If there’s one thing thatJohn Oliverdoes well, it’s managing to spark the ire ofHarry PotterauthorJ.K. Rolwingwhen he goes on one of his rants about those on the right wanting to ban transgender athletes in women’s sports. TheLast Week Tonighthost was at it again this past weekend on HBO, reigniting his and Rowling’s feudfrom last November, which this time saw the writer take to social media to slam Oliver as someone whose views are “fashionably anti-women.”
Oliver’s position seems to be that the right’s “obsession” with banning transgender athletes in women’s sports, especially at the high school level, makes no sense whatsoever because, as he puts it, “We have no research about how being trans or undergoing gender-affirming treatment impacts athletic performance in teens.” His main argument is that the “bigger and stronger bodies” of males are not an advantage in every situation, and he pointed to Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson trying to participate in a pure barre class as an example.
“We know what would happen. He’d take a video of himself, caption it, ‘Mad respect to these mamas. Everyone go see Moana 2,’ and try to use it to sell his tequila before eating 13,000 pancakes and drinking a cow.”
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After the segment aired, Rowling took to social media to take shots at Oliver, saying that he “sold out” by taking the stance he had on the subject. At the same time, she also – possibly – referred to herself as “anti-science,” which is a bit of a weird thing to admit, but there you have it:
“I understand why men like Oliver, who’ve consistently mocked anti-science people on the right, sold out initially. They didn’t want to blow up their careers. Taking fashionable anti-women’s rights positions was the cost of doing business. But it’s time to read the f**king room.”
Both John Oliver and J.K. Rowling Are Now Under the Same Umbrella
WithLast Week Tonightnow in its Season 12 run on HBO, it will be interesting to see what happens when Rowling joins the family as an executive producer on the newHarry Potterseries being developed for the network. Oliver’s show is expected to run through the 2026 season, which is whenHBO’s adaptation of Rowling’s novels is set to start airing.
Will she attempt to throw her weight around and make execs at Warner Bros. not renew Oliver’s contract? It’s doubtful, but even if she did, it would take a lot more than that for the host to be canceled, asLast Week Tonightis a consistent performer for HBO, has won 30 Primetime Emmy Awards, and garners a ton of social media traffic, which in turn draws more eyeballs to it each week.
If anything, Oliver will have a lot more material to work with if this newHarry Potteradaptation fails to succeed, or even if it stumbles in the slightest. Either way, it’s clear that both he and Rowling will never see eye-to-eye on the transgender issue, which definitely makes for some interesting moments like the one above.
