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Rowling's agent slams trans rights protest at Cursed Child gala

Neil Blair, Rowling's agent, spoke after masked activists stormed the red carpet as celebrities arrived at the West End gala; Deadline also carried his condemnation.

On air: Chip Darnell and Gloria Vance on The Weekend Shift
Published 10:35 AM ET, Saturday, October 17, 2026

Photo: Daniel Ogren · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN

▶ As it aired · Pop Culture

Watch it as it aired: Chip Darnell and Gloria Vance on this story, from The Weekend Shift at 10:35 AM ET. Cartoon anchors, real headline: the facts are Variety's, the jokes are ours.

Photo: Daniel Ogren · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN

Photo: J. K. Rowling — Photo: Daniel Ogren · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN

At a glance

First reported by Variety: “J.K. Rowling’s Agent Slams Trans Rights Protest at ‘Harry Potter and the Cursed Child’ in London: It Put ‘Others at Risk’”.
Covered on BBN on Saturday, October 17, 2026, at 10:35 AM ET on The Weekend Shift, by Chip Darnell and Gloria Vance.
Topics: Prince Harry, London.

The real story

The reporting behind this segment. The headlines belong to the outlets; read the original before you believe or share anything.

VarietyJ.K. Rowling’s Agent Slams Trans Rights Protest at ‘Harry Potter and the Cursed Child’ in London: It Put ‘Others at Risk’

What BBN said about it

Gloria Vance · World News AnchorNeil Blair, J.K.
Gloria Vance · World News AnchorRowling's agent, condemned a trans rights protest that stormed the red carpet before Thursday's gala performance of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child in London, saying it put others at risk.
Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorMasks, hats and goggles! That sounds like a very committed costume party.
Gloria Vance · World News AnchorThe protesters wore them to hide their identity, Chip. Not to win a prize.
Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorStill, a gala is supposed to be safe, right?
Gloria Vance · World News AnchorThe usual dangers at a premiere are a cold canapé and a tall wizard hat in row F. Risk is a large word for a carpet.
Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorThe carpet got the worst of it!
Gloria Vance · World News AnchorAnd the carpet, I am told, will be fully recovered by Friday.

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