(NewsNation) — J.K. Rowling is firing back at actress Emma Watson, who spoke out about her complicated relationship with the “Harry Potter” author over her views on transgender rights.  

Rowling responded to Watson’s comments in a long message on X, saying that Watson, who played Hermione Granger in the “Harry Potter” films, and her costars are entitled to their views on gender identity.  

“Emma Watson and her co-stars have every right to embrace gender identity ideology,” Rowling wrote. “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.”  

The author added, “However, Emma and Dan in particular 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.” 

JK Rowling: Emma Watson cushioned by wealth

In her response to Watson, Rowling slammed the “The Perks of Being a Wallflower” actress, saying she doesn’t understand real life.  

“Like other people who’ve never experienced adult life uncushioned by wealth and fame, Emma has so little experience of real life she’s ignorant of how ignorant she is,” she wrote on X.  

She added, “She’ll never need a homeless shelter. She’s never going to be placed on a mixed sex public hospital ward. I’d be astounded if she’s been in a high street changing room since childhood.” 

Emma Watson: I treasure JK Rowling, despite not agreeing on trans rights 

Watson was on a recent episode of “The Jay Shetty” podcast, where she spoke about her and Rowling’s relationship since Rowling’s comments.  

“I really don’t believe that by having had that experience and holding the love and support and views that I have, mean that I can’t and don’t treasure Jo and the person that I, that I had personal experiences with,” Watson said. 

She continued, “I will never believe that one negates the other and that my experience of that person, I don’t get to keep and cherish, I to come back to our earlier thing. Like I just don’t think these things are either or.” 

Watson said she believes “that no one is disposable” when referring to the “Harry Potter” scribe and that everyone should be treated with, at the very least, dignity and respect.” 

The “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone” writer has faced backlash over her views on transgender people.  

JK Rowling slams ‘people who menstruate’ article 

In June 2020, Rowling tweeted a link to an op-ed discussing a post COVID-19 word for “people who menstruate.”  

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

After the backlash against her initial post. Rowling added, “If sex isn’t real, there’s no same-sex attraction. If sex isn’t real, the lived reality of women globally is erased.” 

Rowling said she knows and “loves” trans people, but that removing the definition of sex prevents many from having important conversations about their lives. She said that voicing that concern is truthful, not hateful.  

‘Harry Potter’ fans call out JK Rowling 

Fans of the book and movie series strongly criticized Rowling for her views on the transgender community, expressing disappointment since they resonated personally with the “Harry Potter” story.  

Watson and Daniel Radcliffe, who portrayed the titular hero in the movies, commented publicly on Rowling’s statements, showing their support of the community, with Radcliffe releasing a statement through the LGBTQ+ suicide-prevention nonprofit Trevor Project.  

“Transgender women are women,” he wrote. “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.”