'Fantastic Beasts' Star Eddie Redmayne Takes Issue with J.K. Rowling's Transphobic Tweets

Oscar-winning actor Eddie Redmayne is following in "Harry Potter" star Daniel Radcliffe's footsteps and speaking out against author J.K. Rowling's recent transphobic tweets.

Redmayne stars in the "Harry Potter" spinoff franchise "Fantastic Beasts" (based on the books written by Rowling), and was nominated for an Oscar in 2015 for playing a trans woman in "The Danish Girl."

In a statement to Variety, the "Jupiter Ascending" star took issue with Rowling's latest remarks and voiced support for transgender equality.

"Respect for transgender people remains a cultural imperative, and over the years I have been trying to constantly educate myself," he said. "This is an ongoing process. As someone who has worked with both J.K. Rowling and members of the trans community, I wanted to make it absolutely clear where I stand."

"I disagree with Jo's comments. Trans women are women, trans men are men and non-binary identities are valid," Redmayne went on to say. "I would never want to speak on behalf of the community but I do know that my dear transgender friends and colleagues are tired of this constant questioning of their identities, which all too often results in violence and abuse."

"They simply want to live their lives peacefully, and it's time to let them do so," he said.

Redmayne's response comes not long after Radcliffe wrote an essay for the LGBTQ group, The Trevor Project, in which he called out Rowling's tweets, saying "transgender women are women."

Redmayne came under fire in 2015 when he played Lili Elbe, one of the first people to undergo gender-affirming surgery, in "The Danish Girl." Many took issue that a cis man was playing the role of a trans woman. Directed by Tom Hooper ("Cats"), the film earned four Oscar nominations, including Best Actor for Redmayne and Supporting Actress for Alicia Vikander, who won the award.

Rowling sparked controversy over the weekend when she responded to a science article where she argued about gender identity and biological sex.