‘Harry Potter’ star Paapa Essiedu isn’t backing down from playing Snape in upcoming HBO series

The “I May Destroy You” actor is part of an ensemble cast bringing new life to the “Harry Potter” franchise. Controversies surrounding his casting and J.K. Rowling’s comments have prompted him to speak out.

Actor Paapa Essiedu has already faced backlash for portraying one of the most beloved characters in the “Harry Potter” universe. And despite the public appeal of “Harry Potter” creator J.K. Rowling herself dwindling, he’s pressing on.

In an interview with Vanity Fair, the actor, who is set to play Severus Snape in HBO’s “Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone,” revealed that he signed on to the project last year despite Rowling’s outspoken beliefs about feminism and the transgender community. The acclaimed author says she is not anti-trans but has supported several gender-essentialist causes in the United Kingdom.

“I have been super clear about my position on this topic, and that is the reason why she spoke out about me,” he said. “I’m really keen not to make a kind of ‘them and us’ dynamic here. I’m not really here to speak about Jo’s politics or to be a mouthpiece for her. I can only be really, really clear about what I believe and be consistent with that.”

He added, “I believe, in my bones, that trans people, queer people, people of all creeds and color have got the right to be treated with respect and dignity and safety at all times—whether they’re in the workplace, whether they’re at home or in the street, whatever. That’s what I believe, and that’s the way that I choose to live my life. That’s the creed by which I live.”

Rowling, credited as an executive producer on the upcoming HBO series, previously said she wouldn’t have fired Essiedu despite their differing beliefs.

With his casting, Essiedu stepped into the shoes of the late actor Alan Rickman. He also found numerous online messages from so-called Potter fans expressing disapproval of his casting as Snape. One of them was a pointed threat: “Quit or I’ll murder you,” he told The Sunday Times of London.

“There’s some people who are just like, ‘I’ve done my research, and I know what kind of actor you are, and you suck.’ And they’re totally entitled to their opinion,” he says of the bigotry dressed up as critique. “Then there are the people who are like, ‘You are bad because you are Black’—which, to me, is racist … Well, actually not ‘You’re bad because you are Black.’ But there is a racially driven animosity.”

In recent years, several Black actors have endured derogatory and at times racist messages from so-called fans of different characters. Halle Bailey faced significant hate over her portrayal of Ariel in the live-action version of “The Little Mermaid.” Idris Elba and Anthony Mackie both faced online backlash for their respective castings as Heimdall and Sam Wilson in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and John Boyega faced harassment for years after taking on the role of Finn in the latest “Star Wars” trilogy.

“Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone” premieres on HBO on Christmas Day.