Rowling took to Twitter to seemingly take a swipe at Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint, the three actors who played Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, and Ron Weasley in the film franchise.
The feud between the trio and Rowling dates back five years and includes several angry statements from the author about the actors who brought her most iconic characters to life.
Here’s how the feud got to the point it did now, in which Rowling will semi-regularly take digs at Radcliffe, Watson, and Grint.
Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint may have been made famous by J.K Rowling’s books, but they have been unafraid to criticise her (Dave M. Benett via Getty Images)
J.K. Rowling begins commenting on the trans community
J.K. Rowling began expressing views she called ‘gender-critical’ back in 2019, with this exploding in 2020 when she began hitting out at people using the term ‘people who menstruate’.
The term is intended to be more inclusive of the transgender community, however, this led Rowling tweeting: “People who menstruate. I’m sure there used to be a word for those people. Someone help me out. Wumben? Wimpund? Woomud?”
She would follow this up by saying: “If sex isn’t real, there’s no same-sex attraction. If sex isn’t real, the lived reality of women globally is erased. I know and love trans people, but erasing the concept of sex removes the ability of many to meaningfully discuss their lives. It isn’t hate to speak the truth.”
Rowling’s tweets drew a great deal of criticism worldwide, with many pointing out that her ‘gender critical’ perspective denied detailed scientific research that demonstrates that gender is a spectrum, separate to the idea of ‘sex’.
Since then, the author has engaged in several attacks on the transgender community. This includes stating she would ‘rather go to prison’ than use a transgender person’s preferred pronouns, and deliberately misgendering India Willoughby, the UK’s first transgender national television newsreader.
The actors have each spoken out in support of the trans community (Sky/HBO)
2020 – Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint respond and defend the trans community
The trio all responded following the backlash surrounding this. Radcliffe was the first to address it, issuing a statement via The Trevor Project, an LGBTQIA+ suicide prevention nonprofit.
He said in his statement: “Transgender women are women. Any statement to the contrary erases the identity and dignity of transgender people and goes against all advice given by professional health care associations who have far more expertise on this subject matter than either Jo or I.”
This statement was affirmed by Watson, who tweeted: “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. 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.”
Rupert Grint was similarly supportive, saying in a statement to the Sunday Times: “I firmly stand with the trans community and echo the sentiments expressed by many of my peers. Trans women are women. Trans men are men. We should all be entitled to live with love and without judgment.”
The author has been very outspoken on her opinions of the transgender community in recent years (Stuart C. Wilson via Getty Images)
2024 – The Cass Report and J.K. Rowling’s public dig at Radcliffe and Watson
In 2024, a document commonly called the Cass Report was released, the full name of which was an ‘Independent Review of Gender Identity Services for Children and Young People’. These were recommendations made to NHS England by Dr Hilary Cass, an independent chair of the review.
The review advised against giving children and young people gender-affirming care. Though the report was welcomed by many, it received a great deal of criticism.
The World Professional Association for Transgender Health rejected the findings, releasing a strong criticism of the review.
Rowling was one of the many to praise the recommendations, however, saying: “Even if you don’t feel ashamed of cheerleading for what now looks like severe medical malpractice, even if you don’t want to accept that you might have been wrong, where’s your sense of self-preservation.”
This led one fan of Rowling to respond, stating they were waiting on apologies from Radcliffe and Watson to her ‘safe in the knowledge [Rowling] will forgive them’.
The Harry Potter author responded by saying: “Not safe, I’m afraid. Celebs who cosied up to a movement intent on eroding women’s hard-won rights and who used their platforms to cheer on the transitioning of minors can save their apologies for traumatised detransitioners and vulnerable women reliant on single sex spaces.”
Rowling has taken a swipe at the Harry Potter trio once again (GABRIEL BOUYS-/AFP via Getty Images)
2025 – J.K. Rowling issues her latest dig at the Harry Potter actors
Rowling issued her latest swipe at the actors, however, this time seemed to include Rupert Grint amongst her ire. One fan asked her which actor/actress ‘instantly ruins a movie from her’, with Rowling responding saying: “Three guesses. Sorry but that was irresistible.”
Grint, Radcliffe, and Watson have yet to respond, but Radcliffe and Watson did respond to her earlier comments in 2024. Watson’s was the less direct of the pair, taking to Twitter simply to reaffirm her support for the Transgender community.
Radcliffe meanwhile stated that the split with Rowling was ‘sad’, however said; “I will continue to support the rights of all LGBTQ people, and have no further comment than that.”
