Two decades after playing Hogwarts’ most spineless bully, Tom Felton seems to be channeling Draco Malfoy once again—this time in real life. As the Harry Potter franchise continues to be shadowed by author J.K. Rowling’s anti-trans views, Felton has made it clear: he’s not particularly “attuned” to the backlash. In other words, he’s choosing not to pay attention.
Speaking to Variety at the Tony Awards, Felton—who’s set to reprise the role of Draco Malfoy on Broadway in Harry Potter and the Cursed Child—shrugged off concerns about Rowling’s controversial politics, saying it doesn’t impact how he sees the franchise. “I can’t say it does,” he stated, before pivoting to praise Rowling, saying, “I’ve not seen anything bring the world together more than Potter.”
Tom Felton says the controversy around J.K. Rowling's political views doesn't impact him: "I'm not really that attuned to it…I have not seen anything bring the world together more than Potter. She's responsible for that, so I'm incredibly grateful." #TonyAwards pic.twitter.com/T7KSMNbFds
— Variety (@Variety) June 8, 2025
That’s a bold take considering the very real pain Rowling’s rhetoric has caused, particularly for trans people and the LGBTQ+ community. It also stands in stark contrast to Felton’s more principled co-stars. All three leads—Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint—have publicly condemned Rowling’s anti-trans views and affirmed their support for the trans community, recognizing that their platform matters and silence is complicity.
Felton, however, appears content to bask in nostalgia and ignore the cultural firestorm, describing the franchise as something “reimagined into a very loving, new type of story.” That “loving” vision seems to stop short of acknowledging the marginalized communities Rowling continues to alienate.
Still, Felton’s upcoming Broadway run marks a milestone: he’ll be the first original Harry Potter film actor to appear in the Cursed Child stage production. The play, set 19 years after the original series, sees Draco now a father, sending his own son to Hogwarts.