“Harry Potter” films as Ron Weasley, Rupert Grint says J.K. Rowling has become like a family member to him — though perhaps a problematic one.

During an interview with The Times published Saturday, Grint, 33, likened Rowling, 56, to an “auntie.”

“I don’t necessarily agree with everything my auntie says, but she’s still my auntie. It’s a tricky one,” Grint said. 

Rowling continues to be a source of controversy after making headlines in 2020 with multiple posts online voicing opinions on the transgender community that conflated sex with gender and defended ideas suggesting that changing one’s biological sex threatens her own gender identity. She has doubled down even after the posts were widely perceived as transphobic, misinformative and hurtful. 

‘Harry Potter’ reunion: How it addresses author J.K. Rowling’s anti-trans controversy

Grint later explained in an Esquire interview published March 2021, that he still is “hugely grateful” for the acclaimed author, though he can still disagree with her views.

“I am hugely grateful (for) everything that she’s done. I think that she’s extremely talented, and I mean, clearly, her works are genius,” he said. “But yeah, I think also you can have huge respect for someone and still disagree with things like that.”

“Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts.” Though she does not make a new appearance, the special included archival footage of Rowling from 2019 and featured new clips of the cast celebrating her books’ legacy and sharing how directions from the author influenced their performances. 

Here’s what the rest of the “Harry Potter” franchise cast and crew has said about Rowling’s comments.

How trans fans are grappling with J.K. Rowling’s legacy after her transphobic comments

Daniel Radcliffe pens essay in support of trans community

Daniel Radcliffe responded to Rowling’s comments about gender and sex in a June 2020 essay for LGBTQ non-profit organization The Trevor Project, in which he criticized her views.

“Transgender women are women,” the actor, who starred as the title character in the film adaptation of Rowling’s fantasy series, wrote. “It’s clear that we need to do more to support transgender and nonbinary people, not invalidate their identities, and not cause further harm.”

Though Radcliffe noted that Rowling is “unquestionably responsible” for the course of his life, he added he still feels “compelled to say something at this moment.”

“To all the people who now feel that their experience of the books has been tarnished or diminished, I am deeply sorry for the pain these comments have caused you,” he continued. “I really hope that you don’t entirely lose what was valuable in these stories to you.”

Emma Watson stands behind trans community

The actress who brought Hermione Granger to life in the “Harry Potter” film series tweeted her support of trans people following Rowling’s controversial comments. 

“Trans people are who they say they are and deserve to live their lives without being constantly questioned or told they aren’t who they say they are,” Emma Watson, 31, tweeted in 2020.