Tom Harwood has hit out at actor Rupert Grint, pleading with him to “read a single book” after the Harry Potter star addressed a supposed rise in fascism on the right of politics in the UK.
Tom’s outburst came after Mr Grint declared his opposition to the apparent rise in fascist thinking in Britain during a press conference at the Berlin Film Festival.
The 37-year-old, who rose to fame playing Ron Weasley in the Harry Potter films, has typically maintained a low profile on political matters throughout his career.
However, the question arose following Mr Grint’s previous public criticism of Harry Potter author JK Rowling over her stance on transgender issues.
Rupert Grint has complained of a rise in ‘fascism’ in British politics
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GETTY
A journalist at the Berlinale asked whether, given his willingness to address Ms Rowling’s views, he would also consider speaking out against far-right movements in his home country.
The actor, appearing alongside the cast and crew of his supernatural horror film Nightborn, answered: “Obviously, I’m against it.
“But I choose my moments when to speak. But I think yeah, it’s obviously hugely relevant now. You’ll hear from me.”
Finnish director Hannah Bergholm, who wore a watermelon pin expressing solidarity with Palestine, addressed the broader question of whether artists should engage with political issues.
Tom Harwood has urged the actor and others to ‘read a book’ when it comes to fascism
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GB NEWS
“As grown-up human beings, I think we have a responsibility to speak up against violence and injustice,” she remarked, adding that “it’s important that we don’t tell other film artists that they shouldn’t speak up.”
Co-writer Ilja Rautsi echoed these sentiments, arguing that cinema should illuminate contemporary challenges.
“I think it is important to shine a light on whatever issues we are facing because art is all about empathy,” he said, referencing events in Ukraine and Palestine.
Clips of the Q&A session with the Nightborn cast and crew have since been shared far and wide on X, and the People’s Channel presenter, Tom, isn’t too impressed with the Harry Potter star’s stance.
Rupert Grint has publicly distanced himself from JK Rowling
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PATom put to his followers: “Fascism? I’m literally begging people to read a single book.
“Fascism is a particular ideology and it doesn’t just mean ‘right wing’. It is expressly collectivist, identitarian, militaristic, anti-parliamentarian, and totalitarian.
“There is no serious political party with a paramilitary wing playing street politics.
“There is no serious political party calling for economic autarky (except maybe the Greens).
Rupert Grint at the Berlin Film Festival
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GETTY
“There is no serious political party clamping down on speech forums or supporting the cancellation of elections (except maybe the Labour Party).
“There is no serious political party with roots in Nazi-adjacent nationalism (except maybe the SNP and Sinn Féin),” Tom signed off.
The Berlin Film Festival has been marred in controversy due to the political line of questioning aimed at the panels from a number of journalists in attendance.
On Thursday, German filmmaker and jury member Wim Wenders faced probes about the conflict in Gaza and whether or not films can affect political change.
Fascism? I’m literally begging people to read a single book.
Fascism is a particular ideology and it doesn’t just mean ‘right wing’. It is expressly collectivist, identitarian, militaristic, anti-parliamentarian, and totalitarian.
There is no serious political party with a… https://t.co/Kx2dmqSyET
— Tom Harwood (@tomhfh) February 15, 2026
Mr Wenders reservedly stated that “movies can change the world” but “not in a political way”, and added that filmmakers “have to stay out of politics because if we make movies that are dedicatedly political, we enter the field of politics.”
He added: “But we are the counterweight of politics, we are the opposite of politics. We have to do the work of people, not the work of politicians.”
His comments led to the withdrawal of one of the festival’s chief jurors, a filmmaker herself, Arundhati Roy.
The backlash to Mr Wenders’ comments even led to the festival putting out a statement on Saturday defending jury members and filmmakers’ rights not to field politically contentious probes.
Tom Harwood usually hosts Good Afternoon Britain with Emily Carver
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GB NEWSThe head of the festival, Tricia Tuttle, said in a lengthy statement: “Artists are free to exercise their right of free speech in whatever way they choose.
“Artists should not be expected to comment on all broader debates about a festival’s previous or current practices over which they have no control.
“Nor should they be expected to speak on every political issue raised to them unless they want to.”
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