J.K. Rowling said in a new post on X that she does not have the power to fire Paapa Essiedu from HBO’s “Harry Potter” television series, nor would she exercise such power if she had it. “I May Destroy You” Emmy nominee Essiedu is set to play Severus Snape on the show.

Another day, another story on J.K. Rowling 's involvement in HBO's upcoming Harry Potter TV series. At this point, you're well aware that the series itself has become a hotbed of discourse and criticism because the author has spent the majority of her post-Harry Potter career spending time — and money — essentially pushing back against the mere notion of trans rights.

J.K. Rowling explains why she wouldn’t fire Paapa Essiedu from the Harry Potter series despite their opposing views about the trans community. Lately, Rowling is best known for her anti-trans rhetoric and has gloated over the U.