Jon Stewart’s antisemitism row-ling
Comedian said comments about bank goblins in Harry Potter resembling Jews were “lighthearted, does not think JK Rowling is antisemitic
JEWISH comedian Jon Stewart has expressed frustration about the media response to his riff on Harry Potter.
In his podcast, Stewart had described the world of Harry Potter as “A wizarding world … [where] we can ride dragons and you’ve got a pet owl. [And] who should run the bank? [PAUSE] Jews?”
Stewart was referring to the goblins who run Gringott’s Bank – mini humanoids whose role, manner and prominent noses and ears suggested a parallel with old antisemitic caricatures.
Soon after the podcast went up, Newsweek ran a piece titled “Jon Stewart Accuses J.K. Rowling of Antisemitism in ‘Harry Potter‘”, alleging that Stewart had “questioned why there is not more outrage”.
Esquire’s less inflamed but more derisive take was that Stewart’s “smarter act is out while righteous indignation runs amok”.
But in a recent tweet, Stewart said his bit was “lighthearted conversation” intending to highlight tropes which would otherwise be “invisible”. He added that he did not think that either JK Rowling, or the Harry Potter franchise, were antisemitic.
And so, hopefully, ends the sad story of a person’s attempt to raise awareness in a lighthearted manner.
Newsweek et al, may eat my ass. pic.twitter.com/eRoYYeNRi1
— Jon Stewart (@jonstewart) January 5, 2022
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