Last week, actor Emma Watson, who rose to fame playing Hermione Granger in the Harry Potter movies, spoke about her relationship with author J.K. Rowling for the first time in years. But her comments on the Jay Shetty Podcast, which amounted to a kind of olive branch, seem to have fallen on deaf ears.Watson and Rowling have been on opposite sides of the trans rights debate since at least 2020, when the actress responded to Rowling's anti-trans tweets and blog posts by saying, "Trans people are who they say they are and deserve to live their lives without being constantly questioned or told they arent who they say they are."In the last few years, Watson has made several other statements in support of the trans community, and Rowling, in turn, has repeatedly criticized her on social media.When Watson was asked by Shetty if that criticism hurt, given that it's coming from a woman who helped her career so much, the actress said yes. But she also said that it doesn't erase the love she has for Rowling."I just dont think these things are either or. I think its 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 dont necessarily share the same opinion with," Watson said, adding that she doesn't just throw people out and would gladly talk to Rowling if she had the chance. (@) After Watson's comments aired, Rowling shared several X posts mocking the actress.On September 26, Rowling reposted a satirical video of a woman parodying Watson and her appearance on the podcast. Styled as Watson, the woman says, "I will always hold space for her and so much love in my heart for her, and I would hope that she felt the same way about me. But also, I stand shoulder to shoulder with those who would wish harm on her, hate her, and would wish the absolute worst for her and her life." (@) The following day, Rowling shared an essay from The Critic, which argued that Watson has been abandoned by "gender fanatics" who are now criticizing her for expressing affection for the author."Its quite extraordinary how many people think a crocodile will be so grateful youve fed it red meat for years that itll let you stroll away unharmed when you decide you want a break," Rowling wrote in her post on X.However, it's the author's latest post that lays out how she feels about Watson most clearly. (@) In the post shared on Monday, Rowling started off by saying that she doesn't think anyone who played a character she created owes her anything, and that Watson has "every right to embrace gender identity ideology.""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," Rowling continued. "Years after they finished acting in Potter, they continue to assume the role of de facto spokespeople for the world I created."Rowling linked to a video where a woman talks about Watson's comments at the 2022 BAFTA Awards, during which the actor joked, "I'm here for all of the witches." Referring to the clip and Watson's comments which were interpreted as a message of support for cisgender and transgender women the author then wrote, "Emma's 'all witches' speech...was a turning point for me, but it had a postscript that hurt far more than the speech itself." According to Rowling, Watson got a handwritten note to her following the BAFTA speech that said, "I'm so sorry for what you're going through.""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 in the post. "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."She added, "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."Rowling went on to say that, because she didn't become a billionaire until adulthood, she understands from "life experience what the trashing of women's rights in which Emma has so enthusiastically participated means to women and girls without her privileges."After suggesting that Watson is declaring how much she treasures her now "because she's noticed full-throated condemnation of me is no longer quite as fashionable as it was," Rowling made her final argument."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," she wrote. "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."