(From left) Emma Watson, J.K. Rowling and Daniel Radcliffe | Images: Instagram, @emmatwason/Joel C Ryan/Invision/AP/CJ Rivera/Invision/AP
“Harry Potter” author J.K. Rowling in effect said that she can’t forgive Emma Watson and Daniel Radcliffe after both actors have openly expressed their support for transgenders, in contrast to Rowling’s stand on trans rights.
On X (formerly Twitter), Rowling shared a series of tweets on “transgender children and youth,” to which one follower reacted, “Just waiting for Dan (Radcliffe) and Emma (Watson) to give you a very public apology. Safe in the knowledge that you will forgive them.”
The renowned fantasy-book author confidently replied, “Not safe, I’m afraid. Celebs who cosied up to a movement intent on eroding women’s hard-won rights and who used their platforms to cheer on the transitioning of minors can save their apologies for traumatised detransitioners and vulnerable women reliant on single sex spaces.”
Not safe, I'm afraid. Celebs who cosied up to a movement intent on eroding women's hard-won rights and who used their platforms to cheer on the transitioning of minors can save their apologies for traumatised detransitioners and vulnerable women reliant on single sex spaces.
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) April 10, 2024
In June 2020, Rowling came under fire after she publicly posted an essay criticizing transgender rights, stating, “I refuse to bow down to a movement that I believe is doing demonstrable harm in seeking to erode ‘woman’ as a political and biological class and offering cover to predators like few before it.”
LGBTQ+ advocates and celebrities have spoken out in contrast to Rowling’s stance, including “Harry Potter” actors. Radcliffe, who played the titular boy wizard in all eight films adapted from Rowling’s books, expressed his support for trans women in a short essay.
“Transgender women are women. Any statement to the contrary erases the identity and dignity of transgender people and goes against all advice given by professional health care associations who have far more expertise on this subject matter than either Jo or I,” he declared in an article for the Trevor Project.
Watson, who rose to fame after playing Hermione Granger, wrote on X after Rowling’s statements went viral, “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.”
“I want my trans followers to know that I and so many other people around the world see you, respect you, and love you for who you are,” she added in a follow-up tweet.
I want my trans followers to know that I and so many other people around the world see you, respect you and love you for who you are.
— Emma Watson (@EmmaWatson) June 10, 2020
Meanwhile, Rowling also recently challenged the police to arrest her after she labeled several transgender women as men on the day Scotland’s new hate crime law came into effect.