Keira Knightley apologises for joining Harry Potter cast amid JK Rowling controversy
Keira Knightley has issued an apology and explained she was 'not aware' of the 'Harry Potter boycott' before she signed on to voice a character in the upcoming audiobook series.
It was announced last month that the 40-year-old Love Actually actress would be lending her voice to the Harry Potter: The Full Cast Audio Editions, playing the role of villain Dolores Umbridge.
For those not in the loop, Audible are releasing a seven-part audiobook adaptation of the Harry Potter books in collaboration with Pottermore Publishing, which are separate from the upcoming HBO series.
The first audiobook, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, is set for release on November 4, with each of the remaining six audiobooks being released monthly worldwide.
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Recently revealed to be voicing characters are some other huge names, including Kit Harington as Professor Lockhart, Iwan Rheon as Professor Lupin, Ruth Wilson as Bellatrix Lestrange, Ambika Mod as Nymphadora Tonks, and Leo Woodall as Bill Weasley, according to Variety.
However, the audiobooks have caused backlash online as some people are calling for a boycott of anything Harry Potter related following JK Rowling's comments about the transgender community.
Over the last few years, the author has faced considerable backlash for her remarks about transgender people, such as saying that trans women should not be allowed in women-only spaces, and she has been vocal when it comes to trans women partaking in women's sports.
However, Rowling has denied being transphobic, previously saying that she respects 'every trans person's right to live any way that feels authentic and comfortable to them'.
Her remarks have been criticised by former Harry Potter cast members, including Emma Watson and Daniel Radcliffe. Many former fans have also distanced themselves from the franchise, with some even choosing to 'boycott' the author's works completely - something the author has responded to herself.
This, of course, includes the upcoming audiobooks, with Pottermore Publishing being owned by Rowling herself. And when the Pirates of the Caribbean star was asked about whether she'd known about the 'boycott', she said she didn't know about it.
Knightley told the Decider: "I was not aware of that, no. I’m very sorry."
She added: "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? And we’ve all got very different opinions. I hope that we can all find respect."
The controversy surrounding Rowling was also put to Tom Felton, who played Draco Malfoy in the original Harry Potter movies and is returning to the role for the Broadway production of Harry Potter and The Cursed Child.
Whilst on the red carpet of this year's Tony Awards, he was asked by a Variety reporter whether Rowling's views or the controversy surrounding the Harry Potter author 'impacts' him or his work 'at all.'
"No, I can't say it does," he responded. "I'm not really that attuned to it.
"The only thing I really remind myself is that I've been lucky enough to travel the world - here I am in New York - and I have not seen anything bring the world together more than Potter.
"And she's [Rowling] responsible for that, so I'm incredibly grateful."
Topics: Harry Potter, JK Rowling, Celebrity, TV And Film, Entertainment,
Madison Burgess