- Paapa Essiedu will star as Severus Snape in the new Harry Potter series
- So fans were confused when the actor signed his name to a pro-trans open letter – when Potter creator JK Rowling is strictly anti-trans
- But after the actor received backlash online, some fans have come up with a theory
The new Harry Potter series has caused a stir of backlash online, thanks to creator JK Rowling’s anti-trans rights views.
Many fans of the franchise have vowed to boycott the TV reboot because of the writer, AGE, and her attitudes towards trans women.
In mid-April, supreme court judges in the UK unanimously ruled the terms ‘woman’ and ‘sex’ in the Equality Act 2010 refer to a biological woman and biological sex.
This means a gender recognition certificate (GRC) does not change a person’s legal sex for the purposes of the Equality Act.
The ruling has been interpreted to mean that trans women can be excluded from women-only spaces like toilets and changing rooms.
But in an open letter, more than 400 celebrities pledged “solidarity” with the trans, non-binary and intersex communities who have been affected by the supreme court’s decision – which was originally brought to the court by For Scotland Women, an organization which Rowling has reportedly donated £70,000 ($93,000) towards.
And one of those was Paapa Essiedu.
Why do fans have another theory about Paapa Essiedu?
As diehard followers will know, Essiedu will take on the part of Severus Snape in the new HBO series of Harry Potter.
But in taking on the role – which was originally portrayed by Alan Rickman in the movie franchise – Essiedu lost the respect of many fans, who said he was compromising his morals by getting involved with Rowling’s project.
But after signing the open letter, some fans have now come up with a hopeful theory.
“S***, maybe he’s playing 5D chess here,” wrote one. “Getting cast and then annoying her everyday at work by being openly pro-trans rights. And if he gets fired, that looks super s*****.”
Referencing the character of Snape, someone else said, “Snape actor being a double agent is insane meta.”
But other fans aren’t convinced…
Others, however, were still unconvinced by Essiedu’s “performative” statement.
“S*** maybe he’s performative as f*** and doesn’t actually care at all, maybe his PR rep just told him to sign this and MAYBE he’s doing the anti-trans Harry Potter show because he likes money more than morals,” wrote one fan in a scathing comment.
Someone else went on, “I understand this is a joke or whatever but I truly hate how y’all make up scenarios to justify celebrities with no backbone on here.”
Another agreed, “He’s not. He wasn’t expecting the backlash and is now trying to backtrack and save face but he’s a coward. No such thing as playing 5D chess when signing a contract with a transphobe.”
Urging others to let “celebs show you what they believe with their money, not performative public acts,” someone else finished, “No, he’s not. He willingly signed onto that project knowing full well what she stands for, but people are always ready to give men a pass for any problematic decision.”
Who else signed the trans solidarity open letter?
Aside from Essiedu, the open letter amassed more than 400 celebrity signatures.
Among them were Eddie Redmayne, Katie Leung, Nicola Coughlan, Charlotte Ritchie.
Bella Ramsey, James Norton, Joe Alwyn, Himesh Patel, Harris Dickinson and the director Ken Loach also added their names.
