‘What’s wrong with her?’: Pete Davidson condemns JK Rowling for ‘very disappointing’ trans comments

Comedian has numerous Harry Potter tattoos

Pete Davidson has called out JK Rowling for her comments about transgender people, describing her views as “very disappointing”.

The comedian spoke about the Harry Potter author during Saturday Night Live’s “Weekend Update” segment last night (10 October), quipping: “I long for a few young years ago when the worst things she did were those Fantastic Beasts movies. No discrimination there, they harmed us all equally.”

He defended his Harry Potter tattoos, saying he “didn’t know that JK Rowling was going to go all Mel Gibson.” Gibson was widely condemned after unleashing an anti-Semitic rant in 2006 and he has also been accused of homophobia.

Davidson also argued that Rowling’s comments about the transgender community don’t add up given her penchant for the mystical and make-believe.

“What’s wrong with her?” he asked. “She creates a seven-book fantasy series about all types of mythical creatures living in harmony with wizards and elves and the one thing she can’t wrap her head around is Laverne Cox?”

Rowling has been at the centre of a trans row that has been raging since June, when she mocked a headline that included the inclusive phrasing “people who menstruate”.

She has since spoken out on the topic of transgender rights several times, and wrote an essay on the issue that was countered by Harry Potter stars including Daniel Radcliffe.

The most recent episode of SNL also saw Jim Carrey play the fly that landed on Mike Pence’s head during the recent vice presidential debate, a performance that left viewers in stitches.