Reporter not allowed to ask Harry Potter's Tom Felton about JK Rowling

Harry Potter and the Deathly SILENCE! Moment Sky News reporter is blocked from asking Tom Felton a question about JK Rowling during interview on 25th anniversary of book SHE wrote

• Felton, who played Draco Malfoy in the films, stared blankly at the question
• The actor’s PR team quickly re-directed the flow when was asked about Rowling 
• Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone was released in 1997 – 25 years ago

This is the moment that a Sky News reporter was blocked from asking Harry Potter’s Tom Felton a question about JK Rowling during an interview on the 25th anniversary of a book she wrote. 

Felton, who played Draco Malfoy in the Harry Potter films, sat in silence as his PR said ‘next question please’ after reporter Claire Gregory asked about the author’s absence in the anniversary celebrations. 

After interrupting the journalist mid-flow, the actor’s team said they ‘felt it was not relevant’ to ask Felton about JK Rowling – despite the chat being about the release of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone.

Felton was being interviewed on camera this week at the Mandrakes and Magical Creatures feature at Warner Brothers Studios when the blunder occurred. 

Harry Potter’s Tom Felton stared blankly after the reporter asked him to comment on JK Rowling’s absence during the anniversary celebrations 

Writer JK Rowling has faced accusations of transphobia in recent years over her believes about women and girls

During the interview, Sky’s Claire Gregory said: ‘And you’re sort of, you’re still, you and the others stars of the film, still very much the face of the franchise, if you like.

‘We speak and hear from you guys. JK obviously has sort of more of a back seat now. Is it strange for her being around at things like this?’

But before the star, 34, could utter an answer, a PR person off screen was heard saying ‘next question please.’ 

Felton stared blankly and fidgeted with his hands as the reporter was forced to laugh and respond: ‘Oh okay.’

JK Rowling – the mastermind behind the seven best-seller Harry Potter books – came under intense scrutiny over her position on women’s rights and gender.

The author believes in some circumstances that women and girls should have the right to single-sex spaces, causing her to be at the centre of transphobic rows over the past few years.

Rowling, 56, faced accusations of transphobia after she mocked an online article in June 2020 which used the words ‘people who menstruate’ instead of ‘women’.

She later defended herself against the claims in a passionate essay – but has been criticised by some ever since.

That was then: JK is pictured with Rupert and Danielle at the Harry Potter And The Philosopher’s Stone in 2001

After being asked why the line of questioning was cut short, Tom Felton’s team said: ‘JK Rowling is not connected to Warner or Tom Felton, the team felt it was not relevant to the piece.’

In a story afterwards, Sky News said: ‘PRs don’t and shouldn’t – for all sorts of reasons not least press freedom – dictate Sky News editorial direction.’

Earlier this year, Attorney General Suella Braverman praised JK Rowling for her views on the transgender issues as she says schools should not have to pander to pupils who see themselves in a different birth gender.

The Tory minister said the Harry Potter author was a ‘heroine’ for campaigning for female only spaces for those born women and added that schools should be able to treat all children by their birth gender.

She said schools should not address trans pupils by their chosen pronouns or permit them to wear a school uniform of a different gender.

And she added that since those aged under 18 cannot legally change their gender, schools are entitled to treat all children by their birth gender.

The Attorney General also told The Times that Rowling, who has come under fierce criticism for her views on gender, is ‘very brave, very courageous’ and she is on ‘her side’ on the trans issue.

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