Trans rights activists staged a dramatic protest Thursday evening outside London's Palace Theatre as celebrities arrived for a gala performance of 'Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.'

According to Variety, many protesters wore masks, hats and goggles to conceal their identities, and one wore a T-shirt reading 'Rowling money kills.' The activists lay down on the red carpet before security guards dragged them off.

Attendees for the special performance included TV hosts Vanessa Feltz, Angellica Bell and Richard Arnold, and 'The Chase' star Anne Hegerty.

In statements provided to both Variety and Deadline, J.K. Rowling's agent Neil Blair said the group respects peaceful activism but insisted those rights 'must be exercised without putting others at risk, including audience members, performers and theater staff.'

He added that every fan deserves to enjoy the magic of Harry Potter in an atmosphere of respect and security, and pledged to keep live theater a welcoming and safe experience for everyone.

The protest targets the stage franchise most visibly linked to Rowling, who has been vocal in her criticism of self-declared gender identity and, per Deadline, has funded legal efforts around women's rights — allegations of transphobia she strongly denies, saying she respects 'every trans person's right to live any way that feels authentic and comfortable to them.'

Variety reports a protester named Thea, in a statement from the Guild of Angry Transsexuals claiming to have organized the action, said attendees directly fund the legal attack on trans people by supporting her empire. The clash lands at a vulnerable commercial moment for the production.

The gala celebrated a major reconfiguration: Deadline reports the West End production has been cut from a five-hour show performed in two parts to a single three-hour performance, matching the version running on Broadway. That relaunch was meant to be the story, but the protest now frames it.

Both outlets note the tensions are unlikely to dissipate, with Rowling remaining the subject of continuing coverage — Deadline separately reports a BBC documentary examining her rise and gender identity views.

Theatergoers can expect heightened security at the Palace Theatre as the single-part 'Cursed Child' settles in.