#alanrickman pic.twitter.com/4WXwnoUtM7
— Emma Watson (@EmmaWatson) January 14, 2016
The tributes from Harry Potter co-stars are pouring in today after news of Alan Rickman’s death broke Thursday. One of them, from Emma Watson, is causing controversy because of its reference to feminism.
Watson, who founded the HeForShe campaign to get men interested in feminism, re-posted the above quote from ATTN as a tribute to Rickman. It says, “There is nothing wrong with a man being a feminist, I think it is to our mutual advantage.” This has somehow caused an argument in Watson’s mentions about whether she is exploiting Rickman to promote a feminist ideology.
For example:
https://twitter.com/TomsAllende/status/687661536849096704
.@EmWatson oh wow, you're using someone's death to push a completely unrelated agenda. this is so, so gross.
— Chloë (@dekashoko) January 14, 2016
https://twitter.com/BreakOnThrough_/status/687688148701331456
Related: Remembering Alan Rickman Through His Greatest Roles
Mic has compiled more negative responses.
A lot of other Twitter users have come to Watson’s defense, though.
.@olddirtyzeeko The words are #AlanRickman's not @EmWatson's. It's HIS promotion of feminism you're attacking, HIS memory you shit on.
— Ivy Shoots (@IvyShoots) January 14, 2016
@EmWatson Brilliant man. Unfortunately the comments under this on my FB feed show just why we still need feminism… pic.twitter.com/l3Prk1gMaL
— BlackfishGirl (@BlackfishGirl) January 14, 2016
@phatb0y Yes how dare she post something he said. #MoronsEverywhere
— Donald Sutherland's finger (@joesw0rld) January 14, 2016
People mourn loved ones in different ways. It seems like Emma Watson is paying tribute to Rickman by highlighting something good about him that she really connects to. What’s wrong with that?
If quotes about feminism aren’t your speed, though, she also celebrated Rickman in a more standard way on Facebook:
Now let’s get back to focusing on Rickman’s legacy, instead of getting caught up in the right or wrong way to talk about him.
(via Mic)
