J.K. Rowling would not accept "apologies" from Daniel Radcliffe or Emma Watson over their support of trans rights

One of the most hot-button social issues of the past few years is the question of rights for trans people; they would like to have them, and people like Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling are intent on painting the lot of them as dangerous or confused, peddling in alarmist stereotypes disproven with a glance at the research or just by talking to trans people about their experiences. Watching one of the richest, most influential authors in the world increasingly fixate on the alleged dangers posed by one of the most consistently marginalized and imperiled groups of people on Earth has been spectacular, and it's gotten worse over the years. The latest flashpoint came last month when Rowling engaged in some light Holocaust denial rather than engage with the facts on record about Nazi persecution of trans people. Spec. Tacular.

Even early on, Rowling's transphobia was pronounced enough that some other people associated with the Harry Potter franchise, including actors Daniel Radcliffe and Emma Watson, felt the need to put out statements. Watson, who played Hermione in the Harry Potter movies, tweeted back in 2020, "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. I want my trans followers to know that I and so many other people around the world see you, respect you and love you for who you are."

Radcliffe, who played Harry, released a statement through The Trevor Project, a non-profit organization focused on suicide prevention among LGBTQIA youth, back in 2020. "Transgender women are women. Any statement to the contrary erases the identity and dignity of transgender people and goes against all advice given by professional health care associations who have far more expertise on this subject matter than either Jo or I," it read. "According to The Trevor Project, 78% of transgender and nonbinary youth reported being the subject of discrimination due to their gender identity. It’s clear that we need to do more to support transgender and nonbinary people, not invalidate their identities, and not cause further harm."

The latest flare-up comes after the release of a report by Dr. Hillary Cass, who studied gender-related healthcare as it relates to young people and made recommendations to the NHS, the national healthcare system in England. You can read detailed coverage of the report here, but generally speaking, Cass is concerned that the lack of long-term evidence about the effects of gender-affirming care on young people is reason to be extremely cautious when discussing options with them. Rowling tweeted about how angry reading the report made her, calling out "celebrity mouthpieces, unquestioning media and cynical corporations" as part of the problem.

One X user brought up Radcliffe and Watson: “Just waiting for Dan and Emma to give you a very public apology … safe in the knowledge that you will forgive them,” they wrote. Rowling responded:

"Not safe, I’m afraid. 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."

I guess this makes the prospect of a Harry Potter reunion even less plausible. Also, neither Radcliffe nor Watson said anything about young people transitioning, nor does it follow that trans people gaining rights means that women lose rights. If you're looking for clarification, the probability of Rowling tweeting on this subject again is basically 100%.

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h/t Deadline