Fans and those in the trans community were outraged when Emma Watson admitted to having a feud with J.K. Rowling in a recent podcast episode and admitted to still respect the author.
Emma Watson has left her fanbase torn after admitting in an interview that she still “treasures” JK Rowling.
In an episode of Jay Shetty’s On Purpose podcast, the Harry Potter star opened up about her conflicted relationship with the franchise’s creator, JK Rowling – who has become infamous for what have been labelled anti-trans views.
Although Emma, who played Hermione Granger in the television series, made it clear on the podcast that while she is firmly in favor of trans rights, she acknowledged that her relationship with the author isn’t always so straightforward.
Emma said, “I really don’t believe that having that experience and holding those feelings, feelings, and views that I have, makes me inalienable.”
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I’ll never think that one is infallible and that my own experiences with that person are worth cherishing… I just don’t believe these things are either or.
She continued, “I think the conversation is never made possible, which is what I find most revolting.”
The video has received a mixed response on TikTok, with over three million views and widespread distribution of it online. While many fans acknowledged the complexity of the relationship and even praised Emma for being so open, some fans, especially those who are affected by transgender rights’ curtailing, haven’t been as appreciative of the sentiment.
“Honestly this response tells me that Emma doesn’t have close friends and family that are transgender because she’s only afraid of what ‘fans’ will say,” one Redditor wrote.
Another claimed that Emma’s position was based on privilege. Privileged nonsense, they said. If slurs don’t apply to you, you can only love a monster.
Trans people living in the UK have faced a decline in their rights and safety in 2025, after the UK Supreme Court ruled in favour of the definition of a woman being biological in sex. However, despite this, Google search trends show that advocacy for trans rights has risen by 50% over the past year.
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Emma Watson and J.K. Rowling argued when?
JK Rowling retweeted an op-ed in 2020 that made fun of the decision to use the word “women” instead of “people who menstruate.” People who menstruate, she wrote. There was, undoubtedly, a word for those people. Someone please assist me. ? Wumben ? ?Wimpund Woomud? “
Fans were offended by the first tweet, but JK Rowling only continued to expand her views over the course of several lengthy posts, causing a stir online.
Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint all made statements of support for the trans community a few days later. “Trans people are who they say they are, and they deserve to live their lives without being constantly questioned or told that they aren’t who they say they are,” tweeted Emma.
Emma Watson and J.K. Rowling are at odds with each other.
In 2025, JK Rowling spoke out against the Harry Potter cast, saying that she would “never forgive” Emma, Daniel and Rupert for having “cosied up to a movement intent on eroding women’s hard-won rights”.
After responding to a question on X that read, “What actor/actress instantly destroys a movie for you,” she also made an appearance suggesting that Emma and her co-stars are now destroying movies for her. Rowling then quoted the post and said, “Three guesses, I’m sorry, that was irresistible. “
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Source: Mirror
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