Emma Watson breaks silence on rift with ‘Harry Potter’ creator J.K. Rowling over anti-trans comments

Emma Watson addressed her ongoing rift with “Harry Potter” creator J.K. Rowling after publicly opposing the latter’s anti-transgender remarks.

The actress, who portrayed Hermione Granger in the movie franchise, revealed on Tuesday’s episode of the “On Purpose” podcast that she hopes to make amends with Rowling despite the author stating she would “never forgive” Watson for supporting the trans community.

“I really don’t believe that by having had that experience [in ‘Harry Potter’] and holding the love and support and views that I have, means that I can’t and don’t treasure Jo and the person that I had personal experiences with,” she told host Jay Shetty.

“I will never believe that one negates the other, and that my experience of that person, I don’t get to keep and cherish,” Watson, 35, explained.

“I think, it’s my deepest wish that I hope people who don’t agree with my opinion will love me, and I hope I can keep loving people who I don’t necessarily share the same opinion with,” she added.

“I really do believe in having conversations and that those are really important. I guess where I’ve landed is, it’s not so much what we say or what we believe, but very often how we say it.”

Watson explained she understands that some people might not be open to having a conversation with someone with whom they are “really angry and upset with.”

“I just see this world right now where we seem to be giving permission for … throwing out of people, or that people are disposable,” the “Little Women” star said.

“I will always think that’s wrong. I believe that no one is disposable. And everyone … no matter the conversation is, should and can be treated with, at the very least, dignity and respect.”

Watson admitted she was mostly upset with Rowling, 60, because “a conversation was never made possible.”

The “Beauty and the Beast” star stated she would “always” remain open for a conversation with the best-selling author.

“There is no world in which I could ever cancel her out, or cancel [the movies] out for anything,” she said.

Reps for Rowling weren’t immediately available to Page Six for comment.

Watson and Rowling bumped heads after the “Cuckoo’s Calling” author published a slew of controversial tweets in 2020, calling out a media company for not referring to “people who menstruate” as women.

“People who menstruate.’ I’m sure there used to be a word for those people. Someone help me out. Wumben? Wimpund? Woomud?” she wrote at the time.

“If sex isn’t real, there’s no same-sex attraction,” Rowling wrote in a follow-up tweet. “If sex isn’t real, the lived reality of women globally is erased.”

“I know and love trans people, but erasing the concept of sex removes the ability of many to meaningfully discuss their lives. It isn’t hate to speak the truth,” she continued.

“The idea that women like me, who’ve been empathetic to trans people for decades, feeling kinship because they’re vulnerable in the same way as women — ie, to male violence – ‘hate’ trans people because they think sex is real and has lived consequences — is a nonsense.”

Rowling concluded, “I respect every trans person’s right to live any way that feels authentic and comfortable to them. I’d march with you if you were discriminated against on the basis of being trans. At the same time, my life has been shaped by being female. I do not believe it’s hateful to say so.”

At the time, Watson took to the platform to show her support for the trans community, writing, “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.”

Daniel Radcliffe — who portrayed Harry Potter in the series — responded to Rowling’s remarks in a letter shared via The Trevor Project’s website, saying, “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,” the actor continued.

Rowling, however, has seemingly conveyed that she’s not open to hearing from either Watson or Radcliffe after sharing on X last year that they can “save their apologies.”