JK Rowling breaks silence on Emma Watson, calls her ‘ignorant’ due to ‘cushioned’ upbringing: ‘I lived in poverty while writing the book that made Emma famous’

Rowling accused Emma of lacking real understanding of the world because of her cushioned upbringing. “Like other people who’ve never experienced adult life uncushioned by wealth and fame, Emma has so little experience of real life she’s ignorant of how ignorant she is. She’ll never need a homeless shelter. She’s never going to be placed on a mixed sex public hospital ward. I’d be astounded if she’s been in a high street changing room since childhood. Her ‘public bathroom’ is single occupancy and comes with a security man standing guard outside the door. Has she had to strip off in a newly mixed-sex changing room at a council-run swimming pool? Is she ever likely to need a state-run rape crisis centre that refuses to guarantee an all-female service? To find herself sharing a prison cell with a male rapist who’s identified into the women’s prison?,” she wrote.

I’m seeing quite a bit of comment about this, so I want to make a couple of points.

I’m not owed eternal agreement from any actor who once played a character I created. The idea is as ludicrous as me checking with the boss I had when I was twenty-one for what opinions I should… https://t.co/c0pz19P7jc

— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) September 29, 2025

Talking about her own life and how she lived in poverty, Rowling wrote, “I wasn’t a multimillionaire at fourteen. I lived in poverty while writing the book that made Emma famous. I therefore understand from my own life experience what the trashing of women’s rights in which Emma has so enthusiastically participated means to women and girls without her privileges.”

Rowling also accused Emma of saying nice things about her as just a change of tactics. “Emma not decided in her most recent interview to declare that she loves and treasures me – a change of tack I suspect she’s adopted because she’s noticed full-throated condemnation of me is no longer quite as fashionable as it was – I might never have been this honest,” she wrote.

What Emma Watson said

In her recent interaction with Jay Shetty, Emma admitted that she “treasures” Rowling and doesn’t want to forget the good times that they spent together during the making of the Harry Potter series. “I really don’t believe that by having had that experience, and holding the love and support and views that I have, means that I can’t and don’t treasure Jo and the person that I had personal experiences with,” Emma said.

She added, “It’s my deepest wish that I hope people who don’t agree with my opinion will love me and I hope I can keep loving people who I don’t necessarily share the same opinion with,” she had said.