SNL Returns and Mocks J.K. Rowling’s Anti-Trans Stance With Dobby the House Elf

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Saturday Night Live is back! The Season 51 premiere, hosted by Bad Bunny with a musical performance by Doja Cat, didn’t shy away from addressing recent events that occurred over the summer. The show also took the chance to criticize author J.K. Rowling.

The author is well-known for her opposition to transgender rights and frequently criticizes the Harry Potter actors who have differing views. Rowling and Watson recently discussed their relationship, which was then covered on the Saturday Night Live Weekend Update segment. While a new cast member was introduced, Bowen Yang returned as Dobby the House Elf and became the highlight of the show.

Surrounded by props, including artificial limbs, and experiencing a slight wardrobe issue, Yang handled herself well as co-host Michael Che addressed the accusation of her being “ignorant” following her decision not to support her when criticism arose.

When asked if he was “scared” to be on the show, Yang responded with a playful reference to the character Dobby, saying, “Scared? Why would Dobby be scared, sir? Dobby’s simply preparing to share his thoughts publicly about transgender people, that’s all. My ‘Master’ asked Dobby to appear on television and clearly state, once and for all, a definition of what a woman is, sir!”

Che pointed out he didn’t really like the term “master,” and asked if the speaker meant J.K. Rowling, which Dobby verified.

I have to admit, I burst out laughing when Yang had a bit of a wardrobe mishap – he jokingly referred to it as “Oh, Dobby’s come undone!” – after playfully bumping his head on the table as self-punishment. It was a really endearing moment! Che was a great sport and played along, and Yang quickly followed up with, “I’m sorry! My fatigues are not well-made!” – a funny attempt to explain things away. It was a lighthearted bit of improv that really worked.

Getting back to the topic, Yang went on, “J.K. Rowling has contributed a great deal to the character of Dobby and to the broader idea of inclusion. Do you recall when it was revealed that Dumbledore was gay, after the books were published? And when Hermione was portrayed as Black, but only in the Broadway production? And what about Cho Chang… hmm… was Cho Chang depicted as Asian? Dobby doesn’t quite recall if the character Cho Chang was ever established as Asian.”

Yang explained, “Essentially, bathrooms are exclusively for females and young girls, and even the spirits of young girls,” referencing Moaning Myrtle, a character who appears in the 2002 film Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.

Continuing to blame himself after calling himself “Millennial cringe,” Che asked him why he was being so hard on himself. He replied, “Why? Dobby doesn’t know. Maybe it’s because house elves are always seen as the source of trouble, even though we make up such a small part of the population. But house elves aren’t the ones suffering – J.K. Rowling is. She receives so much hateful mail,” he explained, then showed off a shirt that read “They.K. Rowling,” indicating that his “master” had gifted him the clothing and he was now unburdened.

The Saturday Night Live skit really hit the mark, accurately reflecting Hermione’s views on House Elves. The movie versions didn’t really showcase her work with (S.P.E.W.), which she started in her fourth year after witnessing the unfair treatment of house elves at the Quidditch World Cup in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.

J.K. Rowling Recently Slammed Emma Watson

The author has always been open about her honest feelings regarding Harry Potter stars Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint. The actors have publicly voiced their support for trans rights and have openly disagreed with Rowling. Nevertheless, she emphasized that differing opinions didn’t diminish the value of their shared experiences from the beginning.

However, Rowling took a different approach. In a post on social media, the author stated, “Emma Watson and her co-stars are absolutely entitled to their views on gender identity. These beliefs are protected by law, and I would never want to see them lose their jobs, face threats, or be harmed in any way because of them.” She added that she feels “a certain protectiveness” toward the main actors, as she’s known them since they were children.

As a movie buff, I found her comments really interesting. She pointed out that Emma seems pretty sheltered, saying, “Emma has so little experience of real life she’s ignorant of how ignorant she is.” And get this – she feels like Emma and Dan, because they used to work with her, think they have some kind of right – even a duty – to publicly criticize her and what she believes. She put it this way: “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.”

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2025-10-05 17:38