The magic seems to have officially run out between J.K. Rowling and the stars who brought her Wizarding World to life.
In a series of posts on X (formerly Twitter) on Wednesday, April , the Harry Potter author took a sharp public swipe at Daniel Radcliffe and Emma Watson. The “boy wizard” and the girl who played Hermione Granger have long been vocal in their support of transgender rights—a stance that clearly hasn’t sat well with the woman who created their characters.
The social media firestorm began when Rowling shared a recent independent review regarding medical evidence for transitioning children. When a follower suggested they were “just waiting for Dan and Emma to give you a very public apology,” Rowling didn’t hold back.
“Not safe, I’m afraid,” Rowling replied, effectively shutting down any hopes of a Hogwarts reunion.
She continued, “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.”
Reps for Radcliffe, , and Watson, , did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment on Thursday, April .
This isn’t the first time the author has locked horns with the cast. The rift began back in June when Rowling published a lengthy essay criticizing transgender rights, claiming she refused to “bow down” to a movement she believed was “doing demonstrable harm.”
The backlash was swift. GLAAD President and CEO Sarah Kate Ellis called the essay a “misinformed and dangerous missive” that devalued the lived experiences of trans people.
Radcliffe, who starred in all eight films from to , quickly penned a heartfelt essay for The Trevor Project. “Transgender women are women,” the Merrily We Roll Along actor stated firmly.
He added that any statement to the contrary “erases the identity and dignity of transgender people.”
Watson followed suit on X, telling her followers, “Trans people are who they say they are and deserve to live their lives without being constantly questioned.” She ended her message with a note of love, stating, “I and so many other people around the world see you, respect you and love you for who you are.”
Even Rupert Grint, who played the lovable Ron Weasley, has stepped into the fray. “I firmly stand with the trans community… Trans women are women. Trans men are men,” Grint, , told the Sunday Times.
While Grint previously described Rowling as an “auntie,” he admitted to The Times that the relationship is “tricky,” noting, “I don’t necessarily agree with everything my auntie says.”
As the debate continues to trend across social media, fans remain deeply divided, with many mourning the public fracture of the trio that defined a generation of cinema.
Would you like me to look up the most recent public statements from other Harry Potter cast members regarding this situation?
