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Harry Potter author JK Rowling lashed out at Emma Watson on Monday over her views on transgender rights, calling the actress “ignorant” after she spoke about their relationship on a recent podcast appearance.
In a long post on X, the writer expressed her irritation that Watson and Daniel Radcliffe — who both starred in the film adaptations of Rowling’s best-selling books — “continue to assume the role of de facto spokespeople for the world I created.”
Radcliffe, who played boy wizard Potter, and Watson, who played his friend Hermione Granger, have both taken issue with Rowling’s stance on gender issues.
“Emma Watson and her co-stars have every right to embrace gender identity ideology. Such beliefs are legally protected, and I wouldn’t want to see any of them threatened with loss of work, or violence, or death, because of them,” Rowling wrote.
“However, Emma and Dan in particular have both made it clear over the last few years that they think our former professional association gives them a particular right — nay, obligation — to critique me and my views in public.”
‘I wasn’t a multimillionaire at fourteen’
Rowling has not previously been so outspoken about Watson, but suggested in her latest remarks that the star’s privilege meant she was unable to properly grasp the issues at stake.
“I wasn’t a multimillionaire at fourteen. I lived in poverty while writing the book that made Emma famous,” she said.
“I therefore understand from my own life experience what the trashing of women’s rights in which Emma has so enthusiastically participated means to women and girls without her privileges.”
She brought up Watson’s remarks on the Jay Shetty Podcast last week, during which the actress said she is open to having dialogue with Rowling despite their differences.
“The greatest irony here is that, had Emma not decided in her most recent interview to declare that she loves and treasures me — a change of tack I suspect she’s adopted because she’s noticed full-throated condemnation of me is no longer quite as fashionable as it was — I might never have been this honest,” Rowling said.
Rowling has long been at the forefront of the debate about gender identity and has previously denounced trans activism, leading to accusations of transphobia.
She has defended herself, saying her concern was the impact it has on women’s rights and single-sex spaces for women.
Rowling reveals annoyance over 2022 note
Rowling also revealed her annoyance at receiving a one-line note from Watson in 2022.
Following an awards ceremony at which Watson publicly made a dig at Rowling she sent her a message saying “I’m so sorry for what you’re going through”.
“This was back when the death, rape and torture threats against me were at their peak, at a time when my personal security measures had to be tightened considerably and I was constantly worried for my family’s safety,” the author said.
“Emma had just publicly poured more petrol on the flames, yet thought a one-line expression of concern from her would reassure me of her fundamental sympathy and kindness,” she said.
Rowling said she had only decided to be “this honest” about the Beauty and the Beast and Little Women actress now because of the comments last week in which Watson announced that she still loved and treasured the author.
“Adults can’t expect to cosy up to an activist movement that regularly calls for a friend’s assassination, then assert their right to the former friend’s love,” she said.
“Emma is rightly free to disagree with me and indeed to discuss her feelings about me in public — but I have the same right, and I’ve finally decided to exercise it.”
