Jovensky Ivanov

[J.K. Rowling @jk_rowling]

I'm seeing quite a bit of comment about this, so I want to make a couple of points.

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 hold these days.

Emma Watson and her co-stars have every right to embrace gender identity ideology. 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.

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. Years after they finished acting in Potter, they continue to assume the role of de facto spokespeople for the world I created.

When you've known people since they were ten years old it's hard to shake a certain protectiveness. Until quite recently, I hadn't managed to throw off the memory of children who needed to be gently coaxed through their dialogue in a big scary film studio. For the past few years, I've repeatedly declined invitations from journalists to comment on Emma specifically, most notably on the Witch Trials of JK Rowling. Ironically, I told the producers that I didn't want her to be hounded as the result of anything I said.

The television presenter in the attached clip highlights Emma's 'all witches' speech, and in truth, that was a turning point for me, but it had a postscript that hurt far more than the speech itself. Emma asked someone to pass on a handwritten note from her to me, which contained the single sentence 'I'm so sorry for what you're going through' (she has my phone number). 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. 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.

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'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. Her 'public bathroom' is single occupancy and comes with a security man standing guard outside the door. Has she had to strip off in a newly mixed-sex changing room at a council-run swimming pool? Is she ever likely to need a state-run rape crisis centre that refuses to guarantee an all-female service? To find herself sharing a prison cell with a male rapist who's identified into the women's prison?

I wasn't a multimillionaire at fourteen. I lived in poverty while writing the book that made Emma famous. I therefore 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.

The greatest irony here is that, had Emma not decided in her most recent interview to declare that she loves and treasures me - a change of tack I suspect she's adopted because she's noticed full-throated condemnation of me is no longer quite as fashionable as it was - I might never have been this honest.

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. 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.

[Jovensky Ivanov @Jovensky]

@elfucir #sackaisyah

[Jovensky Ivanov @Jovensky]

@SyedSaddiq This is the only government that has the will to do the right thing instead of populist measures.

[Jovensky Ivanov @Jovensky]

@fairuz_azmi83 @syahredzan Need to restate stand how often? Every month? Every day? Every hour? Where does it stop? You think he changes his mind every few hours? Stupid.

[Noor Hisham Abdullah @DGHisham]

A cloudy morning in Putrajaya perhaps with more showers is in prospect later today. Another day another slay.

[Jovensky Ivanov @Jovensky]

Why give so many seats to UMNO to contest? DAP should start acting like the big brother in the unity government because they are.

[Ibrahim Sani @ibrahimsaninet]

Percentage win rate by party:

DAP: 97.9% (46 won, 1 loss)

PAS: 82.7% (105 win, 22 loss)

BERSATU: 49.4% (40 win, 41 loss)

PKR: 44.1% (26 win, 33 loss)

AMANAH: 25.8% (8 win, 23 loss)

UMNO: 17.6% (19 win, 89 loss)

GERAKAN: 2.7% (1 win, 36 loss)

[Jovensky Ivanov @Jovensky]

@fahmi_fadzil You're a pussy.

[Izzah @_nrlizzhs]

Wth. Cancelling the festival all together is such a bad move. You are literally tryna please a group of people that wont even vote for u..

[Jovensky Ivanov @Jovensky]

@mkini_bm Sanusi nak meringkuk satu hari dalam penjara pun tak sanggup la

[Jovensky Ivanov @Jovensky]

@drzul_albakri @chedetofficial Agama tidak mengenali bangsa. Harap tarik diri dari proklamasi Melayu yang bersifat rasis dan bertentangan dengan ajaran Islam.

[Jovensky Ivanov @Jovensky]

@SyedSaddiq What do you mean Malaysian first, not Indian and Chinese? Malaysian is our nationality, Chinese is our ethnicity, they are two different things. We can retain our culture but still be a Malaysian, we don't have to erase or diminish our ethnic identity to be Malaysian.

[Jovensky Ivanov @Jovensky]

@fmtoday said PM Hiasan.

[Jovensky Ivanov @Jovensky]

@jalilword You also say bjcorp should be valued at RM10 and many investors bought the story.

[Jovensky Ivanov @Jovensky]

@fmtoday You are nobody in PN.

[Jovensky Ivanov @Jovensky]

@thevibesnews @chowkonyeow MCA doesn't act like they are part of the unity government, but when come to election they want seats allocation?

[Jovensky Ivanov @Jovensky]

@weekasiongmp Please don't distract YB Anthony Loke from doing real work. Let him cook.

[Jovensky Ivanov @Jovensky]

@fmtoday Put yby back in cabinet

[Jovensky Ivanov @Jovensky]

@wanfayhsal Kalau bodoh biar simpan sikit.

[Jovensky Ivanov @Jovensky]

@rafidah72 Belum habis lagi ke.. Sudah bosan 😴

[Jovensky Ivanov @Jovensky]

@rafidah72 Takde salah faham pon. No need for unsolicited advice.