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JK Rowling’s crusade for women’s rights has caused her to lose the support of many stars whose careers were launched thanks to her Harry Potter franchise, including Emma Watson and Daniel Radcliffe.
Her years-long campaign for what she calls “sex-based rights” has seen former Potter actors distance themselves from the billionaire writer and directly express their support for transgender rights.
The publication of the Cass Review, which concluded that children’s gender services were not making decisions based on supported medical evidence, led her to suggest that she was unlikely to forgive stars such as Radcliffe and Watson for their views.
Radcliffe, who plays the famous boy wizard in the franchise, previously apologized to those who he said might feel their enjoyment of the Harry Potter series had been “tarnished or diminished” because of Rowling’s stance.
Watson has also repeatedly spoken out in favor of trans rights, both before and after the author’s views came to light. Here, FEMAIL looks at Rowling’s strained relationship with former child stars and how she has diminished over the years.
JK Rowling’s (pictured) crusade for women’s rights has seen her lose the support of many stars whose careers were launched by her Harry Potter franchise, including Emma Watson and Daniel Radcliffe.
Rowling first came under fire in 2018 after liking a tweet that described trans women as “men in dresses.” Her spokeswoman at the time said something like this was a “mistake,” calling it a “clumsy midlife moment.”
But the author has since embarked on a campaign seeking to protect what she describes as women’s rights, driven by her own experiences of domestic abuse.
From repeatedly ‘misgendering’ trans women in social media posts, to opposing legislation in Scotland that sought to make it easier for trans people to change their legal gender, the 58-year-old has made her thoughts known throughout the years.
However, she has denied allegations that she is transphobic, and police said recent tweets misgendering trans women did not breach Scotland’s new hate crime laws, which prohibit “inciting” hatred against people. transgender.
June 2020: Rowling’s views became explicit and Radcliffe and Watson spoke
The Cass Review publication led Rowling to suggest that she was unlikely to forgive stars such as Daniel Radcliffe (pictured left) and Emma Watson (pictured right) for their views.
Rowling’s views have seen her publicly clash with the stars of Harry Potter. In the photo, the author with Rupert Grint, Emma Watson and Daniel Radcliffe in 2009.
Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson in one of the Harry Potter films
Things came to a head with the wizarding world’s young actors in June 2020, when Rowling made her views on the issue explicit and released a lengthy 3,600-word statement saying her stance on trans rights stemmed from their experiences of abuse and sexual abuse. assault.
She also retweeted an article that said “people who menstruate,” writing: “People who menstruate.” I’m sure there used to be a word for those people. Someone help me. Wumben? Weakling? Whoaumud?’
He then followed the tweet with another that said, “If sex isn’t real, there is no same-sex attraction.” If sex is not real, the lived reality of women around the world is erased.
‘I know and love trans people, but erasing the concept of sex removes the ability of many to speak meaningfully about their lives. It’s not hate to tell the truth.
The author’s outpouring of comments sparked national outrage from both activists and Harry Potter fans, including some of the actors who starred in the franchise.
Radcliffe was the first of the cast to speak out against her, writing a blog for LGBTQ+ charity The Trevor Project, in which he explicitly said: “Transgender women are women.”
He added: “Any statement to the contrary erases the identity and dignity of transgender people and goes against all advice given by professional healthcare associations who have far more experience on this issue than Jo (Rowling) or myself.”
The 34-year-old actor also apologized to fans, saying: “To everyone who now feels that their experience with the books has been tarnished or diminished, I am deeply sorry for the pain these comments have caused you.”
Watson has repeatedly spoken out in favor of trans rights both before (above) and after (below) Rowling’s comments in June 2020.
Emma Watson, who played Hermione Granger, was quick to support her co-star and speak out against Rowling’s stance.
She took to X (formerly Twitter) to write: ‘Trans people are who they say they are and deserve to live their lives without being constantly questioned or told they are not who they say they are.
“I want my trans followers to know that I and many other people around the world see you, respect you and love you for who you are.”
The 33-year-old had also previously shared an image of herself wearing a T-shirt that read: “Trans rights are human rights.”
March 2022: Emma Watson shouted “all the witches” at the BAFTAs
Emma Watson appeared to make a subtle comment against author JK Rowling during the 2022 BAFTA Film Awards
In March 2022, Watson made a comment that many people interpreted as a dig at JK Rowling and her views.
She took to the stage to present the award for Outstanding British Film, when it was introduced by presenter Rebel Wilson.
Rebel said: ‘Here to present the next award is Emma Watson. She calls herself a feminist, but we all know she is a witch. Emma then emphasized: ‘I’m here for ALL the witches!’
Viewers at home saw the comment as a dig at the Harry Potter creator, with one writing: “I’m here for all the women.” Does Sly like JK Rowling, Emma Watson?
Another echoed: ‘Live for Emma Watson throwing subtle shade at JK Rowling at the #BAFTAs #LGBWithTheT #JKDoesntSpeakForMe.’
A third chimed in and added: ‘Was Emma Watson mocking JK Rowling? that WHATEEEEENNN’.
2023 – Daniel Radcliffe works with The Trevor Project
Daniel Radcliffe also continued to show his support for the transgender community, most notably working with The Trevor Project.
In 2023 she moderated the first episode of ‘The Sharing Space’, a video series that consisted of a roundtable discussion with six trans and non-binary children organized by the charity.
Radcliffe said: “There are also people who have a slightly condescending but well-intentioned attitude like ‘people are young… and it’s a huge decision.'”
He asked the group of trans youth: “I would love to hear from all of you why we can trust children to tell us who they are.”
He added that there are “some people in the world who are not trying to engage in this conversation in any kind of good faith.”
The actor said: “I think a lot of times it’s just because people don’t know a young trans person, so they have this theoretical idea about it in their head.”
The episode was released on Friday, March 31 of last year: Transgender Day of Visibility.
April 2024: Rowling suggests she won’t forgive Daniel Radcliffe and Emma Watson.
In response to someone who claimed that Daniel Radcliffe and Emma Watson would be “safe in the knowledge that you’ll forgive them” for clashing with her over the issue, the Harry Potter author wrote “not sure.”
This month, The Cass Review, written by Dr Hilary Cass, found that teenagers in Britain have been allowed to change gender based on “remarkably weak evidence”.
In her report, Dr Cass warned there was a “lack of high-quality research” into the effects of giving hormones and puberty blockers to children and said toxicity in the debate on the topic has become “exceptional.” “.
Following the review, JK Rowling took to social media to suggest that she will not forgive Daniel Radcliffe and Emma Watson for their opinions.
Writing in
When someone claimed that Radcliffe and Watson owed her “a very public apology… with the assurance that you will forgive them,” Rowling responded by saying, “I’m afraid it’s not safe.”
She added: “Celebrities who embraced a movement determined to erode women’s hard-won rights and who used their platforms to encourage the transition of minors can save their apologies for the traumatized detractors and vulnerable women who depend on them.” spaces differentiated by sex”.