Andrew Garfield takes aim at J.K. Rowling as he labels Harry Potter franchise 'controversial'

Jess Battison
2026-03-29T15:12:25.641Z
Entertainment

At 42 years old, the actor admits he's only just watching the iconic Harry Potter films

J.K. Rowling has quite her share of fans, but over the years she’s also built quite the base of well, haters.

However, either way, plenty (like, seriously plenty) are able to separate the art from the artist as they remain loyal Harry Potter fans through their adult lives.

That’s somewhat understandable, as of Brits and kids around the world grew up reading the books and watching the films from the Wizarding World.

Well, not all of us did, including Andrew Garfield.

The British-American actor has admitted he only recently watched the Harry Potter movies for the first time. But he also acknowledged that it might be somewhat problematic to support them as he took aim at ‘she that shall remain nameless’. Yes, that’s a little joke for the Potterheads as The Amazing Spider-Man actor referenced Voldemort for Rowling.

Andrew Garfield avoided naming J.K. Rowling. (Mike Marsland/WireImage)

Instead, Garfield was full of praise for Daniel Radcliffe as he told Hits Radio: “I hadn’t watched the Harry Potters until recently … and he’s [Daniel Radcliffe] really good in those Harry Potter movies. Those Harry Potter movies are really good.”

But he noted that he’s aware it’s ‘controversial’.

“And like, we shouldn’t be, you know, putting money in the pocket of inhumane legislation right now through she that shall remain nameless. But the soul and the spirit of a lot of the essence of the themes of those films, and all the artisans and craftspeople...” the actor continued.

“I’m working with a wonderful make-up artist, Claire, right now who was working in the creature workshop. I feel like, oh man, we can’t throw the baby out with the bathwater. There are so many beautiful artists that worked on those films. Anyway, I have a newfound appreciation for all of the artists.”

Rowling frequently faces backlash for her views on gender and how she expresses her beliefs surrounding the transgender community.

The 42-year-old has only just watched all of the films. (Jeff Spicer/Getty Images)

This has also spilled over into backlash for those actors taking on roles in the new Harry Potter series, such as John Lithgow.

Having accepted the role of Dumbledore, he recently admitted he was advised to ‘walk away’ from the project due to controversy around Rowling.

He previously slammed her views as ‘ironic and inexplicable’ but noted ‘job security’ in staying on.

“I just felt the reasons to do it were much, much stronger than the reasons to protest against what Rowling has done and said,” Lithgow told the New Yorker.

“I do disagree with much of it. Much of it, I think, has been twisted and misrepresented, and she has sort of doubled down on it to her own, at her own cost.”