Tennis icon Martina Navratilova has backed J.K. Rowling after Hollywood actor Pedro Pascal branded the Harry Potter author a "heinous loser" in a Vanity Fair interview over her stance on transgender issues.
The 49-year-old actor, who has a transgender sibling, told the magazine he "hates bullies" and questioned whether he was helping by speaking out.
Pascal said: "Bullies make me f***ing sick. It's a situation that deserves the utmost elegance so that something can actually happen, and people will actually be protected."
The Fantastic Four star's comments reignited his public feud with Rowling, which began earlier this year.
Hollywood actor Pedro Pascal branded Harry Potter author JK Rowling a "heinous loser"
|Getty
The conflict originated in April when Rowling posted a photograph of herself smoking a cigar on a boat with the caption: "I love it when a plan comes together."
The 59-year-old was celebrating the UK Supreme Court's ruling on the legal definition of a woman.
The ruling effectively prohibited biological men from using single-sex spaces including women's toilets, hospital wards and changing rooms.
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I love it when a plan comes together.#SupremeCourt #WomensRights pic.twitter.com/agOkWmhPgb
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) April 16, 2025
Pascal responded furiously on Instagram, calling Rowling's reaction "awful, disgusting" and "heinous LOSER behaviour."
The Last of Us actor also shared a post stating: "I can't think of anything more vile and small and pathetic than terrorising the smallest, most vulnerable community of people who want nothing from you, except the right to exist."
Rowling responded to Pascal's latest criticism, posting on X: "Can't say I feel very shut down, but keep at it, Pedro. God loves a trier."
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The 59-year-old author's dismissive response prompted support from Navratilova, who added: "Another Johnny come lately telling women to STFU."
The 68-year-old tennis champion, who won 18 major titles during her career, has been a vocal critic of transgender women competing in women's sports.
Pascal had told Vanity Fair he "agonized" over whether his interventions were helping, saying: "Listen, I want to protect the people I love. But it goes beyond that."
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Another Johnny come lately telling women to STFU https://t.co/nzd5MeXKC1
— Martina Navratilova (@Martina) June 29, 2025
Both Rowling and Navratilova have become prominent voices in the gender-critical movement, frequently clashing with trans rights activists.
Navratilova, despite being a lifelong Democrat, has criticised her party's stance on the issue.
In April, she posted on X: "I hate that the Democrats totally failed women and girls on this very clear issue of women's sports being for females only."
The tennis legend has consistently advocated for legislation to prevent biological males from competing in women's sports.
Rowling has emerged as a leading figure opposing radical gender ideology, regularly facing criticism from celebrities and activists who disagree with her views on protecting women's spaces and rights.