Emma Watson shares support for trans people amid JK Rowling controversy: ‘I see you, respect you and love you for who you are’

Actor and activist has previously expressed her support for the transgender community

Emma Watson has issued a statement expressing her support for the transgender community, amid controversy over Harry Potter author JK Rowling‘s stance.

Watson, who starred as Hermione Granger in the popular film adaptation, tweeted: “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.”

She continued: “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.”

The 30-year-old also said she had donated to the charities Mermaids and Mama Cash, and encouraged her followers to do the same if they were able.

“Happy #Pride2020,” she concluded. “Sending love.”

Watson is the latest Harry Potter star to express support for trans people in the wake of Rowling’s comments, along with Daniel Radcliffe, Eddie Redmayne and Evanna Lynch.

This week, the author published a lengthy open letter explaining her views, and also revealed she is the survivor of domestic abuse and sexual assault.

“Never have I seen women denigrated and dehumanised to the extent they are now,” she wrote. ”From the leader of the free world’s long history of sexual assault accusations and his proud boast of ‘grabbing them by the pussy’, to the incel (‘involuntarily celibate’) movement that rages against women who won’t give them sex, to the trans activists who declare that TERFs need punching and re-educating, men across the political spectrum seem to agree: women are asking for trouble. Everywhere, women are being told to shut up and sit down, or else.”

Earlier this week, Daniel Radcliffe shared an essay for the non-profit organisation The Trevor Project, in which he said it was clear there was more to be done ”to support transgender and nonbinary people, not invalidate their identities, and not cause further harm”.

“To all the people who now feel that their experience of the books has been tarnished or diminished, I am deeply sorry for the pain these comments have caused you,” he added.

“If you found anything in these stories that resonated with you and helped you at any time in your life – then that is between you and the book that you read, and it is sacred.”