John Lithgow has responded to backlash surrounding his decision to take the role of Albus Dumbledore for Max’s new Harry Potter series, despite the widespread furor over J.K. Rowling ‘s controversial views on transgender women, and his words are only earning more ire for the actor.

Apparently Lithgow is really good at separating the art from the artist, even after receiving a text from “a very good friend who is the mother of a trans child.” The artist in question, of course, recently spent tens of thousands of dollars to support a legal challenge that resulted in the U.

I thought, why is this a factor at all? I wonder how J.K. Rowling has absorbed it. I suppose at a certain point I’ll meet her and I’m curious to talk to her," the actor said of the author, who has been slammed for her anti-trans comments.