Emma Watson has responded to being called a “hypocrite” for her recent Vanity Fair topless photo shoot, saying she was both “stunned” and “confused” at the heated responses. Watson, a noted feminist and UN Goodwill Ambassador, defined feminism during an interview with her Beauty and the Beast co-star Dan Stevens.
“Feminism is about giving women choice. Feminism is not a stick with which to beat other women with,” Watson told Reuters. “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. I’m confused. Most people are confused.”
During the interview, Stevens asked Watson what the issue was with her photo shoot, to which Watson responded, “They were saying I couldn’t be a feminist and have boobs.” Replied Stevens, “That’s not true.”
Watson’s photos had some people asking if one can be a feminist and still pose topless. People have shared on social media that they are now disappointed by the actress, while others tweeted in her defense that feminism is about giving women the free choice to cover or expose their bodies as they wish.
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Watson said she was satisfied with her and famed photographer Tim Walker’s editorial photos for Vanity Fair‘s April issue. She is pictured in a sheer shirt with a holed cape just barely covering her nipples.
“The shot itself, I was honestly slightly taken aback by it. We had been doing so many crazy things on that shoot, but it had really felt incredibly sort of artistic,” said Watson. “I had been so kind of like creatively involved and engaged with Tim and I was so thrilled with how interesting and beautiful the photographs were. But yeah, people have asked, and I’ve gone, ‘Is there a controversy about this?'”
“I didn’t know about this,” added Stevens. “I just think the photos are great.”
