“Harry Potter” actress Emma Watson said she still respects series creator J.K. Rowling, despite holding opposing views on rights for transgender-identifying individuals.
The 35-year-old became famous playing the role of Hermione Granger in the massively popular “Harry Potter” film franchise from 2001 until 2011. She and several of her co-stars, including Daniel Radcliffe and Rupert Grint, have publicly denounced Rowling due to her critical view of transgender activism.
Watson expanded on her viewpoints during a recently aired episode of the “On Purpose with Jay Shetty” podcast. When asked about her current thoughts on Rowling, the actress 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 (J.K. Rowling) and the person that I had personal experiences with.”
Watson continued, saying, “I will never believe that one negates the other and that my experience of that person, I don’t get to keep and cherish. To come back to our earlier thing — I just don’t think these things are either/or. 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.”
“I think the thing I’m most upset about is that a conversation was never made possible,” she added.
Shetty followed up by asking if she was willing to speak with the “Harry Potter” creator, to which Watson replied, “Yeah, and I always will. I believe in that. I believe in that completely.”
After Rowling was attacked in 2020 for a series of social media posts taking issue with a story that discussed “people who menstruate” rather than specifying women. She said that “sex is real and has lived consequences,” sparking backlash from fans and “Harry Potter” stars who interpreted Rowling’s comments as anti-transgender rhetoric.
Watson released a statement saying, “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.”
Earlier this month, “Harry Potter” film director Chris Columbus stated that a reunion of the original cast was unlikely to happen due to political reasons.
“It’s never going to happen. It’s gotten so complicated with all the political stuff. Everyone in the cast has their own opinion, which is different from her opinion, which makes it impossible,” he told The Sunday Times, as The Daily Wire previously reported.
“I haven’t spoken to Miss Rowling in a decade or so, so I have no idea what’s going on with her, but I keep very close contact with Daniel Radcliffe, and I just spoke to him a few days ago. I still have a great relationship with all the kids in the cast.”
.png)
.png)
