Boy George has defended Emma Watson‘s comments about her relationship with J.K. Rowling.
The Harry Potter actress recently made remarks about her rift with the author, saying that she “cherished” her previous experiences with the writer, despite disagreeing with her views on transgender rights.
Rowling has been a vocal opponent of the transgender community since 2019, and has previously shared gender critical posts and tweets which have been described as transphobic. Watson went on to say she would “always” be open to having a conversation with Rowling about her views.
Rowling has since criticised Watson’s remarks as “ignorant” and shared satire of the actress on her social media. She has also previously said she would “never forgive” Watson and her co-star Daniel Radcliffe for their criticism of her views on the transgender community.
Now, Boy George has jumped into the debate to defend Emma Watson. The Culture Club singer took to social media to write: “Who cares what JK Boring thinks about anything. She is the dullest of the dull. My real life pisses on her fiction. I stand with Emma Watson. She is a ‘fire horse’. Rowling is a ‘wood snake’.”
Boy George seems to be characterising the pair in accordance with Chinese astrology. Those who are ‘fire horses‘ are described as “extremely lovely” and occasionally “blunt”, while ‘wood snakes‘ are described as “intelligent” and “can sometimes have difficulty in communicating with others”.
Who cares what JK Boring thinks about anything. She is the dullest of the dull. My real life pisses on her fiction. I stand with Emma Watson. She is a ‘fire horse’. Rowling is a ‘wood snake’.
— Boy George (@BoyGeorge) October 1, 2025
Boy George has feuded with J.K. Rowling over her views on transgender people before. In 2020, he responded to an infamous blog post Rowling penned about “new trans activism”, writing: “Why give attention to what you see as negativity? Who actually cares what JK thinks about something she knows zero about. Post positive stuff. I thought JK had more of an imagination!”
Last April, he went on to claim Rowling “hates men”, to which she responded: “I’m married to a man, George. I do not hate men.”
He also told the Daily Mail last July that although her “films are amazing”, “she didn’t make the films, a lot of brilliant people were in the films, like the actors, and everyone to do with it, it’s just not about her”.
“JK Rowling doesn’t know any trans people, I do,” Boy George went on to say. “Since I was 16-years-old I’ve known trans people. I know people with trans kids, and April Ashley – who was the first woman to transition in this country. She died a couple of years ago, and I photographed her – she was amazing”.
Elsewhere, a highly-anticipated TV adaptation of the book is currently in the works, with HBO set to bring the show to life. One book is said to be covered per season.
John Lithgow will play Professor Dumbledore, Nick Frost will be Hagrid, and Paapa Essiedu will play Severus Snape.
Meanwhile, Harry Potter will be played by young newcomer Dominic McLaughlin, with Arabella Stanton portraying Hermione Granger and Alastair Stout taking on the role of Ron Weasley.
The series is set to premiere sometime in 2027.