Emma Watson breaks silence on rift with J.K. Rowling over anti-trans remarks
Watson says she still cherishes her experiences with Rowling and hopes for dialogue, even as she publicly opposed the author’s remarks about transgender people.
Emma Watson publicly addressed her ongoing rift with J.K. Rowling on Tuesday’s episode of the On Purpose podcast, saying she hopes to repair the relationship even as she continues to oppose the author’s anti-trans remarks. Watson, who played Hermione Granger in the Harry Potter films, said it is possible to hold a cherished personal history with Rowling while disagreeing with her views about transgender people.
On the episode, Watson stressed that she doesn’t believe one experience negates another. “I really don’t believe that by having had that experience [in Harry Potter] and holding the love and support and views that I have, means that I can’t and don’t treasure Jo and the person that I had personal experiences with,” she said. She also underscored that she hopes people who don’t share her opinion will still love her, and that she will continue to love people who hold different views. “I really do believe in having conversations, and that those are really important,” she added. “I guess where I’ve landed is, it’s not so much what we say or what we believe, but very often how we say it.”
Watson emphasized that she could never “cancel out” Rowling and said she would “always remain open for a conversation” with the best-selling author. “There is no world in which I could ever cancel her out, or cancel [the movies] out for anything,” she said. The actor noted that she understands some people may be reluctant to engage with someone they’re angry with, but she urged against discarding people. “I believe that no one is disposable. And everyone … no matter the conversation is, should and can be treated with, at the very least, dignity and respect.”
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Watson added that she values conversation and believes in being able to hold multiple truths at once. “I really do believe in having conversations and that those are really important. I guess where I’ve landed is, it’s not so much what we say or what we believe, but very often how we say it.” She suggested that dialogue can bridge divides rather than deepen them, even when strong disagreements persist.
The interview touched on the broader history of the dispute that began in 2020, when Rowling posted a series of controversial tweets about transgender issues. In those tweets, she questioned the use of terms like “people who menstruate” and asserted that sex is real in a way that drew sharp rebukes from Watson, Radcliffe, and others in the Harry Potter circle. Watson publicly expressed support for the trans community at the time, writing that trans people “are who they say they are and deserve to live their lives without being constantly questioned.”
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Daniel Radcliffe, who portrayed Harry Potter in the film series, also weighed in publicly in 2020. He responded with a letter published on The Trevor Project’s website, stating, “Transgender women are women.” He argued that such statements erode the identity and dignity of transgender people and ran counter to the guidance of major health organizations. Rowling, for her part, has continued to signal a reluctance to fully engage with Watson or Radcliffe on the matter, and she has in the past suggested that those who apologize could “save” their apologies rather than it being a requirement.
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The podcast appearance arrives as Watson reiterates a wish for respectful discourse and a separation of people from their views. She acknowledged that some may choose not to engage when anger runs high, but she urged society not to treat anyone as disposable. “I will always think that’s wrong. I believe that no one is disposable. And everyone … no matter the conversation is, should and can be treated with, at the very least, dignity and respect.”
The public exchange has underscored a broader debate within fan communities over how to reconcile admiration for creative work with disagreement over personal beliefs. While Watson has sought to preserve her personal memory of her time collaborating with Rowling, the author’s stance and subsequent social-media posts have continued to fuel ongoing discussion among fans and fellow cast members alike. Reps for Rowling were not immediately available to comment.
The evolving dialogue illustrates how prominent artists navigate the tension between personal relationships, artistic collaboration, and social responsibility. For Watson, the message is clear: conversations matter, and individuals should be allowed to hold complex, sometimes contradictory, perspectives without being erased. For fans, the situation remains a reminder that cultural creations can outlive their creators in ways that prompt both reverence and scrutiny, especially when it intersects with issues of identity and inclusion.