While many notable faces were absent from the Harry Potter reunion special on HBO Max, many couldn't help but notice that J.K. Rowling was not a part of the anniversary event. Speculations then arose that her absence was due to transphobic comments made by the author, which her team vehemently denied. For whatever reason, trouble seems to follow Rowling, who now falls beneath the microscope of former Daily Show host Jon Stewart.
Stewart accused Harry Potter author Rowling of antisemitism for her deception of the goblins from Gringotts Wizarding Bank. Stewart argued that Rowling perpetuates anti-Jewish stereotypes, making connections between the goblins in Gringotts to illustrations from a 1903 anti-Semitic book entitled The Protocols of the Elders of Zion. Warner Bros. and Rowling have yet to comment on the accusation, but it's clear that Stewart wants to shed light on an issue he sees within something hidden in plain sight.
During a recent episode from The Problem With Jon Stewart podcast, the eponymous host said, "Here's how you know Jews are still where they are. Talking to people, here's what I say: Have you ever seen a Harry Potter movie? Have you ever seen the scenes in Gringotts Bank? Do you know what those folks who run the bank are? Jews! And they're like, 'Oh, that illustration is from Harry Potter!' And you're like, 'No, that's a caricature of a Jew from an anti-Semitic piece of literature.' J.K. Rowling was like, 'Can we get these guys to run our bank?' It's a wizarding world; we can ride dragons, you can have a pet owl, but who should run the bank? Jews, but what if the teeth were sharper?" Stewart went on to disclose how appalled he was when he first saw the image of the goblins on the big screen and felt that a reaction would arise from the audience, which it never did. Instead, the cloak of the Harry Potter Wizarding World had everyone fully captivated, thus allowing what Stewart and others have called anti-Semitic caricatures to live and breathe upon the screen. The representation allows the stereotypes to stick, thus further perpetuating a history of accepted ignorance.
Stewart, who is Jewish, is not the first person to call out Rowling for the antisemitism encased within her fanciful world. On an episode of Saturday Night Live, which aired in October 2020, Pete Davidson made mention of the Jewish caricatures present within the goblins. His comments began poking fun at, but equally criticizing, the author's transphobic comments, which were prevalent at the time and still are, but then shifted into her world of fantasy where one thing, in particular, stood out. "The woods are controlled by centaurs. The schools are run by wizards and ghosts. But, who controls the banks? Jews obviously! Little giant-nosed Jew goblins," he said. Laughter from the live audience greeted the comment, but Davidson's remarks, while entertaining, have some truth buried beneath them that others acknowledge. Stewart did not mention Davidson's words on SNL, but their similar observations years apart point to something unsettling.
However, some don't believe the author is anti-Semitic or responsible for creating the caricatures. Harry Potter is not the first piece of literature or cinema to have goblins part of the narrative, which makes some question the actual origin of the imaginative character in the first place. Rowling may not have intentionally perpetuated Jewish stereotypes, but the lack of awareness within her and others has opened up the door for these discussions. People typically don't call something out publicly unless they see a real issue with the problem at hand. Stewart's voice is his own, and maybe his perception is one of a few, but to see that his viewpoint is not the only one out there might speak to something. Again, Warner Bros. and Rowling have yet to comment on the matter, but one can expect that this situation won't fade into the ether anytime soon.
Stewart's accusation is yet another layer of backlash Rowling has faced, making some wonder if the franchise's continuation survives the headline stirring author. The Fantastic Beasts spin-off franchise from the Wizarding World is looking to release its third installment in April of this year, but will the Harry Potter adventure be placed back on the shelves afterward? It's unclear what tension, if any, lingers between the studio and Rowling, but her recent absence from specific projects speaks volumes to those willing to listen.
Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts is now available on HBO Max.