Lilly Wachowski Says Supporting 'Harry Potter' Means Supporting “Trans Genocide”
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 07: Lilly Wachowski attends the "Bound" 30th Anniversary Screening during the 2026 Tribeca Festival at Spring Studios on June 07, 2026 in New York City. Photo Credit: Jason Mendez
by Chris Tremblay Sep 14
4 MIN READ
Lilly Wachowski said that continuing to support the Harry Potter franchise amounts to supporting what she called “trans genocide,” in a Variety interview published September 11.
“She is funding trans genocide,” Wachowski said, referring to Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling. “J.K. Rowling funds trans genocide, full stop. So, if you support ‘Harry Potter,’ you’re supporting trans genocide.”
Wachowski argued that money spent on Harry Potter books, films, merchandise and other products can ultimately benefit Rowling and, in her view, support political efforts opposing transgender rights.
“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 said.
She compared her proposed consumer response to boycotts directed at companies or public figures whose political positions consumers oppose.
“In the same way that if you are against Elon Musk, you boycott or don’t buy Tesla; and if you’re against global warming/climate change, you try not to buy as much gas, you try to mitigate your use of these products,” Wachowski said.
Wachowski concluded that continued enjoyment of Harry Potter adaptations would amount to supporting what she described as her own eradication.
“So, your enjoyment of these shows, and continued support of these shows, is supporting my eradication,” she said.
The remarks appeared in an interview focused on Wachowski’s career, transgender rights, the entertainment industry and her new creative organizations.
Neil Blair, identified by Variety as Rowling’s founding partner and agent, issued a response addressing Wachowski’s characterization of Rowling’s activism.
“Freedom of speech is a principle we should all cherish,” Blair said. “What matters is that J.K. Rowling’s views, as with anyone else’s, are represented accurately, fairly and respectfully and that individual opinion does not detract from those views.”
Blair said Rowling supports women taking legal action in the United Kingdom through the J.K. Rowling Women’s Fund.
He described that legal action as intended to preserve existing rights under the U.K. Equality Act 2010, which he said are sometimes threatened or overlooked.
“She does not support legal actions aimed at harming transgender people or efforts to limit trans rights,” Blair said.
Blair also disputed Wachowski’s allegation that Rowling is funding “trans genocide,” calling it a defamatory claim that he said was unsupported by evidence.
The representative’s statement did not accept Wachowski’s description of Rowling’s political activity and instead presented Rowling’s position as support for women’s legal rights under existing U.K. law.
The dispute arrives as HBO develops a new television adaptation of the Harry Potter books, bringing the franchise back into prominent cultural discussion.
Media reports described Wachowski’s comments as applying both to the broader Harry Potter franchise and to audiences who support the forthcoming television adaptation.
The new series is based on Rowling’s Wizarding World books, meaning her relationship to the franchise remains part of the public debate over whether audiences should separate an author’s work from the author’s political advocacy.
Wachowski’s position is that financial support for the franchise can benefit Rowling, while Blair’s response rejects the claim that Rowling uses her resources to support efforts intended to harm transgender people.
Neither Variety’s account nor the representatives’ response identifies specific legislation that Wachowski alleged Rowling had funded in countries around the world.
Accordingly, Wachowski’s description of Rowling’s conduct is presented here as Wachowski’s allegation, while Blair’s denial is presented as Rowling’s representative’s response.
Wachowski, who co-directed The Matrix films with her sister Lana Wachowski, has repeatedly connected her filmmaking work with questions of identity, liberation and transgender representation.
In the interview, she discussed forming Anarchists United Foundation and Anarchists United Studio with film programmer Sarah Marie Flores and producer Lawrence Mattis.
The organizations aim to support stories from marginalized communities through grants, fellowships, mentorship and other forms of assistance for filmmakers.
Wachowski said the initiative grew partly from frustration with Hollywood’s limited opportunities for queer and transgender stories.
She also discussed the importance of mentorship and community support for transgender people amid what she described as a hostile political environment and widespread anti-transgender propaganda.
The comments about Rowling therefore formed part of a wider interview in which Wachowski spoke about transgender representation, political messaging and the ability of entertainment institutions to create or restrict opportunities for marginalized artists.
Rowling has faced sustained criticism from transgender advocates and public figures over her statements about sex, gender and transgender rights.
Rowling and her representatives have consistently framed her position as support for women’s sex-based rights rather than opposition to transgender people as a group.
The latest exchange illustrates how Rowling’s political activity has become inseparable from public discussion of the Harry Potter franchise, particularly as a new adaptation moves forward.
Wachowski’s statement is likely to intensify calls from some transgender advocates and allies to boycott Harry Potter-related products, while Rowling’s representative’s response seeks to distinguish support for women’s legal challenges from efforts to restrict transgender rights.
At the center of the dispute is a factual question that the public statements do not resolve: how much money from Harry Potter-related activity reaches Rowling and how that money is used politically.
The available accounts establish that Wachowski made the allegation and that Rowling’s representative denied it, but they do not independently substantiate Wachowski’s specific claim that Rowling funds anti-transgender legislation worldwide.
Wachowski argued that money spent on Harry Potter books, films, merchandise and other products can ultimately benefit Rowling and, in her view, support political efforts opposing transgender rights.
“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 said.
She compared her proposed consumer response to boycotts directed at companies or public figures whose political positions consumers oppose.
“In the same way that if you are against Elon Musk, you boycott or don’t buy Tesla; and if you’re against global warming/climate change, you try not to buy as much gas, you try to mitigate your use of these products,” Wachowski said.
Wachowski concluded that continued enjoyment of Harry Potter adaptations would amount to supporting what she described as her own eradication.
“So, your enjoyment of these shows, and continued support of these shows, is supporting my eradication,” she said.
The remarks appeared in an interview focused on Wachowski’s career, transgender rights, the entertainment industry and her new creative organizations.
Rowling representative responds
Neil Blair, identified by Variety as Rowling’s founding partner and agent, issued a response addressing Wachowski’s characterization of Rowling’s activism.
“Freedom of speech is a principle we should all cherish,” Blair said. “What matters is that J.K. Rowling’s views, as with anyone else’s, are represented accurately, fairly and respectfully and that individual opinion does not detract from those views.”
Blair said Rowling supports women taking legal action in the United Kingdom through the J.K. Rowling Women’s Fund.
He described that legal action as intended to preserve existing rights under the U.K. Equality Act 2010, which he said are sometimes threatened or overlooked.
“She does not support legal actions aimed at harming transgender people or efforts to limit trans rights,” Blair said.
Blair also disputed Wachowski’s allegation that Rowling is funding “trans genocide,” calling it a defamatory claim that he said was unsupported by evidence.
The representative’s statement did not accept Wachowski’s description of Rowling’s political activity and instead presented Rowling’s position as support for women’s legal rights under existing U.K. law.
Why the franchise is central to the dispute
The dispute arrives as HBO develops a new television adaptation of the Harry Potter books, bringing the franchise back into prominent cultural discussion.
Media reports described Wachowski’s comments as applying both to the broader Harry Potter franchise and to audiences who support the forthcoming television adaptation.
The new series is based on Rowling’s Wizarding World books, meaning her relationship to the franchise remains part of the public debate over whether audiences should separate an author’s work from the author’s political advocacy.
Wachowski’s position is that financial support for the franchise can benefit Rowling, while Blair’s response rejects the claim that Rowling uses her resources to support efforts intended to harm transgender people.
Neither Variety’s account nor the representatives’ response identifies specific legislation that Wachowski alleged Rowling had funded in countries around the world.
Accordingly, Wachowski’s description of Rowling’s conduct is presented here as Wachowski’s allegation, while Blair’s denial is presented as Rowling’s representative’s response.
Wachowski’s broader advocacy
Wachowski, who co-directed The Matrix films with her sister Lana Wachowski, has repeatedly connected her filmmaking work with questions of identity, liberation and transgender representation.
In the interview, she discussed forming Anarchists United Foundation and Anarchists United Studio with film programmer Sarah Marie Flores and producer Lawrence Mattis.
The organizations aim to support stories from marginalized communities through grants, fellowships, mentorship and other forms of assistance for filmmakers.
Wachowski said the initiative grew partly from frustration with Hollywood’s limited opportunities for queer and transgender stories.
She also discussed the importance of mentorship and community support for transgender people amid what she described as a hostile political environment and widespread anti-transgender propaganda.
The comments about Rowling therefore formed part of a wider interview in which Wachowski spoke about transgender representation, political messaging and the ability of entertainment institutions to create or restrict opportunities for marginalized artists.
The continuing public debate
Rowling has faced sustained criticism from transgender advocates and public figures over her statements about sex, gender and transgender rights.
Rowling and her representatives have consistently framed her position as support for women’s sex-based rights rather than opposition to transgender people as a group.
The latest exchange illustrates how Rowling’s political activity has become inseparable from public discussion of the Harry Potter franchise, particularly as a new adaptation moves forward.
Wachowski’s statement is likely to intensify calls from some transgender advocates and allies to boycott Harry Potter-related products, while Rowling’s representative’s response seeks to distinguish support for women’s legal challenges from efforts to restrict transgender rights.
At the center of the dispute is a factual question that the public statements do not resolve: how much money from Harry Potter-related activity reaches Rowling and how that money is used politically.
The available accounts establish that Wachowski made the allegation and that Rowling’s representative denied it, but they do not independently substantiate Wachowski’s specific claim that Rowling funds anti-transgender legislation worldwide.
Copyright EDGE Media Network. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
