Entertainment

Who is Emma Watson and why was she criticized for her Black Lives Matter blackout post?


EMMA Watson is a British actress and activist who has starred in movies and TV for the last two decades.

The 30-year-old Watson got into a little hot water this week over an Instagram post.

 Emma Watson attends The Circle Photocall at Hotel Le Bristol in Paris in 2017

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Emma Watson attends The Circle Photocall at Hotel Le Bristol in Paris in 2017Credit: Getty – Contributor
 Watson in Little Women

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Watson in Little WomenCredit: AP:Associated Press

Here is the lowdown on the controversy and Watson’s career.

Who is Emma Watson?

Watson was born in Paris but grew up in Oxfordshire in South East England before rising to fame in the Harry Potter movies.

The actress has also starred in such films as Little Women, Beauty and the Beast, The Perks of Being a Wallflower and My Week with Marilyn.

Watson was also appointed UN Women Goodwill Ambassador in 2014.

 Watson during an appearance in Los Angeles in 2018

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Watson during an appearance in Los Angeles in 2018Credit: Getty – Contributor
 Daniel Radcliffe, Watson and Rupert Grint starred in the eight Harry Potter movies

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Daniel Radcliffe, Watson and Rupert Grint starred in the eight Harry Potter moviesCredit: Alamy

What did she post on Blackout Tuesday?

Watson posted three white squares followed by three black squares with captions reading #blackouttuesday and #amplifyblackvoices on her Instagram account to show her support.

Blackout Tuesday, which took place on June 2, was organized by the music community to express outrage over the police killing of George Floyd and other black people in the US.

Watson was criticized for adding white borders around her black squares to match the aesthetic of her Instagram page.

Some called the actress out for speaking out too late about Black Lives Matter and for not including links to guide users on where they can learn more about the cause or donate to it.

 Watson joined others to post a black square on Instagram in a showing of support for '#BlackoutTuesday'

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Watson joined others to post a black square on Instagram in a showing of support for ‘#BlackoutTuesday’Credit: Instagram
 Emma Watson attends the Little Women premiere at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City in December of 2019

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Emma Watson attends the Little Women premiere at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City in December of 2019Credit: Getty Images – Getty

“Emma Watson really posted three other blank black pics so it wouldn’t ruin her aesthetic,” one person wrote on social media.

Another wrote: “Emma Watson not saying anything for the whole week and then posting a black blank pic on Instagram that won’t help in anything is just the peak of white feminism.”
Watson issued a statement on Tuesday night to address the controversy.

“There is so much racism, both in our past and present, that is not acknowledged nor accounted for,” Watson wrote on Instagram.

“White supremacy is one of the systems of hierarchy and dominance, of exploitation and oppression, that is tightly stitched into society.

 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1

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Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1Credit: Handout

“As a white person, I have benefited from this.”

She also uploaded a piece of artwork by Dr. Fahamu Pecou entitled White Lies, Subtleties, Micro-Aggressions, and Other Choking Hazards.

Others have been criticized for their Blackout Tuesday posts, including Jon Gosselin and Joy-Anna Duggar.

Why were people posting black squares on Instagram?

People posted the black squares on Blackout Tuesday to support Black Lives Matter and to remember Floyd and other victims of racial injustice.

Celebrities who expressed support for Blackout Tuesday include Watson, Ariana Grande, Rihanna, Drake, Katy Perry and Jamie Foxx.

 Watson in Beauty and the Beast

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Watson in Beauty and the BeastCredit: Alamy

What is Emma Watson known for?

Watson is known for playing Hermione Granger in eight Harry Potter films.

The series started with 2001’s Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, and concluded with Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 in 2011.

Watson also played Belle in Beauty and the Beast and Meg March in Little Women.

Both films were remakes.

How much is Emma Watson worth?

It is believed that Watson is worth about $80million.

 





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