News | Entertainment
28 Feb 2026 11:08
NZCity News
NZCity CalculatorReturn to NZCity

  • Start Page
  • Personalise
  • Sport
  • Weather
  • Finance
  • Shopping
  • Jobs
  • Horoscopes
  • Lotto Results
  • Photo Gallery
  • Site Gallery
  • TVNow
  • Dating
  • SearchNZ
  • NZSearch
  • Crime.co.nz
  • RugbyLeague
  • Make Home
  • About NZCity
  • Contact NZCity
  • Your Privacy
  • Advertising
  • Login
  • Join for Free

  •   Home > News > Entertainment

    Brian Cox has defended JK Rowling from accusations that she made anti-trans comments

    The 'Succession' actor has thrown his support behind the 'Harry Potter' author, who sparked controversy on Twitter earlier this year by implying that only women menstruate in response to an article


    Brian admitted that he asked his son what had happened as he'd been away when Rowling made her comments.

    The 74-year-old actor explained: "I kept saying, 'So what happened?'. He said, 'Well, she believes women menstruate.

    "That's what they do, don't they?' He said, 'Well, people don't like that,' and you go, 'Oh for Christ's sake!"

    Rowling's Tweets were considered to be transphobic and were criticised by 'Harry Potter' stars and fan sites and Brian admits that he hates cancel culture.

    He told Reader's Digest magazine: "Call something what it is, as opposed to something you think it should be. And it is - it's the cancel culture. I keep well away from it."

    Rowling sparked the backlash in June by taking aim at a headline, which read: "Opinion: Creating a more equal post-COVID-19 world for people who menstruate."

    The author wrote: "'People who menstruate.' I'm sure there used to be a word for those people. Someone help me out. Wumben? Wimpund? Woomud?"

    She was recently defended by 'Harry Potter' actor Robbie Coltrane who revealed that he didn't think her comments were "offensive".

    The 70-year-old star - who played Rubeus Hagrid in the film series - said: "I don't think what she said was offensive really.

    "I don't know why but there's a whole Twitter generation of people who hang around waiting to be offended. They wouldn't have won the war, would they?

    "That's me talking like a grumpy old man, but you just think, 'Oh, get over yourself. Wise up, stand up straight and carry on.'"

    © 2026 Bang Showbiz, NZCity

     Other Entertainment News
     28 Feb: Justin Trudeau's son approves of his romance with Katy Perry
     28 Feb: Lupita Nyong'o has "over 50" uterine fibroids
     28 Feb: Hilary Duff has admitted she "intentionally" gatecrashed the premiere of her "childhood nemesis" Lindsay Lohan's movie Freaky Friday
     28 Feb: Christian Bale appears to have confirmed he will join the cast of Heat 2
     28 Feb: Barbra Streisand has paid tribute to Jennifer Aniston following the actress' recent birthday and her growing relationship with Jim Curtis
     27 Feb: Drew Barrymore travels down "memory lane" when looking at pictures of herself from her 1990s heyday
     27 Feb: Cruz Beckham's 21st birthday celebrations have gone on for a week
     Top Stories

    RUGBY RUGBY
    Moana Pasifika's defensive frailties have continued to hurt them in Super Rugby for a second week in a row More...


    BUSINESS BUSINESS
    The average Auckland ratepayer will be paying an average of 320 dollars more a year, if the council's annual plan passes More...



     Today's News

    Law and Order:
    A knife has been found at the scene of a serious late night assault in Auckland's CBD, which left two people injured 10:47

    Business:
    The average Auckland ratepayer will be paying an average of 320 dollars more a year, if the council's annual plan passes 10:47

    Cricket:
    A nervous 24 hours awaits the Black Caps following their four-wicket Super Eight loss to England at the T20 World Cup in Sri Lanka 10:37

    Law and Order:
    A 22 year old Hawke's Bay man has been exposed as the planner of a mass killing and a distributor of child sexual exploitation material 10:27

    Health & Safety:
    The mother of a disabled teenager, with the developmental age of a 1-year-old is pleading for help 10:07

    Tennis:
    Tennis star Destanee Aiava 'scared' to walk on court because of death threats 10:06

    Living & Travel:
    Concerns for North Island Brown Kiwi living on Kawau Island, north of Auckland - after survey results show low breeding success 9:27

    Politics:
    Temporary reprieve for Gaza healthcare system as Israel's attempt to block Doctors Without Borders and other aid groups is stopped 9:16

    Entertainment:
    Justin Trudeau's son approves of his romance with Katy Perry 8:21

    Rugby:
    Moana Pasifika's defensive frailties have continued to hurt them in Super Rugby for a second week in a row 8:16


     News Search






    Power Search


    © 2026 New Zealand City Ltd