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
Unexpected Team-Up: Prince William and Emma Watson Unite for Change
Prince William had plenty to celebrate this weekend, but his latest public appearance quickly turned heads for a very different reason. After marking his 44th birthday and Father's Day with his family, the future king returned to royal duties—and made a surprisingly personal confession about the emotional toll of climate change.
William joined Hollywood stars Emma Watson and Benedict Cumberbatch at a United for Wildlife forum in London, an initiative he launched with the Royal Foundation in 2013. The organization works around the world to combat wildlife trafficking, environmental crime, and the destruction of endangered species.
But it was William's candid admission about his own fears that stole the spotlight.
The Prince of Wales revealed that climate change has caused him "sleepless nights," admitting he has struggled with anxiety about what the future could look like. Yet instead of allowing those fears to overwhelm him, William said seeing real progress through conservation efforts has helped keep his environmental anxiety under control.
He also delivered a powerful message to business leaders, urging them to become the kind of leaders they admired when they were children. With technology and innovation transforming the world at an incredible pace, William challenged CEOs to use their influence to create meaningful change.
The event launched London Climate Action Week, with more royal appearances expected, including the Earthshot Prize assembly.
Emma Watson also delivered a surprising revelation of her own. The Harry Potter star highlighted the fashion industry's enormous environmental impact, pointing out that it produces more emissions than aviation and ranks behind only oil among major polluting industries.
Watson, who is also pursuing a doctorate in philosophy at Oxford, shared a hilarious story about mistakenly believing paparazzi were following her. After spotting photographers with telephoto lenses, she arranged a distraction and escaped through another exit. The twist? They weren't photographing her at all. They were waiting to capture a red kite.
Meanwhile, Benedict Cumberbatch praised William as "a great guy" and urged businesses and individuals to recognize that they can still make a difference, even when global environmental challenges appear overwhelming.
With William, Watson, and Cumberbatch joining forces on the issue, the London forum delivered a clear message: the fight against environmental destruction is becoming impossible for the world's biggest names to ignore.
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