Emma Watson Finally Breaks Her Silence About Her Troubled Relationship With J.K. Rowling
Emma Watson Opens Up About Her Complicated Rift with J.K. Rowling
Emma Watson is getting candid about her complicated rift with Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling. Watson, who skyrocketed to fame after starring as Hermione Granger in the Harry Potter movie franchise from 2001 to 2011, previously spoke out in support of trans rights following Rowling’s controversial remarks on social media.
In 2019, Rowling began expressing anti-trans rhetoric online, which drew ire from trans activists and Harry Potter fans alike. During a recent appearance on Wednesday’s episode of *On Purpose With Jay Shetty*, Watson was asked about her relationship with Rowling—a relationship that remains strained after the celebrated author implied last year that she doesn’t plan to forgive Watson and her co-star Daniel Radcliffe for publicly opposing her comments.
Rowling even suggested that Watson and Radcliffe should save their apologies after speaking out against her anti-trans views.
Reflecting on this, Watson said, “I really don’t believe that by having had that experience and holding the love and support and views that I have, means that I can’t and don’t treasure Jo and the person that I had personal experiences with. I will never believe that one negates the other and that my experience of that person, I don’t get to keep and cherish.”
She continued, “I think it’s my deepest wish that I hope 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.”
After Rowling released an essay in 2020 defending her anti-trans beliefs, both Watson and Radcliffe swiftly voiced their support for the transgender community.
Watson wrote in a June 2020 post on X (formerly Twitter), “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.” In a separate follow-up post, she added, “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.”
Meanwhile, Radcliffe penned an essay on the website of The Trevor Project, an organization that supports at-risk LGBTQ youth. He wrote, “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.”
Rowling responded to accusations that she hates trans people with an X post, stating, “The idea that women like me, who’ve been empathetic to trans people for decades, feeling kinship because they’re vulnerable in the same way as women—i.e., to male violence—hate trans people because they think sex is real and has lived consequences is nonsense,” in June 2020.
Watson shared with Shetty that what upsets her most is that a genuine conversation between her and Rowling was never made possible. When asked if she would be open to speaking with Rowling, Watson replied, “Yeah, and I always will. I believe in that. I believe in that completely.”
Elsewhere in the interview, Watson declared her belief that no one is disposable, adding, “And everyone, as far as possible, whatever the conversation is, should and can be treated with, at the very least, dignity and respect.”
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/emma-watson-jk-rowling-relationship_n_68d44671e4b01e99f72d3eef
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