Ann Widdecombe has made her stance on the current JK Rowling and Emma Watson feud crystal clear with a damning assessment of the 35-year-old actress's behaviour.
Appearing on Channel 5's Jeremy Vine the day after Ms Rowling branded the actress "ignorant of how ignorant she is" and accused her of "trashing women's rights", Ms Widdecombe argued the author was "100 percent" in the right.
Ms Rowling took aim at the Harry Potter star on Monday after the actress had appeared on a podcast last week to offer somewhat of an olive branch after distancing herself from the author over her views on gender identity.
Mr Vine kicked off the discussion about the fraught relationship between the two on Tuesday's show, in which Ms Widdecombe was joined on the panel by Storm Huntley and Henry Bonsu.
Jeremy Vine: Ann Widdecombe has weighed in with her thoughts on JK Rowling and Emma Watson's feud
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"This is about Emma Watson, who obviously starred in the Harry Potter films," Mr Vine began. "And Emma Watson, as we know—let’s just go back a stage here—JK Rowling is very, very keen that we should understand that if you’re born female, you’re female, and if you’re born male, you’re male, and that ain’t gonna change.
"Emma Watson is very much more in favour of people determining which gender they are, sort of what’s known as trans rights. And she’s fallen out with JK over it, and she then talked about the relationship on a podcast. So have a listen to this first."
A clip from the Jay Shetty podcast in which Ms Watson participated, then played out. The actress said: "I really don’t believe that by having had that experience and holding the love and support and views that I have means that I can’t and don’t treasure Jo and the person that I had personal experiences with."
Confused by her remarks, Mr Vine weighed back in: "Basically, what she’s saying is, I disagree with JK, but I don’t want her to think I don’t like her. And then she sort of said, I love her, actually.
JK Rowling has been publicly cut off by the main stars of Harry Potter | GETTY"In response, JK Rowling has gone up on one. She’s basically written a 600-word post on X where she says, '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 goes on to say, 'I', that’s JK Rowling, 'lived in poverty while writing the book that made Emma famous, and therefore I 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.'"
"Good. I’m 100 percent with JK. 100 percent," Ms Widdecombe chipped in, to which fellow panellist Ms Huntley argued: "It’s a really difficult one."
"No," Ms Widdecombe protested, but Ms Huntley said: "I mean, these are two people who had a relationship prior to them realising that they had very different views. And I struggle with this one a little bit.
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Jeremy Vine: Ann Widdecombe disagreed with Storm Huntley (right)
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"But I think what Emma Watson was saying was, I would like to have a friendship even though we have different views.
"And what JK is saying is, actually, when I was at my lowest, a friend should be there for me. Absolutely. And when you stoke the fires, that hurts me even more."
The panel then watched a clip from Ms Watson's appearance at the Baftas in 2022 in which she made a loaded "witches" comment that sparked widespread discussion about her feud with Ms Rowling.
"I don’t then see, Ann, why JK Rowling’s so upset about that. It seems obscure," Mr Vine proposed. Ms Widdecombe promptly fired back: "I mean, it’s gone back well beyond two years. And, you know, JK Rowling has suffered hugely for her views.
Jeremy Vine: Storm Huntley found the arguments 'difficult'
|C5
"She’s been threatened, and there’s been some very nasty stuff. And the fact is that those young people who made their names because of her book just distanced themselves. More than that, they attacked her.
"And if what Emma was now saying is, 'Look, I’m sorry, I got that wrong, I was young, you know, I should have really thought this through', that would be different. Then I’d say, yeah, okay. But she’s effectively saying, well, I want it both ways. And I don’t think that works."
Mr Bonsu appeared to agree as he weighed in: "The big problem is that she didn’t get in touch with her behind the scenes, as far as I understand, to say, 'Look, you know, I respect you, I love you, I cherish what you’ve done for me, but I was just in a difficult position'. Something like that. But she didn’t. And she went on the podcast and spoke freely."
The debate sparked a mixed reaction from Channel 5 viewers. On Facebook, one fan replied to a clip of the discussion: "Well said Ann Widdecombe. You nailed it exactly. JK Rowling advocates for the enforcement of LEGAL safeguarding rights for women and girls. Emma Watson advocates against these safeguards for women and girls.
I'm seeing quite a bit of comment about this, so I want to make a couple of points.
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) September 29, 2025
I'm not owed eternal agreement from any actor who once played a character I created. The idea is as ludicrous as me checking with the boss I had when I was twenty-one for what opinions I should… https://t.co/c0pz19P7jc
"Emma Watson has a right to voice her support but no right to cause so much trouble for some one else. She did it purposefully and consistently, with malice. JK Rowling has at last commented in a calm collected and TRUTHFUL way about her feelings.
"I would like Emma Watson to explain her exact reasons for supporting the erosion of women's rights and safeguarding protections for women and girls."
A second Facebook user echoed the sentiment as they replied with the much shorter comment: "Well said Ann."
However, over on Instagram, it's safe to say viewers were less sympathetic towards the Harry Potter author.
JK Rowling has faced a huge backlash for her views on the trans debate | PA"Why is it ok for JK to attack minority groups, though?" one social media user argued. "There’s no mention of that here.
"Why can’t she just leave people alone with something that is none of her business. She’s using her money and influence to spread hate…I would distance myself from her too!"
And a second concurred: "'JK Rowling has suffered for her views', what about the suffering of the trans community caused by the views of people like JK Rowling?"