Emma Watson is being called a 'hypocrite' because of this braless photo
Emma Watson has been labeled a "hypocrite" after posing braless in a high fashion cover shoot for Vanity Fair.
It seems that, even in 2017, people are still confused about what it means to be a feminist. Vanity Fair's feature examines Watson's "metamorphosis from child star to leading woman". She talks about her trajectory from playing schoolchild Hermione Grainger to championing women's rights as a UN Ambassador and "revamping a classic stereotype" -- the Disney princess -- in her upcoming role in Beauty and the Beast.
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The high fashion photo shoot features Watson in an array of haute couture, including outfits by Balenciaga, Dior, Burberry and Oscar De La Renta. But, one image in particular -- Watson posing braless in a Burberry shrug -- has proven controversial on social media with some questioning Watson's feminist values. Radio presenter Julia Hartley-Brewer appeared to suggest that the actress's photo shoot would prevent her being taken seriously as a feminist.
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Others chimed in to the apparent debate over Watson's status as a feminist, dubbing her "another clueless luvvie".
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One person called Watson's braless pose hypocritical given recent calls from feminist campaigners to ban images of topless models in newspapers.
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Hartley-Brewer's tweet sparked fury, and many jumped in to school the her about feminism.
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One person pointed out that this very debate highlighted the need for feminism.
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"Burn your bra if you want to," wrote one Twitter user.
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"Oh no, the secret is out...Emma Watson -- a woman -- has breasts. Now she will fall from grace," read another tweet. It's 2017, people. Showing your breasts doesn't make you any less of a feminist.
Rachel Thompson is the Features Editor at Mashable. Rachel's second non-fiction book The Love Fix: Reclaiming Intimacy in a Disconnected World is out now, published by Penguin Random House in Jan. 2025. The Love Fix explores why dating feels so hard right now, why we experience difficult emotions in the realm of love, and how we can change our dating culture for the better.
A leading sex and dating writer in the UK, Rachel has written for GQ, The Guardian, The Sunday Times Style, The Telegraph, Cosmopolitan, Glamour, Stylist, ELLE, The i Paper, Refinery29, and many more.
Rachel's first book Rough: How Violence Has Found Its Way Into the Bedroom And What We Can Do About It, a non-fiction investigation into sexual violence was published by Penguin Random House in 2021.
