Emma Watson probably won’t be returning to Harvard any time soon after being stalked in an orchestrated campaign of Ivy League harassment.
Page Six reported on Tuesday that the “Harry Potter” starlet and Brown University freshman looked “quite shaken” on Saturday as Harvard beat Brown 24-21 in Cambridge. Watson was reportedly flanked by security guards to protect her from gawkers.
But her discomfort was actually the result of a targeted campaign by the Harvard Voice student magazine to draw as much attention to her as possible.
Before the game, a blog post on the mag’s Web site said: “We will be Live-Tweetin’ the game and possibly stalking Emma Watson, so keep your eyes peeled for that, too!” A succession of tweets posted on the Voice’s Twitter account during the game followed, including, “Let’s go Hermione! Lolz,” a reference to Watson’s character in “Harry Potter.” It went on, “In enemy territory. Lookin for a certain witch,” and, “WATSON FOUND. i repeat WATSON FOUND.”
The Harvard Voice also posted a picture of Watson on its Web site and proclaimed its stalking mission a “success.” Some readers were furious. “There is a locatable cause of Watson’s experience at Harvard Stadium and a blameworthy party,” read one online rebuke. “Anybody can do anything unfeelingly to anybody in this day and age, especially if they feel imbued with entitlement from membership in Harvard College.”
The Voice eventually attached an editor’s note to its post of Watson’s photo, saying, “There seems to be much ado about nothing over this photo and liveblog. Understand that these live tweets were made to be intentionally outrageous and overblown.”
Voice editors didn’t respond to requests for comment. A rep for Brown said, “This isn’t the sort of thing we comment on.” Watson’s rep couldn’t be reached.