Following a historic examination of gender treatment in the UK, the author—who formerly had a personal friendship with the two actors from her wizarding world novels—criticized the stars.
In 2020, Rowling made controversial statements on the trans community, which sparked anger from numerous important cast members. Since then, her relationship with stars has deteriorated amid a toxic argument.
In a previous piece for The Trevor Project, Daniel Radcliffe, who portrayed the title character Harry Potter, expressed support for the trans community and expressed regret for the hurt Rowling’s remarks had caused the Harry Potter fanbase.
Watson seemed to be mocking Rowling at the 2022 Baftas when she said, “I want my trans followers to know that I and so many other people around the world see you, respect you and love you for who you are.”
Nevertheless, Rowling criticized Radcliffe and Watson after this week’s publication of the Cass report, advising them to “save their apologies” for “traumatized detransitioners.”
“Just waiting for Dan and Emma to give you a very public apology,” a poster on X/Twitter, whose account name included the word “FarRightHooligan,” wrote to Rowling, reigniting the argument. secure in the belief that you will pardon them.
Rowling said, “I am afraid it is not safe.” Celebrities who sided with a movement that aimed to undermine women’s hard-won rights and who encouraged children to transition on their platforms should hold off on apologizing to traumatized detransitioners and vulnerable women who depend on single-sex areas.
Her remarks follow reports that the author may face police inquiries for misgendering transgender individuals in violation of Scotland’s recently passed hate crime legislation.
Siobhian Brown, the community safety minister for the SNP party, had earlier said that misgendering—for instance, referring to a trans woman as “he”—would not be considered a hate crime, but she has now changed her mind and stated that it would be up to the police.
Though she labeled the rule “ludicrous,” Rowling—who has often argued on the internet that trans people are not women—vowed to keep “calling a man a man” and that she would not remove any social media postings that could violate laws against hate crimes.
The author has long been a vocal opponent of the gender reform initiatives of the Scottish Government, claiming that they jeopardize the safety of women.
She has previously said that referring to a trans person by their chosen pronouns would get her into prison.
In the end, authorities declared that Rowling’s remarks on the new rules against hate crimes “are not assessed to be criminal” and that no further action would be done.