In what appeared to be a pointed jab at her former "Harry Potter" child star Emma Watson, J.K. Rowling reposted and lauded a video that lampooned the actress's recent podcast appearance, where Watson once again distanced herself from the author's anti-trans rhetoric. The video, created by social media comedian and political satirist Intel Lady, mimics Watson and highlights the glaring contradiction in her stance. It portrays Watson saying she harbors "so much love" for Rowling while simultaneously standing "shoulder-to-shoulder" with those who wish the author ill, underscoring the impossibility of reconciling support for Rowling with solidarity for the trans community.
"I have always held space for [Rowling] and so much love in my heart for her and would hope that she felt the same way about me," the comedian, impersonating Watson, declares. "But also, I stand shoulder-to-shoulder with those who would wish harm on her, hate her, and would wish the absolute worst for her in her life. But those seemingly incompatible things—those two things—can exist at the same time, which is why I love this incredibly diverse world that we live in."
Watson, who rose to fame through her role in the "Harry Potter" film series, sparked a viral sensation this week with her appearance on Jay Shetty’s "On Purpose" podcast. During the interview, the actress—who has previously spoken out against Rowling’s transphobic views—asserted that their rift does not preclude her from cherishing her time working with Rowling. She expressed a willingness to engage in dialogue about their differences, though she noted that Rowling had not extended such an opportunity.
Intel Lady’s video, captioned, “You may need some vinaigrette to consume this,” called out this apparent contradiction and poked fun at the convoluted "word salad" manner in which Watson articulated her thoughts. Rowling quickly amplified the parody video on her own X account, proclaiming, “I’m here for ALL the spoofs.”
While Intel Lady’s parody does not explicitly reference the transgender community or the simmering tension between Watson and Rowling over their divergent views on trans rights and women’s rights, the context of Watson’s full interview makes the rift abundantly clear. Rowling has gained notoriety in recent years for her vocal opposition to transgender women, often decrying what she terms "gender ideology."
Watson responded to Rowling’s increasingly public stance against the trans community in 2020 with a tweet stating: “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.”
In 2024, Rowling declared that she would not forgive Watson and her "Harry Potter" co-stars for their support of trans rights.
