WASHINGTON: Defending her decision to cast black actress Noma Dumezweni as Hermione Granger in the upcoming stage play ‘Harry Potter and the Cursed Child,’ J.K. Rowling has branded the haters as “racist idiots.”
In an interview, the 50-year-old novelist said that “Noma was chosen because she was the best actress for the job” and added that she was aware of “a bunch of racists” who will try to agitate her for having a black Hermione.
However, the ‘Harry Potter’ author is firm on her stance, saying “Hermione can be a black woman with my absolute blessing and enthusiasm,” reports E!Online.
‘The Casual Vacancy’ writer further said that she knew with her experience of social media that “idiots were going to be idiot” and added that there is nothing one can say about it because “that’s the way the world is.”
Rowling has also defended the casting of black Hermione in the past in a tweet, which read: "Canon: brown eyes, frizzy hair and very clever. White skin was never specified. Rowling loves black Hermione.”
‘Harry Potter and the Cursed Child’ is set 19 years after the last published ‘Harry Potter’ series.