If you’ve followedunhinged cruelty and rage-bait, but a recent post might just take the cake.
The post in question saw the controversial Harry Potter author reply to an X who asked “what actor/actress instantly ruins a movie for you.” While some of the more predictable responses ranged from Kevin Spacey to Johnny Depp (for obvious reasons), Rowling came through with what many believed to be a swipe at the Harry Potter franchise’s beloved trio of stars. “Three guesses,” the author wrote, adding that her reply was “too irresistible” not to share. She also added laughing emojis, but legions of Potterheads will not find this funny.
Three guesses.
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) March 18, 2025
Sorry, but that was irresistible.
🤣🤣🤣 https://t.co/hAMHw2b8EV
While she never mentioned them by name, Rowling’s tumultuous history with Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint — who portrayed Harry, Hermoine and Ron across all eight installments of the film series — took much of the guesswork out of her response, at least according to fans. “My three guesses in one image,” one X wrote alongside an image of the Harry Potter trio, with another adding that “we don’t need a detective to figure this one out.”
A brief look at Rowling’s now-soured relationship with the Harry Potter cast reveals the source of her not-so-subtle swipe at Radcliffe, Watson and Grint. Following her string of transphobic statements back in 2020 (which have continued in the years since), all three actors distanced themselves from Rowling. Radcliffe publicly rejected Rowling’s certifiably TERF views by declaring that “trans women are women” in an essay for The Trevor Project, while Watson said trans people “deserve to live their lives without being constantly questioned.”
My three guesses in one image pic.twitter.com/o6uHXZtxS1
— Brigulous Dog Whistle (@Brig_333) March 18, 2025
For his part, Grint said in 2021 that “it’s important to stand up for what you believe in, and I trans rights.” Naturally, being the controversy magnet that she is, Rowling responded to their criticisms with a vague swipe in a 2023 podcast interview, saying there “were a few actors I thought had a little more backbone.” The feud was reignited last year, when Radcliffe saidsaying she would never forgive him… even though he never offered an apology.
Of course, since she never named names in her more recent post, we can’t know for sure whether Rowling was actually saying Radcliffe, Watson and Grint “instantly ruin[ed]” the Harry Potter franchise, but it doesn’t take an Accio spell to summon the probable answer. With such a knack for drawing negative attention — whether it’s engaging in broke one of her time-honored casting rules for the original film series.
IT'S NOW OFFICIAL: John Lithgow will be Albus Dumbledore in the Harry Potter series for Max.
— Daily Harry Potter (@TheDailyHPotter) March 2, 2025
John Lithgow: "It wasn't an easy decision because it will define the last chapter of my life. I'm very excited. I'll be 87 when it's over, but I said yes." pic.twitter.com/iTQFQ8xSuW
Speaking of casting for the HBO series, it was recently revealed that and Severus Snape, respectively. Given her track record, I give it a couple of months before of the Harry Potter reboot cast are subject to a social media swipe from Rowling.
Published: Mar 18, 2025 09:15 pm