‘The Matrix’ creator Lilly Wachowski on J.K. Rowling and the new ‘Harry Potter’ series: “She is funding trans genocide. J.K. Rowling funds trans genocide, full stop. So, if you support ‘Harry Potter,’ you’re supporting trans genocide.” variety.com/2026/tv/feat...
Lilly Wachowski on Her New Studio Anarchists United, the Black Power Origins of ‘The Matrix’ and How ‘Harry Potter’ Fans Are ‘Supporting Trans Genocide’
‘The Matrix’ filmmaker Lilly Wachowski opens up about her new studio for marginalized voices Anarchists United, J.K. Rowling and Elon Musk.
variety.com
![“There’s women, actual women, who are threatened with violence – sometimes get violence – and de-platformed because they have the temerity to say that a woman is an adult human female,” says Craig. “And they are shouted down by 0.5 per cent in a population who are male and who think that because they put on a dress, and they put on make-up, that that makes them a female.”
“People have lost their careers over that,” says Charlie. “[Graham] Linehan was the obvious one. None of his pals stood up for him. I wouldn’t agree with everything Linehan says any more than I would do with JK Rowling,” he continues of the Harry Potter author, whose vociferous support of women’s rights, like Linehan’s, has led to her being pilloried by the trans lobby. “But you’ve got the right to stand up for science and logic. And in his case, it’s a tragedy. He lost his career for telling the truth.”](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:amjsocsyzaelzf4by5raqo6l/bafkreib65khpuw2sq4mvqvbwrjwfc2wbjhkbdewneatbft7zvhxdcfo2mq)
![He highlights the public distancing from Rowling of Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint, the former child stars of the Harry Potter films – or, as he pithily describes them, “those f---ing bairns who Rowling made massive fortunes [for]… It was not necessary that each of them stood up and agreed with her. But you would have thought someone would stand up and say, ‘We live in a free country. Thank goodness we have freedom of speech. She is exercising her right to a point of view. I do not necessarily support it. But I support her right to say something.’ I don’t remember any of them saying anything [like that].”
This, explains Craig, is why he wrote You May Offend. “We’re getting the stage now where people are getting scared to say what they think because people are being cancelled. Because people have been prosecuted or threatened by prosecution.”
He has sympathy, too, for the police instructed to, for example, greet Linehan mob-handed as he stepped from an aeroplane.
“They’re doing that because they’re directed by politicians. They’re scared of seeming transphobic. They’re dancing to the tune, often, of self-interested interest groups.”](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:amjsocsyzaelzf4by5raqo6l/bafkreiajebaaepz23ev3qaoha4izpi5jtvt3ldbpmwntvsragxeuranrt4)
![Cartoon by Stephen Collins for The Guardian. Script as follows:
[scene is Winston Churchill in a bbc studio, giving his 'finest hour' speech]
1
CHURCHILL:
The whole fury and might of the enemy must very soon be turned on us.
2
CHURCHILL:
Hitler knows that he will have to break us in this Island or lose the war.
3
CHURCHILL:
If we can stand up to him, all Europe may be free
and the life of the world may move forward into broad, sun-
BBC PRESENTER:
Thank you prime minister
4
BBC PRESENTER:
Mr hitler, your response?
5
HITLER [in the studio]:
Vell zis is hysterical woke nonsense as usual from mr Churchill
6
HITLER:
What we are proposing -
CHURCHILL:
Hang on
7
HITLER:
Let me finish - what we are proposing eez a simple power-sharing arrangement -
8
CHURCHILL:
What's he doing here
BBC PRESENTER:
It's important we hear both sides of the debate
9
CHURCHILL:
This isn't a debate
You don't debate fascists
10
HITLER:
Oh here we go with ze Godwins law!
11
HITLER:
Why must you people always compare ze things you don't like to 'fascists, Nazis, Hitler'...
CHURCHILL:
Because you are a fascist Nazi Hit-
12
HITLER [standing up, saluting]:
RAUSS!
BBC PRESENTER:
*Please* Mr Churchill let him speak
[ends]](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:4m3we4apbjayclzcnhwe3pfp/bafkreibw4ldc3fhslbvxgy2oqrof2oys5kpgh7zu6a5f3usmx3lf4547qm)
