J. K. Rowling is known for two things: writing the Harry Potter books and for really, really not liking trans people. Her opposition to trans rights has dominated her public persona for years, to the point where she's broken with lots of prominent people she was once closely associated with. That includes Daniel Radcliffe and Emma Watson, who played Harry and Hermione in the Harry Potter movies. Both of them have made statements supporting the rights of trans people, a tiny minority group whom Radcliffe pointed out experience discrimination in staggering numbers. Rowling has not forgiven them for it.
The other day, Rowling took a swipe at Radcliffe, Watson and Rupert Grint, who played Ron in the movies. Or at least, that's what most people are concluding. You decide. "What actor/actress instantly ruins a movie for you?" a Twitter/X user named Wolf of X posted to no one in particular. "Three guesses," Rowling responded. "Sorry, but that was irresistible."
True, Rowling doesn't actually name Radcliffe, Watson and Grint, but considering her public feuds with two of them and how the three are often lumped together, that's the obvious conclusion. Although putting Grint in there is kind of strange because, to my knowledge, he's never publicly supported trans people like Watson and Radcliffe have. So far as I can tell, the closest he got to criticizing Rowling when he said this to The Sunday Times in 2022: “I liken JK Rowling to an auntie. I don’t necessarily agree with everything my auntie says, but she’s still my auntie. It’s a tricky one." That seems fairly mild, but I suppose it's enough for Rowling to obliquely shade the actor to her 14.3 million followers.
The Harry Potter franchise could be entering a renaissance thanks to HBO's upcoming TV show, which aims to adapt all seven of Rowling's books over as many seasons. Rowling is involved with the show, although the extent of her influence is unknown. The show has been enduring a backlash lately because the producers are (probably) hiring a Black actor to play Potions master Severus Snape.
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