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Emma Watson Threw Shade at J.K. Rowling While Presenting at the BAFTAs
The actress made very clear that her support of witches is gender-inclusive.
Emma Watson wasn't afraid to throw a little shade at J.K. Rowling during her presentation speech at last night's British Academy Film Awards, and neither was the event's host Rebel Wilson.
"Here to present the next award is Emma Watson," Wilson said as she introduced Watson to present the award for Outstanding British Film. "She calls herself a feminist, but we all know she's a witch."
Watson then stepped forward to the applause of the crowd.
"I'm here for all of the witches," Watson quipped to open her speech, which drew even more cheers.
\u201cEmma Watson is a queen for this \u201d— Joe\ud83e\udd64 (@Joe\ud83e\udd64) 1647205726
While Watson was subtle in her shade, Wilson was far more direct earlier in the evening, referencing her weight-loss journey at Rowling's expense.
"I might look a little different from the last time you guys saw me," Wilson said while an older image of her was shown onstage. "That was me two years ago and since then I've done quite a transformation. I hope J.K. Rowling still approves. JK, JK."
Rowling has notoriously made several controversial transphobic statements on social media in the past that have enraged both her fans and the LGBTQ+ community. Stars of the film adaptions of her best-selling Harry Potter series of fantasy books who have spoken against her include Watson, Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, and Katherine Waterston. Other celebrities have spoken out against Rowling as well.
"You don't have to be trans to understand the importance of respecting trans people and affirming their identities," tweeted the original Wonder Woman actress, Lynda Carter.
\u201cYou don't have to be trans to understand the importance of respecting trans people and affirming their identities. \n\nLife is just too short. I can't imagine how it makes any sense to use one's fame and resources to put others down.\u201d— Lynda Carter (@Lynda Carter) 1639508957
Jonathan Van Ness of Netflix's Queer Eye and Getting Curious with Jonathan Van Ness also sounded off against Rowling.
"But as trans women are assaulted, deprived of work, killed, and raped JK is safe in her mansion," JVN replied to Rowling last year.
\u201cThe biggest threats of violence against women has always been cis gender men. Not trans women, unless Jk\u2019s constant transphobic cherry picked vitriol convinces you otherwise. But as trans women are assaulted, deprived of work, killed, and raped JK is safe in her mansion.\u201d— Jonathan Van Ness (@Jonathan Van Ness) 1639407931
Rowling even lost the support of an entire sports league inspired by the fictional game played by Harry Potter in the series. Major League Quidditch and its governing body U.S. Quidditch announced last December officials had been exploring a name change in part to distance the league from Rowling and her transphobic statements.
"Our sport has developed a reputation as one of the most progressive sports in the world on gender equality and inclusivity, in part thanks to its gender maximum rule, which stipulates that a team may not have more than four players of the same gender on the field at a time," read the joint statement. "Both organizations feel it is imperative to live up to this reputation in all aspects of their operations and believe this move is a step in that direction."
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