Harry Potter: Emma Watson Supports Trans Fans After J.K. Rowling Comments

Emma Watson is the latest Harry Potter actress to share her support with the transgender community following author J.K. Rowling's anti-trans comments. Watson memorably played Hermione Granger for all eight Harry Potter films and has since gone on to appear in several major projects. In 2017, Watson starred in Disney's live-action Beauty and the Beast as beloved princess Belle. Her most recent film was Greta Gerwig's Oscar-nominated Little Women, in which she played eldest sister Meg March. In addition to acting, Watson has become an outspoken women's rights activist, working with the UN and other organizations over the years.

By now, most are familiar with what went down this past weekend with Rowling on social media. In response to an article titled "Opinion: Creating a more equal post-COVID-19 world for people who menstruate", Rowling wrote, "People who menstruate.’ I’m sure there used to be a word for those people. Someone help me out. Wumben? Wimpund? Woomud?" The backlash from fans and activists was immediate, as many found her statement to be anti-trans. Rowling pushed back against the criticisms and further doubled-down on her stance today in a lengthy essay written on her website. In said essay, Rowling attempted to clarify her beliefs and gain some support, but it only seems to have renewed the backlash against her

A few members of Rowling's Wizarding World have already spoken out, and now Watson joins their ranks. Hours after Fantastic Beasts 

star Eddie Redmayne condemned Rowling's comments, Watson addressed her trans fans on social media and wrote, "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." Watson never mentioned Rowling by name, but she did assert that "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," which is in direct opposition to what Rowling was previously saying. Watson also shared the names of the organizations she has donated to (Mermaids and Mama Cash) and encouraged others to do the same.

 

Watson's comments come after her fellow Harry Potter stars Katie Leung and Daniel Radcliffe offered their own forms of support to the transgender community. Leung shared a handful of pro-trans resources on social media, while Radcliffe wrote an open letter for fans with The Trevor Project. As Radcliffe said, "Transgender women are women. Any statement to the contrary erases the identity and dignity of transgender people."

Rowling's comments came in the midst of Pride Month, which is one of the reasons fans have been quick to criticize her actions. At the present moment, it does not seem like Rowling has realized the full extent of the damage her statements have caused, and she so far does not seem inclined to do so. As Rowling's Wizarding World is still alive and well within pop culture (Fantastic Beasts 3 is currently in the works right now), it's going to be interesting to see if this current controversy will impact future projects under that banner. Undoubtedly, Harry Potter fans will respond in some way.

 

Source: Emma Watson/Twitter