Jon Stewart Doesn’t Think JK Rowling Is ‘Anti-Semetic’ Amid ‘Harry Potter’ Goblin Controversy

Comedian Jon Stewart has spoken out to clarify his thoughts about author J.K. Rowling after he described the goblins in the “Harry Potter” universe as anti-Semitic.

On Wednesday, Stewart shared a video on his Twitter account addressing reports that he accused Rowling of anti-Semitism during a discussion in which he compared the “Harry Potter” goblins to antisemitic illustrations in the 1903 book, “The Protocols of the Elders of Zion.”

“I do not think J.K. Rowling is antisemitic. I did not accuse her of being antisemitic,” Stewart said. “I do not think the ‘Harry Potter’ movies are anti-Semitic. I really love the ‘Harry Potter’ movies, probably too much for a gentleman of my considerable age.”

Stewart reiterated his thoughts about Rowling and advised the author not to address his comments. “I cannot stress this enough. I am not accusing J.K. Rowling of being anti-Semitic,” he said.

“She need not answer to any of it. I don’t want the ‘Harry Potter’ movies censored in any way. It was a lighthearted conversation.”

The drama stemmed from a December episode of Stewart’s “The Problem with Jon Stewart” podcast. During the episode, the former “The Daily Show” host discussed what it was like watching the “Harry Potter” films as a Jewish person.

“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!” Stewart explained.

“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 antisemitic 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 admitted he thought more people would be outraged by the goblins featured in the films and was surprised by the lack of reactions.

The controversy comes amid the release of the HBO Max special, “Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts,” which reunited the cast to discuss their work on the films.