JK Rowling has thoroughly exploited the chismas cementing the rift with Emma Watson. The two former co-stars from the original Harry Potter film series have taken very different stances on transgender rights. Rowling’s response is an incendiary one given the public nature of Watson’s perspective and a lack of nuance that fueled animosity between the two.
In a lengthy post, Rowling criticized Watson’s understanding of the issues surrounding women’s rights and gender identity. She stated that Watson, despite her good intentions, lacks life experience, saying, “Like other people who’ve never experienced adult life uncushioned by wealth and fame, Emma has so little experience of real life she’s ignorant of how ignorant she is.”
Rowling’s response to Watson was fierce. Watson delivered these words on other public platforms, such as in her fiery acceptance speech as presenter at the 2022 Bafta Film Awards, where she proclaimed with bravado, “I’m here for all of the witches.” This declaration and other recent pronouncements from Watson suggest that she’s moving closer to the movement. Rowling thinks that this so-called trans movement poses a danger to women’s rights.
Rowling went even deeper, drawing on her own life experiences to take stock of what it was like to struggle. As she put it, she “wasn’t a multimillionaire at fourteen,” emphasizing the difference in the two of their trajectories. Rowling was clear about how her experiences have shaped her perspectives. She argues that gender identity ideology poses real harms to women and girls who do not have Watson’s advantages.
Rowling understands well the importance of the fact that Watson, Radcliffe, and Grint have this right for themselves. She resented the fact that they publicly criticized her on their views. “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,” she stated.
No one is surprised that Rowling has been vocal about these issues. She further stressed that she did not intend for Watson or Radcliffe to face any criticism for their views. Emma Watson and her co-stars are completely correct to fall in love with the gender identity ideology. Rowling went on, saying that these beliefs should be legally protected. She said she didn’t want to see anyone lose their job, be shot, or die due to them.
The chasm has only widened as both sides have dug in on their contradictory demands. Watson has previously articulated her stance on transgender rights, asserting that “Trans people are who they say they are and deserve to live their lives without being constantly questioned or told they aren’t who they say they are.”