JK Rowling hits out at Emma Watson in fresh clash over transgender issues

JK Rowling has accused Emma Watson of being "ignorant of how ignorant she is" amid their ongoing disagreement about transgender issues.

The Harry Potter films' three central stars - Watson, Daniel Radcliffe and Rupert Grint - have publicly backed the rights of transgender people in recent years, often distancing themselves from the author when asked about her in interviews. Rowling, 60, has previously been accused of transphobia, which she denies.

Watson, 35, discussed her relationship with the writer on a podcast last week, telling host Jay Shetty: "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." Rowling has now shared a more than 600-word post on X in response to Watson, in which she states: "Like other people who've never experienced adult life uncushioned by wealth and fame, Emma has so little experience of real life she's ignorant of how ignorant she is." The author went on to say the Hermione Granger actress is never going to need a homeless shelter or be placed on a mixed-sex public hospital ward. The multimillionaire author said that "I lived in poverty while writing the book that made Emma famous" and therefore "understand from my own life experience what the trashing of women's rights in which Emma has so enthusiastically participated means to women and girls without her privileges".

Rowling added that while she has found it "hard to shake off a certain protectiveness" towards the Harry Potter stars, who she has known since they were children, there was a "turning point" in her relationship with Watson in 2022. She said this happened when Watson gave a Bafta speech saying "I'm here for all the witches.