Emma Watson Stood Up Against J. K. Rowling’s Anti-Trans Tweets By Saying She’s “Here For *All* Witches”
Actor Emma Watson made a statement in support of trans rights and inclusion while presenting an award at the BAFTA Awards on Sunday Mar. 13.
Actor Emma Watson made a statement in support of trans rights and inclusion while presenting an award at the BAFTA Awards on Sunday Mar. 13.
Watson was introduced on stage by Rebel Wilson, who said, “Here to present the next award is Emma Watson. She calls herself a feminist, but we all know she’s a witch.”
When she reached the podium, Watson, who played Hermione Granger in the Harry Potter series by British author J. K. Rowling, said, “I’m here for all the witches, by the way.”
Watson’s comments come just days after Rowling, who has been widely criticized for her anti-trans views, again denied that trans women are women.
In 2020, Rowling criticized an article for using the phrase “people who menstruate” instead of the word “women”.
“‘People who menstruate.’ I’m sure there used to be a word for those people. Someone help me out. Wumben? Wimpund? Woomud?,” she tweeted.
Using the phrase “people who menstruate” instead of “women” shows solidarity with women who do not menstruate, transgender men who do, as well as intersex and genderqueer individuals.
Rowling’s tweet was widely criticized for being anti-trans, but she followed it up with an essay in which she emphasized the importance of “biological sex” – the sex people are assigned at birth – and that trans women should not be allowed in women’s spaces such as bathrooms.
It prompted several actors who played characters in Harry Potter – including Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Watson – spoke out against Rowling’s views and in support of trans rights.
Many thought that Watson’s statement at the BAFTAs was a subtle dig at Rowling, who days earlier, had tweeted on International Women’s Day that the day would be named “We Who Must Not Be Named Day” under a UK Labour government.
Her tweet prompted a reply from singer Tinashe, who wrote, “Oh my god, SHUT UP” and went viral.
Rowling also went on to also criticize Labour leader Keir Starmer’s comments that trans women are women on Mar. 12.
