse” Author Has Received

In an interview with The Times, Helena Bonham Carter was asked about J.K. Rowling’s transphobic tweets and how she has become the target of folks who believe the “Harry Potter” author owes some serious apologies. Not only does Bonham Carter defend Rowling, but she agrees with Fiennes about how the author has been unfairly treated by the public.

“It’s horrendous, a load of bollocks. I think she has been hounded,” Bonham Carter explained. “It’s been taken to the extreme, the judgmentalism of people. She’s allowed her opinion, particularly if she’s suffered abuse. Everybody carries their own history of trauma and forms their opinions from that trauma and you have to respect where people come from and their pain. You don’t all have to agree on everything — that would be insane and boring. She’s not meaning it aggressively, she’s just saying something out of her own experience.”

READ MORE: ‘Harry Potter’: Warner Bros. Discovery Wants A 2-Part ‘Cursed Child’ Film But J.K. Rowling Hasn’t Signed On Yet

She added, “If she hadn’t been the most phenomenal success, the reaction wouldn’t be so great. So I think there’s a lot of envy unfortunately and the need to tear people down that motors a lot of this canceling. And schadenfreude.”

Further along in the interview, when asked if Bonham Carter thinks her “Harry Potter” co-stars, such as Emma Watson and Daniel Radcliffe, are somehow wrong for going against Rowling and calling out the author’s abhorrent comments, the actress doesn’t want to go that far. She just thinks it’s a generational issue.

READ MORE: Daniel Radcliffe Says His Experiences Meeting Queer & Trans ‘Harry Potter’ Fans Inspired Him To Speak Out Against J.K. Rowling

“I won’t say that,” she said. “Personally I feel they should let her have her opinions, but I think they’re very aware of protecting their own fan base and their generation. It’s hard. One thing with the fame game is that there’s an etiquette that comes with it; I don’t agree with talking about other famous people.”

As for another one of Bonham Carter’s collaborators who has been in the news with some problematic situations, Johnny Depp, the actress thinks he’s been “completely vindicated” after the very public defamation trial ended earlier this year. You might remember that Depp has been taking a victory lap after winning against Amber Heard, who he sued for defamation after the actress accused Depp of domestic violence. 

“Oh, I think he’s completely vindicated,” Bonham Carter said. “I think he’s fine now. Totally fine.”

It’s still unclear how Depp’s career will continue after the defamation trial, and what the current status of “Harry Potter” is in light of Rowling’s ongoing issues. But at least those two have Bonham Carter in their corners.