> ## Content Index
> Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.scenemag.co.uk/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further.

# Tom Daley condemns JK Rowling’s anti-trans comments
- URL: https://www.scenemag.co.uk/tom-daley-condemns-jk-rowlings-anti-trans-comments/
- Published: 2021-04-12T12:30:59.000Z
- Updated: 2021-04-12T09:21:15.000Z
- Description: Tom Daley said it is ‘hard to understand’ Rowling’s anti-trans comments.
- Author: Rachel Badham
- Tags: News, Queer Corner, Harry Potter, JK Rowling, JK Rowling transphobia, Judith Butler, LGBTQ, LGBTQ celebrities, Seaford Head School, Tom Daley, Trans Rights, Transgender

![](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/tom-daley-600-400.jpg)

Out gay Olympic diver, **Tom Daley** **,** discussed author **JK Rowling** in an interview with [*The Times*](https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/tom-daley-on-the-tokyo-olympics-fatherhood-and-husband-dustin-lance-black-cjw2vnwsw?ref=scenemag.co.uk), with the former *Harry Potter* fan saying it is ‘hard to understand’ her anti-trans comments. 26-year-old Daley said he *“did love JK Rowling’s books”*, but added: *“It’s one of the hardest things to understand, how trans people think and feel, because she has never lived that experience.”*

[![](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/j-k-rowling-septembe.jpg)](https://www.gscene.com/news/seaford-school-drops-transphobic-jk-rowling-from-house-names/attachment/j-k-rowling-septembe/?ref=scenemag.co.uk)

He said he would change his *Desert Island Disc* book choice from one of Rowling’s novels to *A New Earth* by **Eckhart Tolle**. When asked what he would say to Rowling in person, he said he would have a *“conversation rather than a shouting match”.* Daley is among a handful of other public figures who have criticised Rowling’s attitudes towards trans people, including queer feminist writer and philosopher, **Judith Butler,** who said [last year](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/judith-butler-discusses-jk-rowlings-position-on-trans-people/) that she has *“not used her public position well”* and *“fostered hated and misunderstanding”.*

![](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/trans-flags-600-400.jpg)

Rowling has been accused of transphobia on multiple occasions, and was recently the [subject of discussion](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/seaford-school-drops-transphobic-jk-rowling-from-house-names/) at a local school, which had named one of its houses after the author. **Seaford Head School** said it would be changing its house names as it no longer felt *“that JK Rowling is a suitable representative, because of her recent words about the trans community.”*