Saturday Night Live Mocks J.K. Rowling Amid Feud with Emma Watson

Saturday Night Live's Season 51 premiere featured a controversial skit where Bowen Yang portrayed Dobby the House Elf to mock Harry Potter author JK Rowling amid her ongoing feud with actress Emma Watson and criticism over her views on transgender rights. In the sketch, Dobby revealed he was sent by his "master," Rowling, to define what a woman is, referencing Rowling's contentious statements about women's bathrooms and biological sex, and highlighting the backlash she has received. The skit humorously addressed Rowling's inclusion efforts such as revealing Dumbledore's sexuality post-publication and Hermione's race change on Broadway, while also satirizing the contradictions and criticisms surrounding her stance. Dobby's self-punishment and repeated head-banging mirrored the character's behavior in the books, symbolizing the tension and perceived victimization by Rowling in response to public backlash. The segment included playful nods to Rowling's critics, including Emma Watson, who has refused to defend Rowling's views, intensifying their public dispute. Overall, the sketch used satire to spotlight the divisive debate over Rowling's position on gender and inclusion.