Daniel Radcliffe and Emma Watson, the actors who brought to life two of J.K. Rowling’s key characters in the on-screen adaptation of her Harry Potter series, do not seem willing to back down.
The acclaimed author appeared to be upset with Daniel and Emma, who have recently voiced their support for trans rights in the most recent online discussion Rowling has participated in.
Rowling’s censure came as she wrote a series of articles on X, previously known as Twitter, about the launch of the long-awaited Cass Review. Cardiologist Dr. Hilary Cass conducted the review, which was published following an examination of gender identity solutions for adolescents in the UK. The results of Hilary’s review concluded that there was a “lack of high-quality analysis” on the effects of puberty blockers on children.
After the just-released Cass Review in the UK, which claimed children were provided gender-affirming treatment despite a “lack of high-quality research,” J.K. Rowling spoke about “celebrity spokespeople.”
Following the release of the Cass Review, Rowling took to social media to show her “anger” over what she called “significant health fraud.”
“Even if you don’t feel ashamed of cheerleading for what now looks like severe medical malpractice, even if you don’t want to accept that you might have been wrong, where’s your sense of self-preservation? You’re riding on the wagon so happily, it’s heading for a cliff,” Rowling wrote in a series of posts on Wednesday.
The author appeared to suggest in response to a tweet from a user on social media that she wouldn’t accept an apology from Daniel Radcliffe and Emma Watson for “kowtowing down to a movement intent on eroding women’s hard-earned rights.”
J.K. Rowling, the author of Harry Potter, has stated that she would not accept a fictional apology from Emma Watson and Daniel Radcliffe because of their divergent opinions on the transgender community. pic.twitter.com/J76bVQG3zI
— HANIA Waseem (@haniawaseem286) April 11, 2024
“If I sound unhappy, it’s because I’m terribly upset. I read Cass today, and it’s been making me angrier all the time. Children have been permanently harmed, and thousands are involved, not just medics, but the star mouthpieces, unquestioning media, and jaded corporations,” she added.
After a lover wrote on her posts, she made a mockery of Daniel and Emma, saying, “Only waiting for Dan and Emma to give you a very common apology… safe in the knowledge that you will accept them,” the comment was removed.
The author argued that influencers who “used their platforms to clap on the transition of minors can keep their apologies.”
No healthy, I’m scared. Celebrities who supported a movement that wanted to diminish women’s hard-won rights and who used their systems to support the transition of minors can keep their apologies for traumatized detransitioners and vulnerable women who rely on one sex spaces.
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) April 10, 2024
The multi-millionaire author responded to the tweet by launching an attack on the stars and saying she wouldn’t accept their apology.
“No safe, I’m afraid,” Rowling wrote. Celebrities who cosied up to a movement that aims to diminish women’s hard-won privileges and who used their platforms to support the transition of minors you preserve their apologies for traumatized detransitioners and vulnerable women who rely on one sex spaces.
When J.K. Rowling was tangled in a discussion over her remarks about trans people, Emma Watson and Daniel Radcliffe both made statements again in 2020.
Image source: Mike Marsland/Getty Images
Rowling was at the middle of a discussion again in 2020 because of her remarks about trans people. The Hogwarts designer had an concern with the content not using the word “women” because she retweeted an op-ed part about “people who menstruate” in Twitter.
“‘Persons who menstruate.’ There was, undoubtedly, a term for those individuals. Somebody please help me out. Wumben? Wimpund? Woomud”? she tweeted at the time.
In response to the question that was left by thousands of readers in her post, one wrote,” So what you’re saying is that all humans who menstruate are women and those who don’t are not. People work hard to define inclusion in small terms in today’s society. Why do you combat this, exactly? Why is it so critical to you to adhere to your dated beliefs?”
Rowling’s violent tweet in 2020 received a storm of comments from dissatisfied viewers.
‘Citizens who menstruate.’ There was, undoubtedly, a term for those individuals. Somebody please help me out. Wumben? Wimpund? Woomud?
Viewpoint: Creating a more equitable post-COVID-19 earth for people who menstruate ssl://t.co/cVpZxG7gaA
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) June 6, 2020
Another wrote,” I used to enjoy your books, then I’m just so upset in you. Your defiant ignorance is horrible and severely wrong.
I sympathize with the transgender and non-binary children who are having a hard time because they discovered one of their favorite authors had created an entire fictional world without enough room for them. But you are true and true. I love you more than Harry, Hermione, Neville, and Ron combined,” another wrote.
Rowling was unwavering in her position despite much criticism and continued to do so in succeeding comments.
“If sexual isn’t real, there’s no similar-sexual attraction. If sexual isn’t true, the lived truth of women worldwide is erased. I am aware of and adore transgender people, but removing the idea of gender makes it impossible for many to meaningfully discuss their life. It isn’t love to talk the truth,” the author said in another post.
Harry Potter star, Daniel Radcliffe, wrote an essay addressing the writer’s notes and showed his support for the trans community.
Image source: Jon Furniss/WireImage via Getty Images
Daniel released an article for The Trevor Project at the time in response to the outcry over her notes and expressed his aid for the transgender community. He apologized for the “pain” Rowling’s words caused.
In a statement at the time, Emma added that she wished the transgender community well and that she deserved to live her life without being constantly questioned or told she wasn’t who she claimed to be.
“I want my trans fans to know that I and so many others around the world respect and love you for who you are,” she continued.
J.K. Rowling’s member told Bored Panda that the artist declined to comment.
Bored Panda reached out to Emma Watson and Daniel Radcliffe’s members, but they have not yet responded.
