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Keira Knightley ‘not aware’ of JK Rowling boycott ahead of ‘Harry Potter’ audio series

PEOPLE
Keira Knightley

Keira Knightley is one of several A-listers starring in the audiobook adaptation of J.K. Rowling’s bestselling Harry Potter fantasy novels. But the Oscar-nominated actress claims she was unaware of the backlash facing the controversial author.

While promoting her upcoming Netflix film “The Woman in Cabin 10,” a reporter asked Knightley about participating in Audible’s “Harry Potter: The Full-Cast Audio Editions,” and whether she was aware of the boycott over Rowling’s anti-trans views.

“I was not aware of that, no,” the “Pirates of the Caribbean” star said. “I’m very sorry. You know, I think we’re all living in a period of time right now where we’re all going to have to figure out how to live together, aren’t we? And we’ve all got very different opinions. I hope that we can all find respect.”

Knightley voiced the character of Hogwarts teacher Dolores Umbridge in the audio series, which launches Nov. 4 on the Amazon-powered streaming platform.

She joins 200 other actors, including “Game of Thrones” star Kit Harington, James McAvoy and Cush Jumbo, who have also taken part in the sprawling project.

Rowling, a self-described TERF (an acronym for trans-exclusionary radical feminist), has espoused her polarizing positions about the transgender community on social media in recent years. She also announced her decision to dedicate her private wealth to developing an anti-trans organization.

Rowling — considered “one of the most famous transphobic writers in the world” — was reported to U.K. police last year for intentionally misgendering British TV broadcaster India Willoughby, which the latter likened to a hate crime.

She has gone on record stating she would “happily” serve time in prison for her anti-trans views. But she hasn’t.

Rowling has also publicly lambasted her “Harry Potter” stars Daniel Radcliffe and Emma Watson, suggesting she won’t forgive them for supporting trans rights.

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Alec Baldwin

Alec Baldwin was ‘avoiding’ garbage truck in Hamptons car crash, police say

Hamptons police are backing up Alec Baldwin’s account of how he ended up smashing a Range Rover into a tree, while driving with brother Stephen in the Hamptons Monday.

The Emmy-winning “30 Rock” alum, 67, was operating a white 2023 Range Rover with his 59-year-old brother Stephen — father of Hailey Bieber — in the passenger seat, when they “struck a tree on the Eastbound shoulder” of State Route 27, Pantigo Road near Cross Highway, East Hampton Police told TMZ.

Chief Michael Sarlo said that police responded just after noon Monday to the accident, which occurred while Baldwin was “avoiding the turning action of a 2020 Mack commercial truck, registered to National Waste Services out of Bay Shore, NY.”

He attributed the accident in part to “a reaction to an uninvolved vehicle and the slippery and wet roadway conditions” and confirmed that there were no reported injuries nor summons issued.

Alec said in an Instagram video Monday that the truck cut him off, after which he drove wife Hilaria’s car into a “big fat tree” and “crushed” it.

Ultimately though, the “Baldwins” reality star said he and “Usual Suspects” star Stephen were “fine.”

A rep for Stephen told the Daily News that he was “doing fine and is grateful no one was injured.”

The Baldwin brothers’ accident occurred nearly four years to the day since Alec fatally shot cinematographer Halyna Hutchins with a prop gun on the New Mexico set of the Western independent film, “Rust.” Baldwin had pleaded not guilty to involuntary manslaughter. The charge was dismissed in July 2024, with prosecutors announcing in December that they were no longer pursuing an appeal.

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Britney Spears

Kevin Federline fears ‘something bad’ will happen to Britney Spears

Britney Spears’ second ex-husband, Kevin Federline, is saying the quiet part out loud when it comes to her erratic behavior since being freed from her controversial conservatorship in 2021.

In his upcoming memoir, the former dancer and actor — with whom the pop icon shares two adult sons — is calling into question her mental wellness and parenting skills.

“The truth is, this situation with Britney feels like it’s racing toward something irreversible,” he writes in one of the chapters of “You Thought You Knew.

In exclusive excerpts from the memoir shared by The New York Times on Tuesday, Federline writes: “It’s become impossible to pretend everything’s OK. From where I sit, the clock is ticking, and we’re getting close to the 11th hour.”

“Something bad is going to happen if things don’t change,” he continues, “and my biggest fear is that our sons will be left holding the pieces.”

The former couple tied the knot in 2004 and finalized their divorce in 2007 — the same year that Spears infamously shaved her head and attacked a paparazzo with an umbrella. Months later, she was placed on a 5150 involuntary psychiatric hold and later into a “temporary” conservatorship that ultimately lasted nearly 14 years.

At the time, Federline had already been granted primary physical custody of their two sons: Sean Preston, now 20, and Jayden James, 19.

In a damning allegation made in the book, Federline claims that Spears’ disturbing behavior continued for years, and that their sons, as teenagers, expressed fear over visits with their mom.

“They would awaken sometimes at night to find her standing silently in the doorway, watching them sleep — ‘Oh, you’re awake?’ — with a knife in her hand. Then she’d turn around and pad off without explanation,” he writes.

Ever since the 43-year-old “Toxic” singer’s conservatorship was terminated, she has continued to exhibit what some have viewed as concerning behavior on social media. Included in those posts are countless videos of her dancing and singing in the nude — and sometimes wielding knives.

Federline writes in his book that he feels the “Free Britney” movement — launched by a legion of fans who advocated for the court-ordered conservatorship to be lifted — “started from a good place” but turned out for the worst.

“All those people who put so much effort into that should now put the same energy into the ‘Save Britney’ movement. Because this is no longer about freedom. It’s about survival,” he writes. “Now, more than ever, [our children] need your support. I’ve been their buffer for years, but now it’s bigger than me. It’s time to sound the alarm.”

In a statement to Billboard, a representative for Spears dismissed Federline’s claims, accusing him of merely trying to make a profit.

“Sadly [the book] comes after child support has ended with Kevin,” the rep said. “All she cares about are her kids … and their well-being during this sensationalism.”

“You Thought You Knew” is set to be released on Oct. 21.

From combined wire services

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