Emma Watson would really like to make peace with the most passionate fan base on the Internet.
The former Harry Potter star and current Beauty and the Beast beauty has found herself in unexpected hot water over the past few days, all because she took her bra off for Vanity Fair.
No, really.
That’s the entire basis for Watson facing the first backlash of her impressive career.
The British actress is featured in rather seductive fashion for the latest issue of this publication, staring into the camera under the headline “Beauty & the breasts” while donning nothing on top but a see-through sweater over her shoulders.
The item covers her nipples, however.
There’s really nothing X-rated to see in the picture, but folks across the globe have been caught off guard by someone with the reputation of Watson striking such a risque pose.
Watson has endured a string of criticism from those who don’t think one can be a feminist AND take one’s shirt off for the world to gawk over.
In response to the harsh words hurled her way over social media, Watson spoke to Reuters and basically replied:
WTH are people talking about?!?
She’s actually too nice to say anything like that, but she did come sort of close.
“Feminism is about giving women choice,” Watson explained in her own defense, adding:
“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.”
Perfectly said, right?
Yes, but fans of Beyonce have taken a different issue with Watson.
They’re cool with Emma flaunting her sexuality.
But they are the opposite of cool with Emma flaunting her sexuality a few years after seemingly slamming Beyonce for doing the same thing in her 2013 visual album.
In a 2014 interview, Watson said the following about a number of Beyonce music videos:
“I felt very conflicted, I felt her message felt very conflicted in the sense that on the one hand she is putting herself in a category of a feminist – but then the camera, it felt very male, such a male voyeuristic experience of her.”
Based on those remarks alone, members of the very outspoken Beyhive WENT OFF on Watson.
They accused her of being a hypocrite, citing this quote as proof that she bashes other women for taking their clothes off… but then goes right ahead and does so herself.
Here’s a look at some of their more pointed comments:
Surprisingly, and to her credit, Watson has actually acknowledged this growing scandal.
She’s taken to Twitter and shared the FULL excerpt of the 2014 interview in question, making it pretty clear that she’s always been on Team Beyonce.
“This is the part of my 2014 interview with Tavi where we talked about Beyoncé. My words are in bold,” Watson wrote as a caption to the following screen shot.
So… did Watson really utter the words that have gotten her in trouble?
Yes, but they were part of a much longer conversation.
“[Beyoncé] does make it clear that she is performing for [Jay Z] and the fact she wasn’t doing it for a label, she was doing it for herself and the control that she has directing it and putting it out there, I agree is making her sexuality empowering because it is her choice,” Watson goes on to say in this same interview.
As you can read above, she also says:
“The second is that I would say you do get sense of, ‘I can be a feminist, I can be an intellectual, I can be all these other things, but I can also be ok with my femininity, and being pretty and with all these things that I thought might negate my message or negate what I am about.’
That really is the most interesting thing about the album. It is so inclusive and puts feminism and femininity and female empowerment on such a broad spectrum.”
In other words:
Perhaps people ought to do some research and some reading before they jump all over someone.
Everyone Watson said about Beyonce three years ago is the same thing she said about herself when it comes to her Vanity Fair photo.
In other other words:
There’s nothing to see here, folks. Go find another feud to contrive.
Watson is awesome. Beyonce is awesome.
And everyone has to chill the eff out.
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