Rupert Grint faces backlash as he returns to Harry Potter as Ron Weasley
Harry Potter star Rupert Grint (Getty/Michael Loccisano)
Rupert Grint is facing criticism from LGBTQ+ fans after announcing his return to the role of Ron Weasley, this time on stage in Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.
The actor, who played Ron across all eight Harry Potter films, will reprise the role at Broadway’s Lyric Theatre for a 17-week run from 2 February, 2027.
He becomes the second film star to join the stage sequel after Tom Felton, who returned as Draco Malfoy last year.
“Ron Weasley has been a part of me since I was 11 years old and I can’t wait to meet him again in this stage of life,” Grint said.
But the announcement has drawn a wave of disappointed responses from LGBTQ+ fans and allies.
“I thought you were an ally,” read one widely-liked comment on the official announcement post, while another wrote simply: “Protect the dolls.”
The frustration stems in part from Grint’s own history of supporting the trans community.
In 2020, he was among the Harry Potter stars who publicly distanced themselves from JK Rowling’s views, telling The Times: “I firmly stand with the trans community… Trans women are women. Trans men are men.”
Daniel Radcliffe and Emma Watson made similar statements at the time.
Others defended the actor, arguing that the cast should not be held responsible for Rowling’s views.
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