Emma Watson has responded to the online outrage directed at her recent provocative Vanity Fair shoot.
“It just always reveals to me how many misconceptions and what a misunderstanding there is of what feminism is,” she said to Reuters while promoting her upcoming film “Beauty and the Beast.” “Feminism is about giving women a choice; feminism is not a stick with which to beat other women with. It’s about freedom, it’s about liberation, it’s about equality. I really don’t know what my tits have to do with it. It’s very confusing!”
She added, “I’m always quietly stunned.”
“Harry Potter” alum Watson, a vocal proponent of feminism, came under fire earlier this week in some corners of social media after a photo from her Vanity Fair photo shoot made the rounds.
While Watson’s breasts weren’t fully exposed in the garment, the actress was still targeted for championing feminism while baring flesh for a magazine.
“Emma Watson is a disgusting hypocrite for this and I hate her even more,” one critic hissed.
“Emma Watson: ‘Feminism, feminism… gender wage gap… why oh why am I not taken seriously… feminism… oh, and here are my tits!’” another detractor scoffed.
Model/actress Emily Ratajkowski came to the actress’s defense Friday, showing solidarity with Watson with a Twitter link to an Elle article titled, “Emma Watson’s Breasts Do Not Herald the Downfall of Feminism.” The link was accompanied by a series of hand-clapping emoticons from Ratajkowski.
About the shoot itself, Watson said she was “honestly slightly taken aback by it” but that it was “incredibly artistic,” and the photographs came out “beautiful.”
“Is there a controversy about this?” she concluded.
“I didn’t know about this, I just think the photos are great,” costar Dan Stevens added.