After facing intense backlash over the casting of Black Severus Snape in HBO’s upcoming Harry Potter series, the debate has now made its way into mainstream comedy.
On April 4, Saturday Night Live addressed the controversy head-on in a skit, turning one of the internet’s most discussed casting choices into satire.
As the segment aired shortly after the show’s trailer sparked heated reactions online, SNL’s take has added another layer to the ongoing discussion.
Highlights
- Saturday Night Live tackled the HBO Harry Potter casting controversy with a "Weekend Update" skit.
- The sketch followed intense online debate and real-life threats directed at actor Paapa Essiedu, who was cast as Severus Snape.
- The segment used humor to highlight deeper issues within the franchise.
Saturday Night Live’s Black Snape skit takes a brutal dig at the casting debate in the Harry Potter reboot
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During the Weekend Update segment, comedian Kam Patterson appeared as Professor Snape, directly referencing the reboot’s controversial casting.
In the upcoming show, the character is being played by Paapa Essiedu.
Introduced by Colin Jost, Patterson began by switching between formal and casual speech. “Good evening, Mr. Jost—nah, I’m playing. I don’t talk like that, bro. It’s called code-switching,” he said.
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When asked about his year at Hogwarts, his version of Snape responded, “Not great. We got this new kid. His name is Harry Potter, and he’s racist as hell.”
He went further, adding, “Harry Potter—or the Proud Boy Who Lived—spent the whole year telling everybody that the school’s only Black teacher was secretly evil.”
When Jost suggested Harry might just be suspicious because of the Sorcerer’s Stone, Patterson pushed back, stating, “So somebody stole something, and the number one suspect is Black Snape? They didn’t even look at the white guy in the turban.”
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“So offensive. He’s got a wizard on the back of his head,” referencing how the villain Voldemort appears on the back of Professor Quirrell’s head.
The joke aimed directly at the major concern raised online, where several netizens questioned that changing Snape’s race could unintentionally shift how certain storylines are perceived.
The SNL skit further called out Hogwarts, J.K. Rowling, and wider issues in the story
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“The whole wizarding world is racist,” he said, pointing out that he was one of the only Black characters at Hogwarts.
He also mocked the name Kingsley Shackebolt, adding that it sounded like it came from a “Wu-Tang name generator” and questioned the implications behind it.
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At one point, Jost joked, “I’m starting to think J.K. Rowling might be problematic,” leaning into ongoing criticism around the author.
Furthermore, Patterson’s Snape brought up the issue of house elves, stating, “We have magic… and people in my world still have slaves,” highlighting another long-debated aspect of the series.
While the jokes were exaggerated, they reflected real conversations happening online.
As clips of SNL’s skit went viral online, netizens' reactions remain divided
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“Even SNL sees how this change will be problematic,” one user wrote.
“SNL trying to get in on the Black Snape memeing while it’s hot,” another added.
Some viewers felt the show simply echoed internet discourse. “They stole this from Twitter,” one comment read.
Others focused on the execution. “It was pretty funny. Could’ve been executed a little better, but the overall point was made,” a viewer wrote.
At the same time, criticism continued. “Yet another reason not to watch the series. Should’ve left well enough alone with the movies,” one person added.
SNL’s mocking of Harry Potter and Professor Snape came following the casting, which had already been criticised online
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As reported by Bored Panda, the skit comes after HBO’s Harry Potter teaser sparked intense backlash.
Paapa Essiedu’s casting as Snape drew strong reactions, with some fans arguing it strayed from the book’s description.
“Snape deserved better…. this feels like a downgrade nobody asked for,” said one critic, while another said, “I think Snape should have stayed as a white n*zi, and the description of him making children scared of him sounds a bit messed up.”
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However, others defended the choice.
“Paapa Essiedu actually looks menacing here,” said one.
Following the backlash, Essieud later revealed he had received threats over the role, highlighting how extreme the response had become.
“I’ve been told, ‘Quit, or I’ll m*rder you,’” he told The Times
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“The reality is that if I look at Instagram, I will see somebody saying, ‘I’m going to come to your house and k*ll you,’” he said.
At the same time, others pointed out that Snape’s character, already written as harsh and disliked early on, could be interpreted differently depending on how the audience approaches the reboot.
"Even SNL sees how this change will be problematic," wrote one user
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