JK Rowling has addressed Emma Watson’s recent conciliatory remarks from a podcast released on Wednesday concerning their longstanding differences on transgender rights.
On Monday, JK Rowling shared a comprehensive 700-word message with her 14.4 million followers on X, responding to Watson’s recent comments regarding their ongoing disagreement.
“Emma Watson and her co-stars are entitled to support gender identity ideology,” Rowling stated. “These beliefs are legally protected, and I would not wish for any of them to face job loss, violence, or death as a result.”
She then targeted Watson and her “Harry Potter” co-star Daniel Radcliff for their public critiques of the author’s views.
“However, both Emma and Dan have made it evident over recent years that they believe our past professional connection grants them the right — perhaps even the duty — to publicly critique me and my perspectives.”
Rowling expressed that she had once felt a sense of “protectiveness” towards Watson and her co-stars, who she has known since they were young, and mentioned she has often turned down media invites to discuss Emma specifically.
The author said the actor “has so little experience of real life she’s ignorant of how ignorant she is.”
Rowling later compared her own background of poverty to Watson’s “privileges.”
“I was not a millionaire at 14. I lived in poverty while composing the book that brought Emma fame,” Rowling remarked. “Thus, my personal circumstances afford me an understanding of the degradation of women’s rights, which Emma has eagerly taken part in, and its impact on women and girls without her advantages.”
Rowling’s remarks on X came after Watson discussed her feelings toward Rowling in a sit-down interview for the “On Purpose with Jay Shetty” podcast posted Wednesday.
When asked by Shetty how she’s dealing with Rowling’s “extremely hurtful” comments following their public break over transgender issues, Watson said that she still treasures their relationship.
“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 had personal experiences with.”
She continued, saying that she hopes “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.”
Watson’s manager did not immediately reply to an NBC News request for comment.
