Helena Bonham Carter speaks up for JKR

[KatMcBundleFace]

Another fabulous talent on the "wrong side of history" eh?

www.thetimes.co.uk/article/22538022-69a8-11ed-a782-0f22726b9287?shareToken=01b378fc324bfc250f957ad16f531dc0

This interview made me like her. She's not stupid and has said exactly what she wants to say. I would take from this that she's in agreement with JK and thinks there's no issue with JK speaking out about her opinion and experience. I imagine she's got no interest in being quotable on this subject but it's clearly the younger cast she's judging for speaking out against what JK said.

Agreed.

I imagine her long standing history with Johnny Depp and her intimate and deep knowledge of him, his character and I imagine Amber's character probably puts her in a better place to comment on these things than a load of randoms on mumsnet?

Shes speaking up now - for those complaining - because she has been appointed as the first female president of the London Library. On page 2 of the Sunday Times- ‘….. she used her appointment as the first female president of the London Library to condemn ‘hounding’ of the Harry Potter author JKRowling. The actor said moves to cancel her views on gender were motivated by intolerance and envy’
So true.

Personally I think what she says is fair enough. She doesn't specifically say which "side" she agrees with, if either, but she feels quite strongly they should both be allowed their own views without being hounded.

I agree Radcliffe et al shouldn't have criticised JKR but I do think they are allowed to disagree with her and to say so publicly, and I think their views were genuine and strongly held. I don't think they were putting the boot in just for the sake of it.

I mean personally I agree with JKR but I think Radcliffe et al are entitled to say they disagree. It's the absolute hounding of JKR and the "no debate" that's terrible.

I think we're getting a lot closer to being able to debate the issue now, which is a great thing.

There were plenty of findings of abuse against Johnny Depp.

A lot of my abusive ex's friends think he is utterly charming and lovely. Even in some cases those who saw him treat me horrendously.

I agree with this. Of course it would have been welcome if HBC had spoken out as an actor but I don't agree with complaining about those who don't - even JKR hesitated and prevaricated at first. The people I will happily point a finger at are the politicians and others in public office who stay quiet.

Quite!

Another Smart Woman who Totally Gets It!

(although the writer could have done without commenting on HBC’s appearance: “goth meets bluestocking”…)

I loved that description. HBC clearly thinks about her appearance and her clothes and puts time and effort into it.

Same here.

Heard maintains that she suffered years of abuse at Depp’s hands and the High Court in London found that 12 assaults were proved on the balance of probability.

Exactly how I feel.

This is an anti cancel culture opinion seemingly regardless of the crimes committed. Even sex offenders should be forgiven.

It's hardly a ringing endorsement of JKR or any sort of agreement with her views.

This is the best summary I've read of JKR's 'crime'

Rowling has been heavily attacked by trans rights activists for her belief in the need for female-only spaces.

Children and people who cba to find out the facts believe she has actually done something transphobic and not just this.

They'll be many here brushing off her shit opinion on Depp/Heard because she was vaguely positive about JKR.

I think it does help when high-profile people take this 'positive neutral' stance. It's about facts not personal feelings. I liked the way she tackled the question by summarising the issue not using it to preach her own virtue.

Her attitude to sex offenders I am less impressed with.

Precisely. She’s said what she wants to say, no more, no less. What she has said is pretty forthright and unambiguous- she’s against the hounding of JKR for having opinions or views to which she’s entitled. She’s strongly hinted she’s in agreement without needing to say anything that similarly gets her quoted and picked apart (which will probably happen anyway, by both ‘sides’, as indeed this thread shows.)

She’s being interviewed as the first female president of the London Library, she’s speaking about a female writer being ‘cancelled’. That’s then inevitably going to lead on to her own history with the Potter franchise and the younger cast members, and she’s not touched on their views being right or wrong either but talked about the ‘code’ that basically says, don’t bite the hand.

And then that is going to lead on to her relationship with Johnny Depp, and other ‘problematic’ figures she’s worked with or has relationships with.

I don’t demand purity of anyone, I only demand honesty and I think this is an honest interview. She’s not dodged anything, she’s been outspoken in her defence of free speech. Johnny Depp is her children’s godfather - I think expecting her to say anything in condemnation of him is demanding too much.

I think she comes across with integrity.

Wonderful news. And I love how when people come out in support of JKR there’s always nuance and complexity there, not some groupthink that we all blindly laud them for.

Does Depp have a way back? “Oh, I think he’s completely vindicated,” she replies. “I think he’s fine now. Totally fine.” I ask if the US libel case between Amber Heard and Depp was the pendulum of #MeToo swinging back. “My view is that she got on that pendulum. That’s the problem with these things — that people will jump on the bandwagon because it’s the trend and to be the poster girl for it.”

Nuance and complexity?

'It’s hard. One thing with the fame game is that there’s an etiquette that comes with it; I don’t agree with talking about other famous people.”

And yet there's a heck of a lot of name dropping and opinion there Helena.

She's always like this, kind of disappointing. She is mates with the Camerons and reminds me of Sam with her careful tiptoeing around never committing, always remaining beautiful, fragrant and appropriate in all companies.

Yes I was coming to say that. He's not been vindicated at all!
Calling his ex 'my ex-cunt', threatening to rape his dead wife's corpse to make sure she was really dead, attempting to release naked pictures of her during the trial, not to mention the fact that some of his staff couldn't deny some instances of alleged violence...

Good summary.

Ultimately I’m only really interested in what any famous person is best known for, which in her case is her acting, and she is a unique presence on screen. It is a nice bonus though when they use their voice on issues such as cancel culture and it’s damaging effects. Regards Depp, I don’t see her as defending him just because he is popular with the public and Heard is generally reviled, I think it’s more down to her knowing him so well so understandably she is supportive of him (likewise Kate Moss). Not knowing him I thought both him and Heard were as bad as each other (the tapes played in court where Heard instigated fights effectively ruined her) but I wouldn’t expect my views to align with hers on this.

I like the fact that she has opinions, whether others agree or not. Hasn't JKR also defended Depp? And Kate Moss. None of them needed to. He attracts loyalty from people who knew him well. Whatever we think of him, I don't think we should think less of them.

She was being interviewed as the new President of the London Library (a fantastic place by the way) and so is speaking about books, thought and educaiton. Her point about not slamming others in the public eye is a good one. She will know that there are pressures on people like Radcliffe, who I note has a lead role in an upcoming Sondheim musical on Broadway.

I've always liked her.