Invited to present an award on the Bafta stage this Sunday, March 13, Harry Potter film actress Emma Watson has once again dissociated herself from comments deemed transphobic by JK Rowling, saying she is “present for ALL witches” .
The host of the evening, Rebel Wilson, first announced the arrival of the star of Harry Potter on stage by presenting it with humor as follows: “Here to present the next prize, here is Emma Watson. She calls herself a feminist, but we all know she’s a witch.”
The interpreter of Hermione Granger, who has become a leading figure in the fight for gender equality, particularly through her role as UN Goodwill Ambassador, then clarified with a mischievous smile: “ I’m here for ALL the witches by the way”, remarks greeted by shouts of joy and warm applause from the audience of the Royal Albert Hall in London.
Earlier in the evening, Rebel Wilson had already wanted to pin JK Rowling. The actress – who over the past year has lost a lot of weight – spoke of how she ‘looked different’ and had undergone a ‘transformation’, then jokingly added: ‘J hope JK Rowling still approves.”
This joke referenced the Harry Potter author’s controversial views on transgender people. The one who recently criticized a proposed law in Scotland that would simplify gender recognition for trans people had already provoked negative reactions in the past on the subject. Since then, the stars of Harry Potter have moved away from the author who continues to deny being “transphobic” arguing, in defense of it, “to know and love” trans people.