J.K. Rowling Slams Critics of Hermoine Casting for 'Harry Potter' Play: 'Bunch of Racists'

J.K. Rowling, author of the “Harry Potter” series, is opening up about the casting of Noma Dumezweni to play Hermoine in the new play, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, opening in London next month.

“With my experience of social media, I thought that idiots were going to idiot,” J.K. told The Guardian about casting the black actress to play the role. “But what can you say? That’s the way the world is. Noma was chosen because she was the best actress for the job.”

“I had a bunch of racists telling me that because Hermione ‘turned white’ – that is, lost color from her face after a shock – that she must be a white woman, which I have a great deal of difficulty with. But I decided not to get too agitated about it and simply state quite firmly that Hermione can be a black woman with my absolute blessing and enthusiasm,” J.K. added.

“What shocked me was the way people couldn’t visualise a non-white person as the hero of a story. It’s therefore brilliant that this has happened,” director of the play John Tiffany said.

See photos from the production below…