RuPaul’s Drag Race UK star slams former guest judge for joining new Harry Potter project

Another day, another “disappointing” Harry Potter casting announcement, and this time it’s for new audiobook series Harry Potter: The Full-Cast Audio Editions.

It was revealed yesterday (5 August) that a host of famous faces will be involved in voicing Hogwarts’ most prestigious characters, with House star Hugh Laurie set to voice Albus Dumbledore and Succession’s Matthew Macfadyen voicing Lord Voldemort.

Academy Award-nominated Sound of Metal actor Riz Amed will voice Professor Snape, while Doctor Who star Michelle Gomez will play Professor McGonagall.

The audiobook series will be narrated by Torchwood star and former RuPaul’s Drag Race UK guest judge Cush Jumbo.

As has become customary now when actors announced that they are starring in a Harry Potter project, the internet has erupted with feelings of “disappointment” at those involved in the upcoming audiobooks.

The audiobook series is helmed by Audible and Pottermore Publishing, the latter of which is owned by ‘gender-critical’ Harry Potter JK Rowling.

Since 2020, Rowling has been at the centre of trans rights discourse, having recently helped to fund the group that launched the legal case that led to the UK’s Supreme Court ruling that the definition of a “woman” in the 2010 Equality Act excludes trans women.

Rowling recently set up the JK Rowling Women’s Fund to help fund similar ‘gender-critical’ legal cases. Funding for the new organisation will come from Rowling’s own pocket, which is lined in part by Harry Potter projects, such as the new audiobook series and HBO’s controversial upcoming Harry Potter TV reboot.

Members of the LGBTQ+ community have continually voiced their upset at actors still willing to take part in Harry Potter projects, arguing that they are inadvertently helping to fund Rowling’s support of ‘gender-critical’ legal cases.

Reacting to the Harry Potter: The Full-Cast Audio Editions casting news, RuPaul’s Drag Race UK star Kate Butch wrote on X/Twitter: “I think if you were a guest judge on perhaps the least cis season of Drag Race UK you shouldn’t be doing this idk (incredibly disappointed at the rest of them and all).”

I think if you were a guest judge on perhaps the least cis season of drag race uk you shouldn’t be doing this idk

(incredibly disappointed at the rest of them and all) https://t.co/THs4a3uyLg

— Kate Butch (@thekatebutch) August 5, 2025

Cush Jumbo appeared as a guest judge during an episode of Drag Race UK season five, which Kate Butch appeared on. The season featured one trans and at least two non-binary contestants. 

“Thought it couldn’t get more disappointing than Michelle Gomez and then I read CUSH’S NAME. Noooooo,” wrote another.

Others were surprised to see Jumbo’s name on the cast list considering her friendship with Doctor Who star David Tennant, who she appeared on stage with in Macbeth in 2023, and Deadwater Fell in 2020.

Tennant is a vocal supporter of trans rights and has previously criticised Rowling.

PinkNews has contacted Cush Jumbo’s representatives for comment.

“Supporting anything Harry Potter is supporting hate. The proceeds going to JK Rowling are being weaponized against trans people. Stop supporting this franchise,” argued a third.

Another wrote: “I feel like I’m going insane. How many times are we going to remake these books and line this woman’s pockets with money? Burn it all down. Nostalgia can hang. Trans lives matter so much more.”

well this is extremely disappointing https://t.co/CZdILtTmgP

— maddie 🇵🇸 (@barbieheimer) August 5, 2025

“F**k any adult who decides to work with this woman. It’s not a job when people’s lived realities are impacted by what this woman chooses to do with her influence or money,” a fifth wrote.

Stars involved in HBO’s upcoming Harry Potter TV reboot have also faced heavy scrutiny, including Nick Frost, who will play Hagrid, Katherine Parkinson who will star as Molly Weasley, and John Lithgow, who will portray Dumbledore.

Frost has since said his views on the trans community do not align with those of Rowling, while Parkinson refused to “add to” the “debate” about trans rights.

Lithgow has said that Rowling’s views did not deter him from agreeing to appear in the series, while Paapa Essiedu – who will star as Professor Snape – has signed an open letter calling for support of the trans community following the UK Supreme Court’s ruling.

Share your thoughts! Let us know in the comments below, and remember to keep the conversation respectful.