J.K. Rowling, the author behind the Harry Potter series, recently voiced her opinions against actors Daniel Radcliffe and Emma Watson via a series of posts on social media.
Rowling, 58, shared an independent review to X (formerly Twitter) on April 10, which she described as "the most robust review of the medical evidence for transitioning children that's ever been conducted." The original source has limited the audience of who can see their post.
A follower on X responded to her post suggesting that Radcliffe, 34, and Watson, 33, would publicly apologize to Rowling, expecting her forgiveness, "Just waiting for Dan and Emma to give you a very public apology... safe in the knowledge that you will forgive them... " The author quickly dismissed this notion, stating, "Not safe, I'm afraid," and criticized celebrities who support transgender minors, arguing that they should instead "save their apologies for traumatized detransitioners and vulnerable women reliant on single sex spaces."
This interaction comes after Rowling's ongoing controversy regarding her views on transgender issues, a stance that has significantly polarized her audience and former Harry Potter cast members.
Radcliffe and Watson have not directly addressed the issue of medical transitioning for children but have openly supported transgender rights in the past. Watson, in a statement on X in June 2020, affirmed her support: "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," she expressed. "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."
Similarly, Radcliffe penned a short essay for the Trevor Project in the same month, highlighting his support for transgender women and clarifying that his stance isn't about personal conflict with Rowling. "I realize that certain press outlets will probably want to paint this as in-fighting between J.K. Rowling and myself, but that is really not what this is about, nor is it what's important right now," he wrote.
Recently there's been speculation over whether Rowling might face legal consequences under a new hate-crime law in Scotland, which will make misgendering an individual a criminal offense.
Her response was another series of X posts, starting with, "In passing the Scottish Hate Crime Act, Scottish lawmakers seem to have placed higher value on the feelings of men performing their idea of femaleness, however misogynistically or opportunistically, than on the rights and freedoms of actual women and girls."
According to AP, the Scottish police say they had received complaints, but that "the comments are not assessed to be criminal and no further action will be taken."
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