On September 30, 2025, the ongoing rift between Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling and actress Emma Watson erupted once again, drawing renewed attention to a debate that has divided fans and public figures for years. Rowling, who has faced heavy criticism for her gender critical views, issued a blistering statement on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), directly addressing Watson’s recent public overtures and comments about their strained relationship.
Watson, now 35, played Hermione Granger in the eight Harry Potter films from 2001 to 2011. Alongside her co-stars Daniel Radcliffe and Rupert Grint, Watson has spent the past five years advocating for transgender rights and openly condemning Rowling’s comments, which many have labeled as transphobic. According to The Independent, Watson and her co-stars first publicly pledged their support for the transgender community in 2020, after Rowling’s remarks on sex and gender identity began to spark fierce online debates.
The latest escalation began when Watson appeared on the ‘On Purpose With Jay Shetty’ podcast in late September. In a thoughtful reflection, Watson stated, “I really don’t believe that by having had that experience and holding the love and support and views that I have, mean that I can’t and don’t treasure Jo and the person that I had personal experiences with. 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.” She added that, despite their differences, she would be open to speaking with Rowling again—an olive branch of sorts, extended in the midst of a public feud.
But Rowling was far from receptive. In her lengthy response, she dismissed Watson’s conciliatory tone and accused the actress of “pouring more petrol on the flames” of abuse that Rowling has received. “Adults can’t expect to cosy up to an activist movement that regularly calls for a friend’s assassination, then assert their right to the former friend’s love, as though the friend was in fact their mother,” Rowling wrote, referencing the activist circles that have targeted her online. Classic Hits reported that Rowling’s statement came only days after Watson’s podcast remarks, underscoring the immediacy and intensity of the exchange.
Rowling did not mince words about Watson’s background, suggesting that the actress’s opinions were shaped by a “sheltered” life. “Emma has so little experience of real life she’s ignorant of how ignorant she is,” Rowling declared, emphasizing that Watson’s adult life had been “uncushioned by wealth and fame.” Rowling contrasted this with her own experience, writing, “I wasn’t a multimillionaire at 14. I lived in poverty while writing the book that made Emma famous.” According to The Independent, Rowling’s criticism of Watson’s perspective was rooted in their vastly different upbringings and life circumstances.
The author also addressed what she perceives as Watson and Radcliffe’s continued assumption of a right—or even an obligation—to publicly critique her views because of their past professional association. “Emma and Dan in particular have both made it clear over the last few years that they think our former professional association gives them a particular right – nay, obligation – to critique me and my views in public. Years after they finished acting in Potter, they continue to assume the role of de facto spokespeople for the world I created,” Rowling wrote. This sentiment was echoed across several outlets, including BBC and Classic Hits, which highlighted Rowling’s frustration with her former stars’ ongoing commentary.
The rift between Rowling and the Harry Potter cast is not new. In 2020, Watson responded to one of Rowling’s essays about the need for single-sex spaces by tweeting, “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.” Daniel Radcliffe was equally direct, stating, “Transgender women are women.” Their public support for transgender rights has stood in stark contrast to Rowling’s gender critical stance, which she has defended as a matter of women’s rights and biological sex.
Rowling’s first public intervention in the transgender debate came in December 2019, when she tweeted support for Maya Forstater, a tax specialist dismissed from her job after asserting that transgender women could not change their biological sex. In June 2020, Rowling drew further criticism after posting a link to an article headlined “Creating a more equal post-Covid-19 world for people who menstruate,” and commenting, “'People who menstruate.' I’m sure there used to be a word for those people. Someone help me out. Wumben? Wimpund? Woomud?” According to BBC, these remarks solidified her reputation as a trans-exclusionary radical feminist, a label she has repeatedly denied.
One particularly notable moment in their feud came at the 2022 BAFTA Awards. Host Rebel Wilson introduced Watson to the stage by saying, “Here to present the next award is Emma Watson. She calls herself a feminist, but we all know she’s a witch.” Watson responded, “I’m here for all the witches!” Rowling later described this moment as a “turning point,” stating that Watson’s public remarks felt like a betrayal, especially at a time when Rowling was facing a deluge of threats. Soon after the event, Watson sent Rowling a handwritten note expressing sympathy: “I’m so sorry for what you’re going through.” Rowling, however, found the gesture insufficient, writing, “Emma had just publicly poured more petrol on the flames, yet thought a one-line expression of concern from her would reassure me of her fundamental sympathy and kindness.”
Rowling’s latest statement also speculated about Watson’s motives, suggesting that the actress’s softer tone might be due to a recent calming of “full-throated condemnation” against Rowling in public discourse. Despite acknowledging that Watson and her co-stars have “every right to embrace gender identity ideology,” Rowling remains adamant that their public critiques are misguided and rooted in a lack of real-world experience.
For fans of Harry Potter, the public fallout between Rowling and the actors who brought her characters to life has been both painful and illuminating. The debate encapsulates broader cultural tensions around gender, identity, and the responsibilities of public figures. As Rowling and Watson continue to speak out—sometimes to, sometimes past, each other—the world watches, reminded that even the most magical partnerships can unravel under the weight of real-world conflict.
