J.K. Rowling’s transphobic views on the transgender community have been well known for a long time, in fact it’s kind of hard to get her to stop talking about it. Her stance has seen the cast of the beloved Harry Potter movies distance themselves from her which has only resulted in bitterness brewing between them and Rowling.
Recently, Emma Watson herself made a public comment on her relationship with the now notorious author. In the past, the actress, known by most Potterheads as Hermione Granger, had made it clear that she stands with the trans community. However, her recent comments were a little more measured as she expressed her hopes that “people who don’t agree with my opinion will love me, and I hope I can keep loving people who I don’t necessarily share the same opinion with.”
J.K. Rowling claims she received a note from Emma Watson
It seems her words summoned Rowling who was less than kind in her response to the actress. In a scathing post to X, the Harry Potter author took aim at Watson but dispelled the assertions that she believed the actress has to hold the same opinions as her.
Focusing on Watson’s 2022 BAFTA speech, she accused her of pouring “more petrol on the flames” by publicly speaking against the author duing a time when “death, rape and torture threats against me were at their peak.”
She also made the revelation that, at the same time Watson’s speech was made, she received a note that the actress had asked to be passed along to her. It was a single sentence that read, “I’m so sorry for what you’re going through.”
The Harry Potter author accuses Watson of being ignorant
It goes without saying, but Rowling doesn’t seem to have accepted the apology as she accuses Watson of thinking “a one line expression of concern from her would reassure me of her fundamental sympathy and kindness.”
From there the author continues her tirade against the former Hermione actor, calling her ignorant, “[she] has so little experience of real life she’s ignorant of how ignorant she is.” She claims that the actress has never known hardship like she has and will “never need a homeless shelter” or find herself “sharing a prison cell with a male rapist who’s identified into the women’s prison?”
From her point of view Watson is damaging towards women’s rights and she claims that the actress is ignorant of this damage due to her privilege. Of course, life experiences differ from person to person, Rowling can’t know what Watson has experienced just like Watson won’t know her experiences. But the actress has certainly had her fair share of hardships.
Like Hermione, Emma seems well educated, especially when it comes to both women’s and trans rights. Maybe she isn’t the ignorant one here.
Published: Sep 29, 2025 07:35 pm