JK Rowling Labels Emma Watson as ‘Ignorant’ Following a Comment on Cancellation

(NewsNation) — J.K. Rowling is responding to actress Emma Watson’s recent comments about their difficult relationship, stemming from Rowling’s opinions on transgender rights.

In a detailed message on X, Rowling addressed Watson, known for her role as Hermione Granger in the “Harry Potter” films, acknowledging that both Watson and her fellow cast members have the right to hold their perspectives on gender identity.

“Emma Watson and her co-stars are fully entitled to support gender identity beliefs,” Rowling noted. “These views are legally protected, and I would never wish for any of them to face job loss, violence, or any harm because of their beliefs.”

The author continued, “However, both Emma and Dan have indicated over the past few years that they believe our past work relationship grants them a specific right — even duty — to publicly critique me and my opinions.”

JK Rowling: Emma Watson cushioned by wealth

In her response to Watson, Rowling slammed the “The Perks of Being a Wallflower” actress, saying she doesn’t understand real life.  

Rowling further commented, “Like many who haven’t known adult life outside the cushion of wealth and fame, Emma lacks certain real-life experiences and wouldn’t recognize her own lack of awareness.”

She also mentioned, “Emma will likely never require a homeless shelter, or see herself placed on a mixed-gender ward in a public hospital. I doubt she’s visited a regular shopping mall changing room since she was a child.”

Watson: I treasure J.K. Rowling, despite not agreeing on trans rights 

Watson was on a recent episode of “The Jay Shetty” podcast, where she spoke about her and Rowling’s relationship since Rowling’s comments.  

“I really don’t believe that by having had that experience and holding the love and support and views that I have, mean that I can’t and don’t treasure Jo and the person that I, that I had personal experiences with,” Watson said. 

She continued, “I will never believe that one negates the other and that my experience of that person, I don’t get to keep and cherish, I too come back to our earlier thing. Like, I just don’t think these things are either or.” 

Watson said she believes “that no one is disposable” when referring to the “Harry Potter” scribe and that everyone should be treated with, at the very least, dignity and respect.” 

The “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone” writer has faced backlash over her views on transgender people.  

J.K. Rowling slams ‘people who menstruate’ article 

In June 2020, Rowling tweeted a link to an op-ed discussing a post-COVID-19 word for “people who menstruate.”  

“‘People who menstruate.’ I’m sure there used to be a word for those people. Someone help me out. Wumben? Wimpund? Woomud?” she wrote. 

After the backlash against her initial post. Rowling added, “If sex isn’t real, there’s no same-sex attraction. If sex isn’t real, the lived reality of women globally is erased.” 

Rowling said she knows and “loves” trans people, but that removing the definition of sex prevents many from having important conversations about their lives. She said that voicing that concern is truthful, not hateful.  

‘Harry Potter’ fans call out J.K. Rowling 

Fans of the book and movie series strongly criticized Rowling for her views on the transgender community, expressing disappointment since they resonated personally with the “Harry Potter” story.  

Watson and Daniel Radcliffe, who portrayed the titular hero in the movies, commented publicly on Rowling’s statements, showing their support for the community, with Radcliffe releasing a statement through the LGBTQ+ suicide-prevention nonprofit Trevor Project.  

“Transgender women are women,” he wrote. “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.”