Emma Watson And J.K. Rowling Fans Clash Over Resurfaced Interview

A 2020 British Vogue interview with Harry Potter star Emma Watson has recently gone viral after being shared on TikTok and Twitter, as Watson’s words appear to clash with those of author J.K. Rowling, sparking a culture war between fans of the two famous women.

In the interview, Watson was asked by author and activist Paris Lees (who is trans), if Watson would be comfortable sharing a bathroom with her. Watson responds: “oh my god, of course.”

Watson continues by explaining her message to those who might have a problem with Lees using female toilets: “That’s another human being. I understand fearing what you don’t know. But go and learn …”

While Watson’s words seem fairly unremarkable, fans found her open-minded attitude stood in stark contrast to that of J.K. Rowling, who has repeatedly expressed her discomfort with the idea of sharing intimate spaces with trans women. In an essay defending her beliefs, Rowling wrote:

“When you throw open the doors of bathrooms and changing rooms to any man who believes or feels he’s a woman – and, as I’ve said, gender confirmation certificates may now be granted without any need for surgery or hormones – then you open the door to any and all men who wish to come inside.”

Hence, Rowling’s fans seemed infuriated by the sudden popularity of Watson’s interview, with many dismissing Watson as rich, entitled, and thus, irrelevant.

Watson fans struck back, arguing in her defense, and pointing out the irony of criticizing Watson’s class background, while standing in solidarity with one of the world’s wealthiest authors.

The Twitter clash illuminates not just an ideological divide, but a widening generational gap. While polls show support for trans rights to be broadly based on political ideology, they also display a sizable gap between the young and old.

Millennials and Gen Z tend to be overwhelmingly supportive of trans people, having grown up in a more inclusive environment, while older generations show far more resistance to trans rights, likely intimidated by the speed of social change.

Notably, all three stars of the Harry Potter films have come out firmly in support of trans rights after Rowling’s controversy. Rupert Grint and Daniel Radcliffe have released statements in support of trans people, with both actors calling out JK Rowling directly.

“Transgender women are women,” Radcliffe wrote in an essay for The Trevor Project. “Any statement to the contrary erases the identity and dignity of transgender people and goes against all advice given by professional health care associations who have far more expertise on this subject matter than either [Rowling] or I.”

To date, neither Radcliffe nor Grint have received the same vitriolic pushback from trans-exclusionary feminists as Watson.