JK Rowling has responded in the best possible way to racist trolls who've attacked the casting of a black actress as Hermione in the much-hyped play Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.
In an interview with the Observer, she said: “With my experience of social media, I thought that idiots were going to idiot.
“But what can you say? That’s the way the world is. Noma was chosen because she was the best actress for the job.”
She's talking about Noma Dumazweni, a theatre stalwart who won an Oliver Award for her role in A Raisin in the Sun.
Noma stepped into the role of Linda a few days before press night after Kim Cattrall pulled out. The Telegraph's chief theatre critic Dominic Cavendish wrote: "If they can bottle and mass-produce whatever it is that Noma Dumezweni has got then, please, I want to order a lifetime’s supply."
With this kind of critical praise, it's a wonder these idiots bother to shame themselves with throwaway racist comments.
Rowling said: “I had a bunch of racists telling me that because Hermione ‘turned white’ – that is, lost colour from her face after a shock – that she must be a white woman, which I have a great deal of difficulty with.
"But I decided not to get too agitated about it and simply state quite firmly that Hermione can be a black woman with my absolute blessing and enthusiasm.”
Hermione has often been portrayed as black in fan art. Rowling re-tweeted this fabulous tribute to Noma with the caption: " I love it!"
Despite the trolling madness, Noma has received a wealth of support and best wishes for the role of a lifetime. She's thanked fans on Twitter, adding:
"I am so proud that I am in it. " - @MissDumezweni #HarryPotterPlay
The play opens at London's Palace Theatre at the end of July. It’s meant to to pick up where the books left off – Harry juggling family life with his career at the Ministry of Magic.
Potter – put a spell on those trolls please.
Here's EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW about the play.