Author JK Rowling to Watson: ‘You are ignorant of how ignorant you are’

By Isa Isawade

Author JK Rowling has lambasted actor Emma Watson in an angry response to the latter’s comments about their relationship, saying she is “ignorant of how ignorant she is.”

Rowling, author of the ‘Harry Potter’ made the remarks in her 700-word response to Watson on X after the actor reflected on their relationship while appearing on On Purpose with Jay Shetty podcast.

J.K. Rowling and Emma Watson have been at loggerheads for years due to their differing views on transgender rights.

Watson had said, “I really don’t believe that 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 (JK Rowling) and the person that I had personal experiences with.”

She maintained that people who don’t agree with her opinion will love her, adding “I hope I can keep loving people who I don’t necessarily share the same opinion with”.

Rowling, in her long X post stated that Emma Watson and her co-stars had every right to embrace gender identity ideology.

Such beliefs, she emphasised, are legally protected, adding that she would not want to see any of them threatened with loss of work, or violence, or death, because of their beliefs.

She also claimed that instead of reaching out to her, Watson “asked someone to pass on a handwritten note,” which read, “I’m so sorry for what you’re going through.”

She declared: “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 also said, “Emma was ‘never likely to need’ to use the types of single-sex spaces she has campaigned against trans people having access to, such as changing rooms and public toilets.”