Emma Watson Clears up Bullying Controversy

It made for a good story, but Emma Watson was not forced out of Brown University by pop culture-obsessed bullies.

When the "Harry Potter" star announced she was taking a semester off from her studies, the internet ran rampant with stories that she was leaving in disgust after being the subject of merciless ridicule from her classmates.

It was reported that Ms. Watson had to endure catcalls of "10 points for Gryffindor" every time she answered a question correctly in class.

Well, it turns out that nothing of the sort ever happened. Watson herself took to her official web site to clear the air. In a post titled "A Message From Emma," she writes: 

Dear all,

I felt the need to let you all know the reason I took a semester off from Brown had nothing to do with bullying as the media have been suggesting recently. I have never been bullied in my life and certainly never at Brown. This '10 points to Gryffindor' incident never even happened. I feel the need to say this because accusing Brown students of something as serious as bullying and this causing me to leave seems beyond unfair.

Please don't try and speculate about what I might do in September - no one can possibly know because I don't even know yet! Like my other fellow Brown students I am trying to figure out my third year and whether or not I will spend it abroad (this is common).

I hope you all liked the new Harry Potter trailer. I am off to Pittsbugh soon to start "The Perks of being a Wallflower". I've just got back from hanging out with Stephen Chobosky (the director and writer), Logan and Ezra (the two other principal actors) and I already know this is going to be an incredible experience. I feel very lucky.

Hope you are all doing good.

Take care,

Love Emma xx.

The actress's final appearance as "Harry Potter's" Hermione Granger - "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Pt. 2" - hits theaters on July 15th.

Selected Reading: EmmaWatson.com, Los Angeles Times, Salon

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