J.K. Rowling is formally breaking her silence on Emma Watson’s recent comments about their public rift.

The actress, who rose to fame for her role as Hermione Granger across the Harry Potter series’ eight movies, recently appeared on Jay Shetty’s On Purpose podcast, where she argued that she can still “treasure” Rowling despite disagreeing with the author’s anti-trans views.

Rowling, who previously confirmed her awareness of Watson’s comments by sharing a parody of the interview, took to her X account to “make a couple of points” after seeing discussion on the topic make headlines.

“I’m not owed eternal agreement from any actor who once played a character I created,” the franchise author began. “The idea is as ludicrous as me checking with the boss I had when I was twenty-one for what opinions I should hold these days. Emma Watson and her co-stars have every right to embrace gender identity ideology. Such beliefs are legally protected, and I wouldn’t want to see any of them threatened with loss of work, or violence, or death, because of them.”

Rowling wrote that Watson and Harry Potter lead Daniel Radcliffe have “both made it clear over the last few years that they think our former professional association gives them a particular right — nay, obligation — to critique me and my views in public.”

“Years after they finished acting in Potter, they continue to assume the role of de facto spokespeople for the world I created,” she added.

Watson and Radcliffe have consistently voiced support for transgender rights, sometimes in direct contrast to Rowling reiterating hurtful rhetoric that is tied to the TERF (trans-exclusionary radical feminists) movement, which posits the belief that trans women are not women.

In 2020, the author penned a lengthy essay defending her stance that biological sex should be considered separate from gender. At the time, she positioned her stance as a pro-feminist perspective rather than anti-trans, but has since identified herself as a TERF.

In response to the essay, Watson made her disagreement clear: “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,” Watson wrote in a 2020 social media post. “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.”

In her post, Rowling wrote that she’s “repeatedly declined invitations from journalists to comment on Emma,” claiming that she told the producers of The Witch Trials of J.K. Rowling that “I didn’t want her to be hounded as the result of anything I said.”

Rowling shared that the breaking point in her relationship with Watson happened in March 2022, when Watson presented a prize at the BAFTA Film Awards and opened her remarks by saying: “I’m here for all of the witches.”

According to Rowling, Watson privately wrote to her soon after the BAFTA event to express her concern, despite having her number.

“This was back when the death, rape and torture threats against me were at their peak, at a time when my personal security measures had had to be tightened considerably and I was constantly worried for my family’s safety,” Rowling wrote. “Emma had just publicly poured more petrol on the flames, yet thought a one line expression of concern from her would reassure me of her fundamental sympathy and kindness.”

Rowling continued, writing that Watson’s support of trans rights comes from a place of ignorance as a person who has “never experienced adult life uncushioned by wealth and fame.” The author, who wrote that she “lived in poverty while writing the book that made Emma famous,” claimed that because of Watson’s wealth, she will “never” have to use “mixed sex” hospital wards or changing rooms, and security guards tail her when she is in public spaces.

“I therefore understand from my own life experience what the trashing of women’s rights in which Emma has so enthusiastically participated means to women and girls without her privileges,” Rowling wrote.

She concluded her post by writing, “Adults can’t expect to cosy up to an activist movement that regularly calls for a friend’s assassination, then assert their right to the former friend’s love, as though the friend was in fact their mother. Emma is rightly free to disagree with me and indeed to discuss her feelings about me in public – but I have the same right, and I’ve finally decided to exercise it.”