Harry Potter actor Emma Watson had her say on JK Rowling’s controversial tweets with an apparent dig at the Bafta Awards last night.
Watson, who had been called to the stage to present the Outstanding British Film Award, was introduced by event host, comedian Rebel Wilson.
“She calls herself a feminist, but we all know she’s a witch,” Wilson said, before Watson replied: “I’m here for all the witches!”
The Harry Potter author also came in for further teasing from Wilson, who made a dig at her earlier in the night while presenting the Baftas.
Wilson, who has been documenting her weight loss journey on Instagram, showed the audience a picture of her from 2020 and quipped: “That was me two years ago and since then I’ve done quite a transformation – I hope JK Rowling still approves.”
Following the comments, Bafta fans took to social media to share their opinions.
“Ooooooh Emma Watson throwing so much shade at JK Rowling! This is the drama I needed tonight,” one viewer said, while another added: “Loving Emma Watson’s vibe tonight. Hitting JK Rowling where it hurts.”
Emma Watson is a queen for this pic.twitter.com/fng3dHsfYJ
— Joe🥤 (@JoePassmore) March 13, 2022
The moment at the Baftas came on the heels of the latest Twitter controversy to embroil the author.
Earlier this week, Rowling, whose stance on transgender people has caused significant backlash online, criticised the Labour Party’s stance on women and gender equality on International Women’s Day.
“Apparently, under a Labour government, today will become We Who Must Not Be Named Day,” she wrote.
This is not the first time that Rowling has become the centre of controversy for her views: she has previously called out Nicola Sturgeon’s government for the upcoming Gender Recognition Reform Bill, which would make it easier for trans people to apply to legally change their gender.
In June 2020, she also tweeted her thoughts on an article that used the term “people who menstruate” rather than “women”, writing: "I’m sure there used to be a word for those people. Someone help me out. Wumben? Wimpund? Woomud?"
Her views have caused considerable controversy amongst her fans, with several Harry Potter actors, including Watson, Eddie Redmayne and Daniel Radcliffe, distancing themselves from her in recent months.
HBO Max’s Return to Hogwarts special, which aired twenty years after the premiere of The Philosopher’s Stone, notably did not feature interviews with the author, though she was present in archival footage.
However, Rowling has strongly denied that she is transphobic, and has said before that she “knows and loves” trans people.
