SNL mocks JK Rowling in their premiere of season 51, leaving fans in hysterics after a brutal skit digging at the Harry Potter author.
On the latest episode, comedian Bowen Yang dressed as Dobby the House Elf, a character from the iconic fantasy story. Yang, in the costume, claims to have been sent by Rowling, whom he called his “master”.
Rowling has generated significant controversy due to her thoughts on transgender rights. And the controversy has only grown with her recent response to comments made by Emma Watson, who played Hermione in the Harry Potter franchise. Rowling called Watson “ignorant” and “out of touch” after Watson refused to defend Rowling’s stances.
The skit had Dobbie praising the author for doing “so much for inclusion in general.”
“Remember when Dumbledore was gay after the books came out? And when Hermione was Black only on Broadway? And was Cho Chang Asian? Dobby can’t remember if the character named Cho Chang was Asian.”
As the skit continued, Yang as Dobby finished by saying: “The point is, Dobby came here to say that women have vaginas and women’s bathrooms are for women only and girls and the ghost of girls.” This was a hilarious reference to the character Moaning Myrtle, the ghost of a former Hogwarts student who haunts the girls’ bathroom.
SNL viewers have praised the skit as being one of the funniest in a while. This hilarious performance leaves no question about the show’s stance on the JK Rowling controversy.
Though over the years, it hasn’t been just Watson who has shared her discomfort with Rowling’s beliefs. Watson and her former co-stars Daniel Radcliffe and Rupert Grint are vocal advocates for trans rights, and in the last fight years, have spoken against Rowling’s comments.
To which Rowling has said that “Emma Watson and her co-stars have every right to embrace gender identity ideology,” but added: “Emma and Dan in particular have both made it clear over the last few years that they think our former professional association gives them a particular right – nay, obligation – to critique me and my views in public.”
While Rowling’s beliefs on trans rights have been clear for years now, the continuous debate is still heated. And while it’s unenjoyable to realize a once-beloved author has such vicious beliefs, it does make for some hilarious skits on late-night talk shows like SNL.