NEW DELHI: JK Rowling has seemingly taken a dig at Harry Potter stars Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint. The author’s recent comment on social media has reignited tensions between her and the actors.
When asked online, “What actor/actress instantly ruins a movie for you?”, Rowling responded, “Three guesses. Sorry, but that was irresistible.” She added laughing emojis, but many interpreted it as a swipe at the trio.
This comes after a long history of conflict between Rowling and the Harry Potter stars. Rowling has faced criticism for her views on trans rights. In 2019, she supported researcher Maya Forstater, whose contract was not renewed after her tweets questioning self-identification in gender identity laws.
Rowling’s stance drew backlash, with fans calling her a “terf” (trans-exclusionary radical feminist). The author later posted an essay explaining her concerns about “new trans activism.”
Following her remarks, Radcliffe responded in 2020, saying: “Transgender women are women.” He acknowledged Rowling’s role in shaping his career but said he felt “compelled to say something.”
“Particularly since finishing Potter, I’ve met so many queer and trans kids who had a huge amount of identification with Potter,” Radcliffe added. In 2024, he revealed he hadn’t spoken to Rowling in years. “It makes me really sad,” he said. “I do look at the person that I met, the times that we met, and the books that she wrote, and all of that is to me so deeply empathic.”
Watson and Grint also distanced themselves from Rowling’s comments. At the 2022 Baftas, Watson said, “I’m here for all the witches!” This was widely seen as a dig at Rowling after host Rebel Wilson introduced her by saying: “She calls herself a feminist, but we all know she’s a witch.”
In April 2024, Rowling said she would not forgive the actors for speaking out against her. “They can save their apologies,” she said.
The ongoing feud continues to divide fans of the Harry Potter series. While some stand with Rowling, others support Radcliffe, Watson, and Grint for their stance on trans rights.