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Sebastian Croft Speaks Out After Hogwarts Legacy Casting Backlash
The Heartstopper actor is setting the record straight on how things went down.
When news broke that Heartstopper star Sebastian Croft would be voicing a playable character in the upcoming Harry Potter-adjacent video game, Hogwarts Legacy, a number of fans were disappointed. But now Croft is stepping forward to offer an explanation and an apology.
Fans’ frustrations stemmed from how frequently Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling has fixated on spreading her transphobic views and using her platform to target those who criticize her for them in recent years. As such, many former Harry Potter fans have felt uneasy continuing to pour money into the franchise they once loved, considering it a portion will always find its way back into Rowling’s pockets, even if she isn’t directly involved with specific projects, as is the case with Hogwarts Legacy.
Last week, Croft was among a number of actors announced as voicing characters in the game, sticking out particularly due to his role in LGBTQ+ series Heartstopper. The actor has made a point to be an ally to the entire community since the show became a smash hit overnight, and always seemed genuine, leaving fans confused as to why he would be a part of a project connected with Rowling.
Fortunately, Croft took to Twitter over the weekend to clear things up.
“I was cast in this project over 3 years ago, back when all Harry Potter was to me, was the magical world I grew up with. This was long before I was aware of JK Rowling’s views,” he wrote. “I know far more now than I did 3 years ago, and hope to learn for more in the next 3. I’m really sorry to anyone hurt by this announcement.”
He further stressed that he believes “wholeheartedly that trans women are women and trans men are men,” and that “there is no LGB without the T.”
\u201cI know far more now than I did 3 years ago, and hope to learn far more in the next 3. I\u2019m really sorry to anyone hurt by this announcement. \nThere is no LGB without the T \u2764\ufe0f\u201d— Sebastian Croft (@Sebastian Croft) 1673717824
Croft was born on December 16, 2001.
Croft has not publicly revealed his current relationship status.
Although Croft appeared in two episodes of Game of Thrones, he is best known for his role as Ben Hope in Netflix's Heartstopper.
Croft plays the voice of an unidentified 19th-century Hogwarts student in Hogwarts Legacy.
This post was updated in May 2023 after originally being published on January 15, 2023.
Rachel Kiley is presumably a writer and definitely not a terminator. She can usually be found crying over queerbaiting in the Pitch Perfect franchise or on Twitter, if not both.
Rachel Kiley is presumably a writer and definitely not a terminator. She can usually be found crying over queerbaiting in the Pitch Perfect franchise or on Twitter, if not both.
