Non-paywalled link: https://archive.is/zJ03A#selection-2149.0-2149.546
The fact that Rowling allows herself to make divisive remarks that could jeopardize a shoot beginning in London in a few days speaks to her confidence as a writer, and to the shifting climate since Donald Trump, an outspoken opponent of trans rights, came to power in the United States. On the other side, the guilt-tripping has already begun, with the refrain: “Watching the series is funding transphobia.” But it is not certain that this approach will work, since, as we know, consumer society is always hungry and digests everything just fine.
It also “helps” her cause that a significant percentage of the public are fearful, hateful transphobes themselves.
I’m going to make up numbers to illustrate a concept: If she outrages a third of her potential fans, one third still actively support her while the last third is apathetic enough that they will support her content if they like it. That is more than enough for her, especially since she is already filthy rich. It’s no skin off her nose, as it were.