JK Rowling has criticised Harry Potter co-star Emma Watson, accusing her of being “ignorant of how ignorant she is” over transgender rights. The author’s comments come after Watson gave a podcast interview expressing her continued affection for Rowling despite their public disagreement.
In a lengthy social media post, Rowling said Watson and her fellow co-stars have “every right to embrace gender identity ideology” but argued that Watson and Daniel Radcliffe have used their former professional association “to critique me and my views in public”. Rowling highlighted that she had “repeatedly declined invitations” to comment on Watson’s stance to avoid causing her harm.
Rowling also referenced a note Watson sent her after the 2022 Bafta awards, where Watson said “I’m here for all of the witches”. Rowling claimed that at the time she was facing “death, rape and torture threats” and that Watson had “publicly poured more petrol on the flames”. She described Watson’s note as a “one line expression of concern”.
Rowling contrasted her own background with Watson’s, noting that she lived in poverty while writing the Harry Potter books that made Watson famous. She said Watson has “so little experience of real life” and is unaware of the impact of “the trashing of women’s rights in which Emma has so enthusiastically participated”.
