Sebastian Croft has apologized for “hurting” people by voicing the male player character in Hogwarts Legacy.
The voice cast revealed for Hogwarts Legacy on January 11th included Simon Pegg as Headmaster Phineas Nigellus Black, Lesley Nicol as Deputy Headmistress Professor Matilda Weasley, Asif Ali as Amit Thakkar, Kandace Caine as Professor Onai, Sohm Kapila as Professor Satyavati Shah, Luke Youngblood as Everett Clopton, and Jason Anthony as both Nearly Headless Nick and the Sorting Hat.
Two other rather key roles are Sebastian Croft and Amelia Gething as Voice 1 and Voice 2 of the player’s character. It’s the former however that has apologized for being involved with the game after he was criticized by a Twitter user.
Twitter user Transisawesome criticized Croft writing, “‘Queer was always here’ includes trans people. just reminding you bc you apparently forgot what your own merch stands for.”
Later @transisawesome continued “i hope all the trans people who are hurt by this situation are doing okay. pls know that you are loved and you are valid. i love you guys so much!”
Croft responded to the comments writing on Twitter, “I was cast in this project over 3 years ago, back when all Harry Potter was to me, was the magical world I grew up with. This was long before I was aware of JK Rowling’s views.”
Croft added, “I believe whole heartedly that trans women are women and trans men are men.”
He then apologized in a subsequent tweet, “I know far more now than I did 3 years ago, and hope to learn far more in the next 3. I’m really sorry to anyone hurt by this announcement. There is no LGB without the T.”
The apology didn’t sit well with the Twitter user who added to his original thread, “people in the comments are the perfect example of cis people saying they’re allies and actually not being allies.”
“3 years ago? great,” the user sarcastically wrote. “she’s been openly disgusting for 5 years. there is no excuse. listen to trans people.”
Replying directly to @transisawesome’s thread, Croft also insisted “also pls don’t attack this person for their tweet! i understand why they would be hurt which is why i wanted to clear things up.”
It would seem the gesture was far from mutual, as @transisawesome spat back “a little late don’t you think?” At this time of writing, @transisawesome’s tweets are protected.
Due to Rowling’s comments on sex being real and her offense at the denial of the female identity, pro-transgender activists have attempted to disparage and boycott all of her work, and other media based off her works.
Despite efforts at generating negative press — including accusing the Goblins of being antisemitic caricatures, falsely portraying the game’s plot as attempting to prevent a rebellion for equal rights, and spamming Steam with false user tags — Hogwarts Legacy looks to be a smash hit. The game is currently the fifth global best seller on Steam, as of this time of writing, and launches February 10th.
What do you make of Sebastian Croft’s apology?