Nicola Coughlan Slams New ‘Harry Potter’ Series After J.K. Rowling Celebrates Anti-Trans Ruling: “Wouldn’t Touch It with a 10 Foot Pole”

Nicola Coughlan has made it clear she wants nothing to do with HBO’s upcoming Harry Potter reboot. The Bridgerton star publicly rejected the project in the wake of J.K. Rowling’s reaction to the U.K. Supreme Court’s ruling that legally defines a woman based on biological sex — a decision that restricts trans women from accessing women-only spaces and teams.

Rowling, who has long been accused of anti-trans rhetoric, celebrated the ruling on social media with a cigar in hand and the caption: “I love it when a plan comes together.” The post quickly went viral, sparking outrage from LGBTQ+ advocates and allies.

Coughlan, who has consistently supported trans rights, responded by reposting an article titled “This Is a New Low for J.K. Rowling” to her Instagram Story, adding, “Keep your new Harry Potter lads. Wouldn’t touch it with a 10 foot pole.” She also launched a fundraising campaign for the trans charity Not a Phase, pledging to match up to £10,000 in donations. To date, her campaign has raised over £100,000.

She further addressed the situation in a video message, calling the court ruling “stomach-churning and disgusting.” In the clip, Coughlan encouraged cisgender allies to speak out, saying now is the time to make it clear that the trans community is not alone.

Despite public backlash, HBO is moving forward with the new Harry Potter series. The cast was announced last week, with John Lithgow as Dumbledore, Janet McTeer as McGonagall, and Paapa Essiedu as Snape. Rowling is involved in the production and participated in the creative selection process, including the hiring of showrunner Francesca Gardiner and director Mark Mylod.

HBO previously stated that Rowling “has a right to express her personal views” and confirmed that she remains part of the development process. Neither Rowling nor HBO has responded directly to Coughlan’s comments.