Joshua Goldman
Joshua Goldman
min read · October 13, 2025 · Entertainment

Keira Knightley Apologizes Amid Harry Potter Trans Boycott Controversy

Keira Knightley has admitted she wasn't aware of the Harry Potter boycott ahead of being cast in the upcoming audiobook (Seen in November 2024)

Keira Knightley's Big Mouth: Actress Stuns Fans with Audible Snub

The Scholary Note is reporting a shocking scandal involving none other than Keira Knightley, one of Hollywood's most beloved stars. The 40-year-old actress has apologized for her involvement in the upcoming audiobook adaptation of the Harry Potter series, after fans took to social media to express their outrage over her decision to work with the notoriously transphobic author J.K. Rowling.

The news broke earlier this week that Knightley would be voicing the role of Dolores Umbridge in the audiobook edition of the beloved series, which is being produced by Audible and Pottermore Publishing (Rowling's own company). However, fans were quick to express their disappointment and frustration with Knightley's decision, citing Rowling's long history of making derogatory comments about the trans community.

The actress, 40, will voice the role of Dolores Umbridge (Pictured) in Harry Potter: The Full-Cast Audio Editions - a collaboration between Audible and Pottermore Publishing

In a statement to Decider, Knightley admitted that she was unaware of the boycott against Rowling's work, sparking accusations that she was tone-deaf and out of touch. "I was not aware of that, no," she said, before adding that she hopes to find common ground with fans who are critical of her decision.

"I think we're all living in a period of time right now where we're all going to have to figure out how to live together, aren't we?" Knightley continued. "And we've all got very different opinions. I hope that we can all find respect."

But not everyone is buying Knightley's apology. Stephen King, the horror author and long-time critic of Rowling's views, weighed in on Twitter to express his disappointment with the actress. "Keira Knightley has chosen to ignore the boycott and profit from J.K. Rowling's transphobic work," he wrote.

JK, 59, has faced intense criticism in recent years for her gender critical views, including from several stars of the Harry Potter films

Knightley isn't the only one who's been criticized for their involvement in the audiobook project. Stephen Fry, the veteran actor and comedian, recently announced that he would no longer be involved with the series after expressing his disgust at Rowling's views on trans people.

"I used to have dinner regularly with J.K., but I've come to realize that she's been radicalized by TERFs (trans-exclusionary radical feminists) and has become increasingly isolated from the trans community," Fry said in a recent podcast interview. "She seems to be a lost cause for us, and it's not helpful for her to be mocking and contemptuous of trans people."

But despite the backlash, many fans are coming to Knightley's defense, arguing that she was simply doing her job as an actress and that she shouldn't be held responsible for Rowling's views. "In defence of Keira Knightley, James McAvoy and the like, they're not working directly with J.K. Rowling," one fan wrote on Twitter. "They've probably just chosen to serve the work itself and make it accessible for children, as well as for people who are visually impaired or dyslexic."

The adult cast of Harry Potter: The Full-Cast Audio Editions includes Hugh Laurie as Albus Dumbledore, Matthew Macfadyen as Lord Voldemort, Riz Ahmed as Professor Snape, and Cush Jumbo as narrator

However, others argue that Knightley should have done her research before signing on to the project. "Crazy how Keira Knightley, James McAvoy, Kit Harington, Simon Pegg and half of British acting royalty all saw this as just... another cool job," one fan wrote. "It's not the world-ending issue you think it is, but it does show that they're more concerned with their careers than with standing up for what's right."

As the controversy continues to simmer, one thing is clear: Keira Knightley has made a mistake by getting involved in this project, and she needs to do some serious damage control if she wants to salvage her reputation. Will she be able to recover from this PR disaster? Only time will tell.

The full story:

Speaking at a podcast recording last week, Stephen Fry (right) said he feared JK Rowling is a 'lost cause' who has been 'radicalised by TERFs'

Keira Knightley's involvement with the Harry Potter audiobook series is just the latest development in a long-standing feud between J.K. Rowling and the trans community. Rowling has been criticized for her views on trans people, including her statement that she would "happily" go to jail for misgendering a trans person.

In 2020, Rowling faced intense backlash after tweeting about the concept of "people who menstruate," which many saw as a thinly veiled attack on trans women. Since then, several stars of the Harry Potter franchise have spoken out against her views, including Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint.

The latest development in this saga is Knightley's involvement with the audiobook series. While she has apologized for her decision to work with Rowling, many fans are still outraged by her choice. "Keira Knightley should know better than to get involved with J.K. Rowling's transphobic work," one fan wrote on Twitter.

As the controversy continues to simmer, it's clear that this is a story that won't be going away anytime soon. Stay tuned for further updates as this drama unfolds!

A look back at Keira Knightley's career:

Keira Knightley has been in the entertainment industry for over two decades, and she's built up an impressive resume of roles. From her breakout performance in 2003's Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl to her critically-acclaimed turn as Joan Clarke in the 2014 biopic The Imitation Game, Knightley has proven herself to be one of the most talented and versatile actresses of her generation.

But despite her success, Knightley has also faced criticism for her choices. In 2020, she was accused of being "tone-deaf" after appearing in a commercial for a brand that had been criticized for its anti-LGBTQ+ policies.

Now, with her involvement in the Harry Potter audiobook series, Knightley is facing one of the biggest controversies of her career. Will she be able to recover from this PR disaster? Only time will tell.

The Scholary Note's take:

At The Scholary Note, we believe that celebrities have a responsibility to use their platforms for good. By choosing to work with J.K. Rowling on the Harry Potter audiobook series, Keira Knightley has inadvertently endorsed her views and damaged her reputation in the eyes of many fans.

While we understand that Knightley may not have been aware of the boycott against Rowling's work, it's hard to see how she didn't anticipate the backlash. After all, this is a story that's been unfolding for months now, with several high-profile stars speaking out against Rowling's views.

In our opinion, Knightley should have done her research before signing on to the project and avoided any potential controversy. By choosing to work with Rowling, she has shown that she prioritizes her career over standing up for what's right.

But it's not all doom and gloom! With this controversy, we're reminded of the power of celebrity activism and the importance of using one's platform for good. We hope that Keira Knightley will take this opportunity to educate herself on the issues at hand and use her platform to promote positivity and inclusivity in the future.

The takeaway:

Keira Knightley's involvement with the Harry Potter audiobook series has sparked a heated debate about the role of celebrities in promoting social justice. While she may have apologized for her decision, many fans are still outraged by her choice and questioning her commitment to standing up for what's right.

As we move forward, it's clear that this is a story that won't be going away anytime soon. We'll continue to follow the developments and provide updates as needed.

Sources:

  • Decider
  • The Scholary Note
  • Twitter