‘SNL’: Snape Calls Harry Potter ‘Racist’ and ‘The Proud Boy Who Lived’ for Telling People ‘The School’s Only Black Teacher Was Secretly Evil’
Why it matters: This "SNL" sketch directly influences public perception of the upcoming HBO "Harry Potter" series and J.K. Rowling's work.
- Kam Patterson played Professor Snape on "SNL's Weekend Update," reimagining the character as a Black man.
- Patterson's casting directly references HBO's upcoming "Harry Potter" series, where Paapa Essiedu, a Black actor, will play the previously white Snape.
- Snape accused Harry Potter of being "racist as hell" and "the Proud Boy Who Lived" for targeting the school's only Black teacher.
- The sketch highlighted perceived racial biases in the wizarding world, questioning why Snape was immediately suspected and criticizing the names and depictions of other Black characters like Kingsley Shacklebolt.
- Colin Jost acknowledged that J.K. Rowling might be problematic, as Snape pointed out the existence of "field elves" in addition to house elves, suggesting a deeper issue of slavery.
- Other "SNL" segments mentioned in related coverage include Michael Che's comments on Trump attending the theater and Jack Black's induction into the Five-Timers Club, though these do not directly synthesize with the Snape sketch's content.
Kam Patterson's portrayal of Professor Snape on "Saturday Night Live" reimagined the character as a Black man, directly referencing HBO's upcoming "Harry Potter" series casting of Paapa Essiedu. This comedic sketch used Snape to critique perceived racism within the wizarding world, from Harry Potter's accusations against Snape to the names and roles of other Black characters, sparking a conversation about J.K. Rowling's problematic elements.
