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The billionaire author, who has been at the center of ongoing debates over gender identity, seemed to subtly criticize Harry Potter stars Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint in a cryptic social media post.
Rowling recently responded to a post asking, “What actor/actress instantly ruins a movie for you?” with the reply: “Three guesses. Sorry, but that was irresistible,” followed by three laughing emojis.
Though she didn’t directly name anyone, many interpreted her comment as a thinly veiled swipe at Radcliffe, Watson, and Grint—who all publicly condemned her views on transgender rights in 2020.
The tension between Rowling and the Harry Potter trio began when she published an essay on sexual assault, in which she described transgender identity as “deeply misogynistic and regressive.”
In response, Radcliffe distanced himself from the author, writing an essay for The Trevor Project: “Transgender women are women. Any statement to the contrary erases the identity and dignity of transgender people.”
Watson also publicly voiced her support for trans rights, telling her followers: “Trans people are who they say they are and deserve to live their lives without being constantly questioned.”
In response, Rowling fired back in 2024, stating that she was unlikely to forgive Radcliffe or Watson, accusing them of “cozying up to a movement intent on eroding women’s hard-won rights.”
However, Rowling’s recent social media post wasn’t the only time she made headlines this week.
The Harry Potter author also reacted to Donald Trump’s latest executive order, which bans transgender women from competing in female sports at all levels.
The executive order, titled “Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports,” mandates “immediate enforcement” against schools and athletic organizations that permit trans women to compete in female-only sports or use single-sex changing rooms.
Before signing the order, Trump stated: “We’ve gotten the woke lunacy out of our military, and now we’re getting it out of women’s sports.”
He also targeted the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, pledging to block transgender athletes from participating.
“In Los Angeles in 2028, my administration will not stand by and watch men beat and batter female athletes. We’re not going to let it happen.”
