He proved himself to be a Faithful as he was kicked off Celebrity Traitors last week – but now Sir Stephen Fry is facing suggestions that perhaps he’s not so loyal after all.
As one of the first narrators of the Harry Potter audiobook series, Sir Stephen, 68, has long been close to its author J.K. Rowling.
He promised he would never ‘abandon his friend’ as she faced a barrage of criticism over her pro-women stance on trans issues. But Sir Stephen later described Ms Rowling as a ‘lost cause’.
Now sources close to the children’s author suggest they might know why the presenter, once dubbed ‘the world’s most intelligent man’, changed his mind.
An associate of Ms Rowling told The Mail on Sunday that Sir Stephen had ‘coveted’ a role in the forthcoming television adaptation of the seven-book series for American media giant HBO.
The actor is said to have lobbied hard after some fans had called for him to be cast as Hogwarts headmaster Professor Albus Dumbledore, but Ms Rowling had declined to intervene in the casting process.
It was later announced that American actor John Lithgow, 80, had been cast as Dumbledore, played in the Harry Potter movies by Richard Harris and Michael Gambon.
Stephen Fry proved himself to be a Faithful when he was banished from the Celebrity Traitors
Fry promised ‘never to abandon’ his friend JK Rowling (pictured) as she faced a barrage of criticism over her views on transgender rights
The source said: ‘It is no secret that Stephen wanted a part in the Harry Potter series, and when he failed to get one there was a noticeable change in him.
‘After years of support for Jo, he suddenly seemed to turn against her. It didn’t take a genius to work out why.’
Ms Rowling has hinted at the fallout. In a social media post in September, decrying ‘another man who once worked with me declares himself saddened by my beliefs on gender and sex’, she added: ‘One of them tried very hard to enlist my help in getting a major part in it. Only after he didn’t get it did he decide it was time to put the boot in.’
Sir Stephen made no secret of his ambition to star in the new series, expected to be one of the most expensive television programmes ever.
When asked if he had been approached for a role, he said in February: ‘Well, I’d certainly consider it, like I consider anything.’
But in June he distanced himself from the Harry Potter writer, telling The Show People podcast: ‘She has been radicalised I fear and it may be she has been radicalised by TERFs, but also by the vitriol that is thrown at her.
‘It is unhelpful and only hardens her and will only continue to harden her I am afraid.
‘I am not saying that she should not be called out when she says things that are really cruel, wrong and mocking. She seems to be a lost cause for us.
Fry lost out to John Lithgow (pictured) as the headmaster of Hogwarts in the new series
‘She started to make these peculiar statements and had very strong difficult views. She seemed to wake up, or kick, a hornet’s nest of transphobia which has been entirely destructive. I disagree profoundly with her on this subject.
‘I am angry she does not disavow some of the more revolting and truly horrible, violently destructive things that people say. She says things that are inflammatory and contemptuous, mocking and add to a terribly distressing time for trans people.’
He had previously said in 2022: ‘[Ms Rowling’s] a friend of mine, and I have trans friends and intersex friends who are deeply upset by her. That’s a circle I have to square personally. I’m not going to abandon my friends.’
Ms Rowling responded to his about-turn, writing: ‘It is a great mistake to assume that everyone who claims to have been a friend of mine was ever considered a friend by me.’
Sir Stephen and Ms Rowling were contacted for comment.
