UN Women Goodwill Ambassador actress Emma Watson's speech was ridiculed by a UK columnist. Photo / Getty Images
UN Women Goodwill Ambassador actress Emma Watson's speech was ridiculed by a UK columnist. Photo / Getty Images
Emma Watson's recent speech at the UN summit in New York has gained attention for all the wrong reasons after it was ridiculed by a UK columnist as "whining, leftie, PC crap".
In a blistering piece published in Friday's edition of The Sun newspaper, journalist Rod Liddle mocked the 26-year-oldHarry Potter star's involvement in the summit, where she addressed on-campus sexual violence and gender inequality.
"Hermione Granger has been addressing the United Nations General Assembly. Nope, not kidding," Liddle's column began. "Anyway, instead of telling them all the rules of Quidditch or how to turn someone into a frog, she bored them all rigid with whining, leftie, PC crap. Just like all actresses do if people are stupid enough to give them the chance."
UN Women Goodwill Ambassador actress Emma Watson (L) attends the launch of the HeForShe IMPACT 10x10x10 University Parity Report at the United Nations headquarters. Photo / Getty
Liddle went on to question both the knowledge and increasing involvement of female actresses in such causes.
"I don't object to them having views and expressing them. I just don't understand why we take them seriously. I suppose they got Emma in because Angelina Jolie is a bit tied up with other stuff at the moment."
Over the weekend, Liddle's comments about the star gained traction on social media and left fans gobsmacked.
In her address at the UN General Assembly last week, Watson presented the HeForShe campaign's report on gender equality in worldwide universities.
She urged universities and colleges to "make it clear that the safety of women, minorities and anyone who may be vulnerable, is a right, not a privilege."
In recent years, the actress has become known for speaking out on humanitarian causes and equal rights issues. She was appointed UN Women Goodwill Ambassador in 2014 and is an advocate for UN Women's HeForShe campaign, which focuses on gender equality.
