JK Rowling has said she does not have the authority to fire Paapa Essidu from the Harry Potter TV adaptation for his support of the trans community – nor would she, apparently.

Following the UK Supreme Court ruling in April that trans women are not legally defined as women under the 2010 Equality Act, hundreds of professionals from the world of television and film signed an open letter pledging support with the trans community.

The letter, started by development producer Sid Strickland and script editor Jack Casey, expressed “solidarity with the trans, non-binary and intersex communities who have been impacted by the Supreme Court ruling” and all those who signed their names “believe the ruling undermines the lived reality and threatens the safety of trans, non-binary and intersex people living in the UK”.

One of the signatories was Paapa Essidu, who is set to play Professor Severus Snape in the HBO adaptation of the Harry Potter series.

Alongside Essidu, other famous faces to put their names to the letter include Fantastic Beasts star Eddie Redmayne, The Last of Us favourite Bella Ramsey and Bridgerton’s Nicola Coughlan, as well as a number of writers, producers and directors.

Author of the Harry Potter book series JK Rowling – who is executive producer for the TV adaptation, well-known for her anti-trans views and gave funding to the gender-critical group that brought the Supreme Court case – responded to Essidu’s signature on the letter in a post on X/Twitter.

“I don’t have the power to sack an actor from the series and I wouldn’t exercise it if I did,” Rowling wrote in a post while sharing a link to an article about Essiedu.

“I don’t believe in taking away people’s jobs or livelihoods because they hold legally protected beliefs that differ from mine.”

In recent days, HBO CEO Casey Bloys said Rowling’s views on trans rights will not impact the channel’s adaptation, despite her key role in creating the show.

On a recent episode of The Town with Matt Belloni, Bloys said: “The decision to be in business with JK Rowling is not new for us.

“We’ve been in business for 25 years. We already have a show on HBO from her called C.B. Strike that we do with the BBC.”

He continued: “It’s pretty clear that those are her personal, political views. She’s entitled to them. Harry Potter is not secretly being infused with anything. If you want to debate her, you can go on Twitter.”

The CEO went on to claim Rowling’s opinions are “very nuanced and complicated”, adding: “Our priority is what’s on the screen. Obviously, the Harry Potter story is incredibly affirmative and positive and about love and self-acceptance. That’s our priority — what’s on screen.”

Last month, HBO confirmed many key cast members for the TV series, which is expected to run for more than a decade with each Harry Potter book being adapted into a full-length season.

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