The 59-year-old author J.K. Rowling says she can pinpoint the exact moment the Harry Potter star “betrayed” her. It was when Emma Watson stepped onto the BAFTA stage in March 2022 and opened her speech with a line that quickly went viral:
I’m here for all of the witches.
At that time, Rowling says she was facing the worst wave of online abuse in her career, with threats of r*pe, torture, and death “at their peak,” and believed the remark poured “more petrol on the flames,” as she later put it.
According to a report by Deadline, what followed only made the moment more complicated: a brief handwritten message from Watson passed through a third party, saying:
I’m so sorry for what you’re going through
The author felt it rang hollow in contrast to the public remark. She says that was the point where her view of the actress changed, and the moment she stopped staying quiet about their strained relationship.
While some Harry Potter stars continue to publicly support Rowling, her relationship with Watson remains one of the most tense and closely watched.
J.K. Rowling Responds to Emma Watson’s Interview: ‘A Change of Tactic‘
The Beauty and the Beast lead recently addressed her long-running tension with Rowling in Jay Shetty’s podcast (see interview below), saying she still “treasures” the author and hopes people can maintain relationships even when they disagree, adding that the creator’s political beliefs do not negate her feelings about her.
In a lengthy X post, Rowling responded, calling the softened tone a “change of tactic.” She suggested Watson’s remarks reflected a broader shift in how celebrities now address the controversy around her, saying full condemnation of her views is “no longer as fashionable as it once was,” and accusing her of being ignorant.
I'm seeing quite a bit of comment about this, so I want to make a couple of points.
I'm not owed eternal agreement from any actor who once played a character I created. The idea is as ludicrous as me checking with the boss I had when I was twenty-one for what opinions I should… https://t.co/c0pz19P7jc
The author also claimed she had avoided speaking about Watson for years, describing repeated decisions to turn down interview questions to avoid directing pressure toward her. According to Rowling, the actor’s new comments reopened the discussion, prompting her to finally speak directly about their uneasy relationship.
The exchange has renewed focus on their long-running rift, making this one of Rowling’s most direct public statements about the former child star so far.
J.K. Rowling Says Emma Watson and Daniel Radcliffe Act Like ‘Spokespeople‘
Alongside Rowling’s response to the actress’s interview, the author also criticized Watson and Daniel Radcliffe for what she described as their ongoing role as “spokespeople” for the Harry Potter world. She claimed that long after the films ended, the actors continued to comment on her views as though their past working relationship gave them a special authority to speak for the franchise.
The British writer argued that both actors have repeatedly positioned themselves as public interpreters of her intentions and beliefs, especially on issues where they disagree with her. She said this pattern has contributed to the sense that the former child stars see it as their obligation to critique her publicly.
By calling out Watson and Radcliffe directly, Rowling suggested that their ongoing remarks keep the rift within the Harry Potter community active years after filming ended.
What’s your take on Rowling’s comments? Tell us in the comments!
