Emma Watson is back on the singles market.
The Harry Potter alum and her tech-manager boyfriend, William “Mack” Knight, have reportedly split after two years of dating. While the pair remained famously private throughout their relationship, news of the breakup has sent fans into a frenzy across social media.
The couple first sparked romance rumors in early following a cozy, weeklong getaway to Big Sur, California. During the romantic trip, the duo was spotted soaking up the sun and hitting the scenic hiking trails at the ultra-luxurious Post Ranch Inn.
Long before the world caught on to their status, however, the pair was seen enjoying the arts in New York City. Back in October , Watson and Knight were photographed leaving the Richard Rodgers Theatre after a performance of the Broadway sensation Hamilton.
For that low-key date night, the actress opted for a classic white shirt and black jeans, while Knight kept things casual in a sweater and denim.
Knight, a Princeton graduate who also attended Columbia Business School, is a far cry from the typical Hollywood leading man. According to his LinkedIn, he has spent years as a senior manager at Medallia Professional Services, a firm specializing in customer feedback.
While Watson never confirmed the relationship on her Instagram feed, she did get candid about her decision to keep her partners out of the headlines. Speaking to Vanity Fair for their March cover story, she explained her strict boundary between her work and her heart.
“I want to be consistent,” Watson told the magazine. “I can’t talk about my boyfriend in an interview and then expect people not to take paparazzi pictures of me walking around outside my home. You can’t have it both ways.”
The actress, who has been in the spotlight since she was years old, noted that celebrity relationships often feel like they are “part of the performance.”
“I’ve noticed, in Hollywood, who you’re dating gets tied up into your film promotion and becomes part of the performance and the circus,” she added. “I would hate anyone that I were with to feel like they were in any way part of a show or an act.”
This was Watson’s first major relationship following what she described as a “horrendous” breakup with rugby player Matthew Janney in .
The star was so affected by that previous split that she famously checked into a private facility in the Rocky Mountains to take a week-long vow of silence.
“I felt really uncomfortable,” she told Vogue U.K. at the time. “Even before my relationship ended, I went on a silent retreat, because I really wanted to figure out how to be at home with myself.”
Now that she is entering a new chapter, fans are sending their love to the star on X (formerly Twitter), with many praising her for her “classy” and “private” approach to modern dating.
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