'Whining, leftie, PC crap': Emma Watson's UN speech ridiculed by UK columnist

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-old Harry 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.

"Why do we indulge these luvvie slebs, most of whom know nowt?" he wrote.

"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.

Offered without comment - The Sun's response to Emma Watson addressing the UN about gender equality and sexual assault pic.twitter.com/KQ0MPSJGbL

— Louise Ridley (@LouiseRidley) September 23, 2016

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."

View this post on Instagram

Brilliant launch of #IMPACT10x10x10 #ParityReport at @unitednations HQ today. Inspiring commitments towards #goal5 from university leaders, particularly on campus safety.

A post shared by Emma Watson (@emmawatson) on Sep 20, 2016 at 4:10pm PDT

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.

View this post on Instagram

#HeForShe Second Anniversary event! @unwomen @pwc_llp @stonybrooku #ulkoministeriö Dress by @stellamccartney, the world's first and only vegetarian luxury brand, committed to producing products, collaborations and licensed products that do not use leather, skins, feathers or fur. Instead the brand has spent years developing luxury products using regenerated cashmere, vegetarian leather, wood, recycled fabrics, organic cotton and forest-friendly fabrics. Jewellery by @moniquepean who is committed to promoting environmental and social responsibility. Each piece is handmade by skilled craftsmen and Monique partners with artisans around the world to support traditional craftsmanship and cultural heritage including the Arctic Circle, Colombia, French Polynesia, Guatemala, Norway, Peru and the Philippines. Monique Pean is a member of the #nodirtygold campaign and a supporter of the #tooprecioustowear campaign. In honour of Earth Day, every April the brand donates proceeds from jewellery sales to @treesforthefuture which helps communities alleviate poverty, affects positive social change and improves both local and global environments by working with farming communities along environmentally degraded and highly travelled trade corridors.

A post shared by Emma Watson (@emmawatson) on Sep 24, 2016 at 7:34am PDT