Emma Watson has finally broken her silence after J.K. Rowling‘s shocking declaration that she will ‘never forgive‘ her or Daniel Radcliffe.
What began as a literary phenomenon that brought joy to millions has become one of Hollywood’s most contentious public disputes.
The controversy erupted in 2020 when Rowling took to social media to criticize an article that used the phrase ‘people who menstruate’ instead of women.
“‘People who menstruate,’” Rowling tweeted sarcastically. “I’m sure there used to be a word for those people. Someone help me out. Wumben? Wimpund? Woomud?”
The comment sparked immediate backlash, but Rowling doubled down on her position, stating: “If s** isn’t real, there’s no same-s** attraction. If s** isn’t real, the lived reality of women globally is erased. I know and love trans people, but erasing the concept of s** removes the ability of many to meaningfully discuss their lives. It isn’t hate to speak the truth.”
The response from the Harry Potter cast was swift and decisive.
Daniel Radcliffe, who portrayed the boy wizard himself, released a statement through The Trevor Project, an LGBT s**cide prevention charity.
“While Jo is unquestionably responsible for the course my life has taken,” Radcliffe wrote, “as someone who has been honoured to work with and continues to contribute to The Trevor Project for the last decade, and just as a human being, I feel compelled to say something at this moment. Transgender women are women.”
Watson, beloved for her portrayal of Hermione Granger, was equally direct in her support for the trans community.
“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,” she tweeted.
“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.”
The tension reached a boiling point in 2024 when Rowling referenced the Cass Review, an independent assessment of gender identity services for children and young people.
The author praised it as ‘the most robust review of the medical evidence for transitioning children that’s ever been conducted,’ claiming it showed that ‘kids have been irreversibly harmed.’
When a fan suggested that Radcliffe and Watson might eventually apologize to Rowling, expecting her forgiveness, the author’s response was unequivocal: “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 traumatized detransitioners and vulnerable women reliant on single-s** spaces.”
Radcliffe has since addressed the situation in a rare interview with The Atlantic, revealing he hasn’t spoken to Rowling in years.
“Jo, obviously Harry Potter would not have happened without her, so nothing in my life would have probably happened the way it is without that person,” he acknowledged.
“But that doesn’t mean that you owe the things you truly believe to someone else for your entire life.”
The actor expressed sadness about the situation while remaining firm in his convictions: “It makes me really sad, ultimately, because I do look at the person that I met, the times that we met, and the books that she wrote, and the world that she created, and all of that is to me so deeply empathic.
“I will continue to support the rights of all LGBTQ people, and have no further comment than that.”
Now, Watson has broken her silence on the matter during an appearance on the On Purpose with Jay Shetty podcast, offering a more nuanced perspective that has surprised many observers.
“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,” Watson revealed.
“I will never believe that one negates the other and that my experience of that person, I don’t get to keep and cherish.”
The actress, now 35, emphasized her belief that personal relationships don’t have to be entirely defined by political disagreements.
“I think it’s my deepest wish that I, 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.”
“I just don’t think these things are either or,” Watson concluded, making it clear that while she remains steadfast in her support for trans rights, she refuses to let political differences completely erase the positive memories and experiences she shared with the woman who gave her the role that defined her career.
