Pedro Pascal, who is set to star in The Fantastic Four: First Steps, has once again made headlines for his political remarks. Earlier this year, Pascal screeched at Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling over her views on transgender issues. Rowling had posted support for a UK Supreme Court ruling that said the legal definition of a woman should be based on biological sex. Pascal described Rowling’s comments and attitude as “loser behavior.” His words won him support from some people, but he faced enormous criticism from many more, especially Rowling’s fans.
Related Pedro Pascal Plays Politics Again: Risks ‘Fantastic Four’ with Shocking & Offensive Attack
In a recent interview with Vanity Fair, Pascal talked about why he decided to speak out. He said that as the story about his comments grew, he felt like a kid getting sent to the principal’s office for bad behavior in Texas public schools. He said he was “feeling scared and thinking, What’d I do?” Pascal admitted he thought hard about whether speaking out was the right thing to do. He asked himself, “Am I helping? Am I fucking helping?” He said he wants to protect the people he loves and that the situation needs to be handled carefully so people can be protected. He said, “Listen, I want to protect the people I love. But it goes beyond that. Bullies make me f—ing sick.”
Pascal has been a vocal supporter of LGBTQ+ rights, ostensibly due to his sister, Lux Pascal, who came out as transgender in 2021. Lux is also a very public advocate for transgender rights. There is a lot of debate right now about transgender issues in both the United Kingdom and the United States. In February 2025, President Donald Trump signed an order to ban transgender girls and women from taking part in girls’ and women’s sports, which many feel puts biological women at risk.
J.K. Rowling has also made her opinions on transgender issues very clear.
As an open feminist, she has publicly backed groups that want to restrict transgender individuals from competing against biological women in the UK. For example, Rowling gave £70,000 to For Women Scotland, a group that supported a similar UK bill. Some activist fans have turned away from the Harry Potter series because of Rowling’s views, and every actor who is part of the new HBO Harry Potter reboot has faced questions about working with Rowling.
Pedro Pascal is also having a busy year. He appeared in HBO’s The Last of Us Season 2, though his role was shorter than many (who didn’t play the videogame) expected. His film Materialists is currently playing at the box office. He is also promoting Eddington and The Fantastic Four: First Steps, which come out two weeks apart. In 2026, he will return as the lead in The Mandalorian & Grogu and again as Mister Fantastic in Avengers: Doomsday. Despite backlash from some of Rowling’s supporters, Pascal continues to be in the spotlight, starring in multiple tentpole projects, leading many people to complain of “Pedro Fatigue.”
The struggle is real.
Pedro Pascal has become extremely divisive with his political comments, and this situation is no exception. He’s becomning known as the “poster child for Disney’s double standards” and with this latest attack potentially damaging the box office for The Fantastic Four by offending the property’s fans, Pascal is playing politics again and this time his actions could end up hurting the causes he supports.
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