A 2020 British Vogue interview with Harry Potter star Emma Watson recently went viral after being shared on TikTok and Twitter, sparking a culture war between fans of the two famous women.
Watson was asked in the interview if he would be comfortable sharing a bathroom with author and activist Paris Lees (who is trans). Watson answers, “of course, oh my gosh.”
Watson continues by elaborating on her warning to individuals who may object to Lees accessing female restrooms: “That is a different human being. I understand your dread of the unknown. However, go and learn…”
While Watson’s words appear unremarkable, fans noted that her open-minded attitude contrasted sharply with that of J.K. Rowling, who has repeatedly expressed discomfort with the idea of trans women sharing intimate spaces. Rowling wrote in an essay defending her beliefs:
“By opening the doors of bathrooms and changing rooms to any man who believes or feels he is a woman – and, as I previously stated, gender confirmation certificates may now be granted without the use of surgery or hormones – you effectively open the door to any and all men who wish to enter.”
Thus, Rowling’s fans appeared enraged by the interview’s sudden popularity, with many dismissing Watson as wealthy, entitled, and thus irrelevant.
Watson supporters responded, arguing in her defence and pointing out the irony of criticising Watson’s class background while defending one of the world’s wealthiest authors.
The Twitter spat reveals not only an ideological schism, but also a widening generational divide. While polls indicate that support for trans rights is largely ideological in nature, they also reveal a sizable divide between young and old.
Millennials and Gen Z are highly supportive of trans persons, having grown up in a more open atmosphere, but older generations demonstrate significantly more opposition to trans rights, possibly terrified by the rapid pace of societal change.
Notably, all three Harry Potter film stars have come out strongly in favour of transgender rights in the aftermath of Rowling’s scandal. Rupert Grint and Daniel Radcliffe also issued remarks in favour of transgender persons, with both performers publicly criticising JK Rowling.
Radcliffe said in an essay for The Trevor Project, “Transgender women are women.” “Any declaration to the contrary obliterates the identity and dignity of transgender persons and contradicts every guidance offered by professional health care associations with considerably greater understanding on this issue than [Rowling] or I.”
Neither Radcliffe nor Grint has seen the same level of hostility from trans-exclusionary feminists as Watson has.