Loyle Carner criticised J.K. Rowling, “toxic masculinity bullshit” and the far right during his performance at Reading Festival today.
The British-Guyanese rapper appeared on the festival’s main stage – now known as The Grid – this afternoon (August 30), ahead of sets from Role Model, Florence + The Machine and Chase & Status.
Before playing ‘Horcrux’, Carner explained the song’s connection to the Harry Potter series while distancing himself from its author.
“This song is called ‘Horcrux’ ’cause I love Harry Potter,” he told the crowd. “But I don’t really like J.K. Rowling, do you know what I mean?”
The remark was greeted by loud cheers from festivalgoers.
Later in the set, while speaking about his five-year-old son, Carner criticised “toxic masculinity bullshit” and spoke in support of promoting emotional intelligence among young people. He followed the speech by introducing ‘Speed Of Plight’ as being a song “in direct opposition of the far right”.
At another point during the performance, he encouraged the audience to “make some noise for the NHS”.
‘Horcrux’ appears on Carner’s fourth album ‘Hopefully!’, which arrived in June last year and explored his experiences of parenthood.
Explaining the song’s title last year, Carner told The Music he had been inspired by the concept of Horcruxes containing fragments of a person’s soul. He compared that idea with the parts of himself that would live on through his children.
Rowling has faced widespread criticism over her views on gender and trans rights, which she has denied are transphobic. Most recently, Harry Potter actor Bel Powley said she “strongly disagrees” with the author’s position, adding that the trans community deserved “safety and dignity”. Other stars of the upcoming HBO adaptation of the series have made similar comments, including John Lithgow, Nick Frost and Paapa Essiedu.
Carner’s comments about masculinity echoed a theme that he hit during his set at Reading in 2023, when he delivered a speech about toxic masculinity and breaking cycles of trauma before playing ‘Still’. The moment was named among NME’s highlights from that year’s festival.
Speaking to NME shortly afterwards, he explained why he felt it was important to create space for those conversations at his shows.
“Giving kids a space to talk like that, especially young men… is important,” he said, recalling a message from a mother whose son had felt able to speak openly about a painful experience after seeing Carner perform.
‘Speed Of Plight’, meanwhile, featured on Carner’s Mercury Prize-shortlisted third album ‘Hugo’. In a four-star review, NME described it as Carner’s “most polished record yet”, adding: “It’s personal, yet far-reaching.”
Carner previously headlined Glastonbury’s Other Stage in 2025, where he was joined by Jorja Smith and Sampha.
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