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The producers of the new Harry Potter spin-off are facing accusations of sexism after 45 year-old Simon Williams was refused an audition for the part of female Hogwarts student, Modesty.
Williams claimed to have been queuing since 4am for his audition in Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, only to be refused entry for reasons that he insists are completely due to sexism on the part of the producers.
“Look, I don’t want to rock the boat too much – I know what the entertainment industry can be like if you get a reputation as a trouble-maker – but I’m telling you now that the only reason I didn’t get an audition is because I’m a middle-aged man.”
“I know it, and they know it – in fact that’s precisely what they said. Their words were ‘Sorry, but you’re too old and you’re a man’.”
“If that’s not the very definition of sexism, then I don’t know what is?”
Harry Potter audition
Williams went on to explain that he had been preparing for the role for weeks.
He said, “I’m not going to go into details about my methods, but I will say that I make a pretty convincing 12-year-old girl – certainly online anyway.”
“Ask any of my new friends on Facebook and they’ll tell you Modesty is just a normal 12-year-old girl into Harry Potter.”
“I’m that good at playing the role.”
“I’m not asking for special treatment, just the opportunity to audition like everyone else. Is that too much to ask?”
“Or do I have to get my lawyers involved?”
