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Portrait of Daniel Radcliffe

Photo: Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Born in United Kingdom · Nationality British — Cinema / theatre / LGBT rights / popular culture

Daniel Radcliffe

Film, television and entertainment

Documented profile covering 7 controversies, including “2024: renewed public escalation of conflict with J.K. Rowling following Cass Review” and “2020: public break with J.K. Rowling over transgender rights”.

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Profile No. 1557 · Updated on 12 October 2026

Portrait of Daniel Radcliffe

Photo: Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons
7Documented controversies
13Sources
0Formal charge · all time
0Conviction

§ Legal statuses reflect the documented sources as of the date shown; they replace neither court decisions nor the presumption of innocence. Counts are not a rating. Methodology

I. Documented controversies

01

2024-04-2024-05

2024: renewed public escalation of conflict with J.K. Rowling following Cass Review

No legal proceedings

Following publication of the Cass Review in the United Kingdom, Rowling stated that Radcliffe and Emma Watson should not expect her forgiveness for their previous positions on transgender issues. Radcliffe responded that the rupture with someone who had played an important role in his career made him 'really sad', while maintaining his beliefs.

State of the evidence
Documented
Attribution
Personally implicated

Sources · 1

  1. [1]
    The GuardianDaniel Radcliffe says rupture with JK Rowling over trans rights is ‘really sad’MediaHigh reliability

Last verified: 13 September 2026

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02

2020-06

2020: public break with J.K. Rowling over transgender rights

No legal proceedings

Following J.K. Rowling's posts about biological sex and gender identity, Radcliffe published a statement asserting that 'transgender women are women' and apologised to Harry Potter fans who had been hurt by the author's remarks.

State of the evidence
Documented
Attribution
Personally implicated

Sources · 2

  1. [1]
    The GuardianDaniel Radcliffe criticises JK Rowling's tweets on gender identityMediaHigh reliability
  2. [2]
    CBS NewsDaniel Radcliffe responds to J.K. Rowling's tweetsMediaHigh reliability

Last verified: 13 September 2026

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03

2018-01

2018: criticism of Warner Bros.' handling of allegations surrounding Johnny Depp in Fantastic Beasts

No legal proceedings

Radcliffe criticised what he perceived as an inconsistency between retaining Johnny Depp in Fantastic Beasts despite Amber Heard's allegations and Warner Bros.' harsher treatment of certain Harry Potter actors for cannabis-related offences.

State of the evidence
Documented
Attribution
Personally implicated

Sources · 2

  1. [1]
    TheWrapDaniel Radcliffe compares Johnny Depp situation to NFLMediaHigh reliability
  2. [2]
    Refinery29Daniel Radcliffe speaks out about Johnny Depp castingMediaHigh reliability

Last verified: 13 September 2026

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04

2016-01

2016: Swiss Army Man prompts audience walkouts at Sundance

No legal proceedings

Swiss Army Man, in which Radcliffe plays a flatulent corpse used as a survival tool, prompted audience walkouts at its Sundance premiere and media coverage focused on its absurdity and supposedly poor taste.

State of the evidence
Documented

Sources · 2

  1. [1]
    The GuardianSwiss Army Man: Daniel Radcliffe's farting corpse divides SundanceMediaHigh reliability
  2. [2]
    TheWrapDaniel Radcliffe, Paul Dano Talk Swiss Army Man WalkoutsMediaHigh reliability

Last verified: 13 September 2026

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05

2013

2013: media focus on gay sex scene in Kill Your Darlings

No legal proceedings

The sex scene between men in Kill Your Darlings attracted much of the film's media coverage. Radcliffe expressed irritation that this aspect was treated as a career risk or something exceptional.

State of the evidence
Reported by the press
Attribution
Directly implicated

Sources · 2

  1. [1]
    The IndependentRadcliffe 'weirded out' by media focus on gay sex scenesMediaHigh reliability
  2. [2]
    Vanity FairDaniel Radcliffe on Filming the Gay Sex Scene in Kill Your DarlingsMediaHigh reliability

Last verified: 13 September 2026

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06

2009-2010

2009–2010: problematic alcohol use described by Radcliffe himself during Harry Potter period

No legal proceedings

Radcliffe explained that he had developed an unhealthy relationship with alcohol during the final years of Harry Potter and had sometimes still been under its influence when arriving at work, although he maintained that he never drank directly on set.

State of the evidence
Documented
Attribution
Personally implicated

Sources · 2

  1. [1]
    The GuardianDaniel Radcliffe reveals alcohol struggleMediaHigh reliability
  2. [2]
    The GuardianDaniel Radcliffe: alcohol was 'not making me happy'MediaHigh reliability

Last verified: 13 September 2026

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07

2007

2007: nudity and sexual content in Equus spark controversy around Harry Potter image

No legal proceedings

At 17, Daniel Radcliffe moved away from the family-friendly Harry Potter image to perform in Equus in London, featuring nudity and sexual content. The choice prompted a strong media reaction and criticism from some parents and fans of the franchise.

State of the evidence
Documented
Attribution
Directly implicated

Sources · 2

  1. [1]
    The Observer / The GuardianDaniel Radcliffe: 'I've never tried to play it safe'MediaHigh reliability
  2. [2]
    CBS NewsCritics: Harry Potter Actor Works MagicMediaHigh reliability

Last verified: 13 September 2026

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II. Constellation of documented links

  • Linked profile (portrait or initials) — click to open it
  • Line width: number of documented references
  • Hover over or tap a line: controversies and sources

Two profiles are linked when a documented controversy of one names the other. The link points to that controversy and its sources; it does not indicate a personal relationship.

List of documented links (3)
  1. J.K. Rowling2 documented references
  2. Emma Watson1 documented reference
  3. Johnny Depp1 documented reference

III. Has something changed?

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