Emma Watson has been accused of using her brief stage moment at the BAFTA Film Awards to apparently criticize Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling for her stance on transgender issues.
The 31-year-old actress, best known for her role as Hermione Granger in the film adaptation of Rowling’s books, appeared to have taken aim at the author as she presented the award at yesterday’s ceremony at the Royal Albert Hall.
Host Rebel Wilson introduced the star on stage, saying, “The next award is presented by Emma Watson. She calls herself a feminist, but we all know that she is a witch.
Ms Watson then emphasized, “I’m here for all the witches,” an obvious allusion to Ms Rowling’s previous statements about transgender issues and her recent criticism of Labor leader Sir Keir Starmer for saying that “transgender women are women.” “.
While some viewers cheered her comments last night, many viewers on social media criticized Ms Watson for her stance.
One said she sounded like an “ungrateful wake-up kid” when she decided to use the BAFTA platform to criticize the woman who built her early career.
Another wrote: “It’s good that @jk_rowling pulled the short-tempered, ungrateful @EmmaWatson out of obscurity all those years ago because she has zero acting range other than looking down on those who dare to stand up and be counted against cancellation.” . # woke up the brigade.
A third said that Ms. Watson was “absolutely terrible” and “so desperate to please her trans fans” that she “slept with all women and, ironically, the very woman who created her.”
Another tweeted: “She should be counting her lucky stars. JK Rowling stuck with her.” She owes her a hell of a lot, she needs to stop biting the hand that feeds.”
Emma Watson was branded a ‘Wake Girl’ today after she used her BAFTA speech to apparently criticize Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling for her stance on transgender issues.
Host Rebel Wilson (pictured) introduced the star on stage, saying, “Here to present the next award, Emma Watson. She calls herself a feminist, but we all know that she is a witch.
A fifth wrote: “Emma Watson, a woman, a feminist who can’t define what a woman is? The one known for JK?
Emma Watson’s representatives have reached out for comment.
Ms. Rowling has faced a constant onslaught of allegations of transphobia ever since she published an essay on her website in July 2020 in which she claimed that biological sex is real.
She also revealed that she has “experienced domestic violence and sexual abuse.”
She was labeled TERF – a trans-exclusive radical feminist – after taking issue with the term “people who menstruate”.
In December, she was again forced to deny that she was transphobic, as she argued that sex, not gender identity, should be “the basis for protection decisions”.
Harry Potter stars Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Ms. Watson and Evanna Lynch, who recently reunited at the 20th anniversary celebration of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone without Ms. Rowling, are among those who condemned her.
Social media users have targeted Ms Watson after she used her BAFTA speech to criticize JK Rowling.
Earlier, the author reported that “hundreds of trans activists threatened to beat, rape, kill and blow me up.”
She vowed to keep speaking out after naming and shaming three activists for posing with signs reading ‘Don’t Be a Weak’, ‘Trans Liberalism Now’ and ‘Trans Rights are Human Rights’ outside her home in Edinburgh. In November.
Among others who criticized Ms. Watson for her overt opposition to Ms. Rowling was one who said the star “must remember whose talent has put her in the position she is in.”
They added, “JKR has more talent in her little finger than EW could ever dream of.”
Another said: “She should count her lucky stars. JK Rowling stuck with her.” She owes her a hell of a lot, she needs to stop biting the hand that feeds.”
Ms. Watson hand in hand with Ms. Rowling at the premiere of the first part of the adaptation of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows in 2011.
Ms. Watson, along with fellow movie star Bonnie Wright, who played Ginny Weasley, and writer Ms. Rowling in 2002 at the premiere of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.
However, some viewers praised Ms. Watson for her stance.
One of them said she “couldn’t love her more” for targeting Ms. Rowling, which was “absolutely mean”.
Another echoed: “Live for Emma Watson casting a subtle shadow over JK Rowling at #BAFTA #LGBWithTheT #JKDoesntSpeakForMe.”
A third chimed in to add, “Was that Emma Watson’s mockery of J.K. Rowling?” what a QUEEEENNN’.
Ms Wilson targeted Ms Rowling earlier in the night when she joked about her recent weight loss.
Referring to a photo of her at the 2020 ceremony that appeared on screen, she joked, “That was me two years ago and I’ve changed a lot since then – I hope JK Rowling still approves.”
Others who criticized Ms. Watson for her overt opposition to Ms. Rowling included one who said the star “must remember whose talent has put her in the position she is in.”
This came after Ms Rowling targeted Sir Keir of the Labor Party after being asked in an interview to define what a woman is.
He said, “A woman is a grown woman, and besides, trans women are women, and it’s not just my opinion – it’s actually the law.”
Sir Keir, former Director of Public Prosecution, added: “It was a law due to the cumulative consequences [Gender Recognition] Law and 2010 [Equality] Act.’
In a series of furious tweets, Ms Rowling then wrote: “I don’t think our politicians have any idea how much anger is building up among women from all walks of life about trying to threaten and intimidate them so they don’t spoke publicly. about their own rights, their own bodies and their own lives.”
She said she received “thousands of letters” from women across the political spectrum who were “outraged and angry that deaf ears have been turned away from their well-founded fears.”
She added: “Now Keir Starmer is publicly misrepresenting equality law, which is further evidence that the Labor Party can no longer count on defending women’s rights.” But I repeat, women are uniting along party lines, and their resolve and anger are growing.”
In 2008, Rowling donated £1 million to Labor but became increasingly critical of the party’s stance on transgender issues.
Earlier last week, Labor Party equality spokesperson Anneliese Dodds said the meaning of “woman” depends on “context”, while Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper declined to answer the question.
In response, Ms. Rowling suggested that the party rename International Women’s Day “Us Who Must Not Be Named Day,” a reference to Harry Potter’s fictional enemy Voldemort, He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named.