Jon Stewart lambasted J.K. Rowling, blaming them for their goblin-run Gringotts Bank in Harry Potter films. He called them an anti-Semitic trope. 

The issue was brought up by Jon Stewart, former host of The Daily Show.  

Stewart, who is Jewish, questioned why Rowling chooses to ‘throw Jews in there to run the f***ing underground bank’ in a fictional world where people ‘can ride dragons and have pet owls.’

Harry Potter author, Harry Potter, is not afraid of controversy. She was criticized for comments she made regarding transgender issues.  

Jon Stewart (pictured), who is Jewish, questioned why Rowling chooses to 'throw Jews in there to run the f***ing underground bank' in a fictional world where people 'can ride dragons and have pet owls'

Jon Stewart (pictured), who is Jewish, questioned why Rowling chooses to ‘throw Jews in there to run the f***ing underground bank’ in a fictional world where people ‘can ride dragons and have pet owls’

Stewart characterized the goblins as an obvious antisemitic trope, and questioned why more people haven't done the same. Pictured is a movie still from the first Harry Potter film

Stewart called the goblins an antisemitic trope and wondered why not more people did the same. This is the movie still from Harry Potter’s first film.

Stewart, who is 59 years old, stated that the banker goblin characters in The Protocols of the Elders of Zion are caricatures of Jews. The text, which purports show a Jewish plan to dominate the world, was infamously anti-semitic.

Stewart stated, “Here’s how to know Jews are still there,” before praising the people he had spoken with for not acknowledging the similarities.

“I want to show your a caricature. Then they say, “Oh! Look at that! It’s Harry Potter!” You’re thinking, “No! That’s just a cartoon of a Jew taken from antisemitic literature.” J.K. Rowling said, “Can you get these guys running our bank?”

Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling (pictured) is no stranger to controversy, and has faced cancellation for her comments regarding transgender issues

J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter author (pictured), is not new to controversy. She was criticized for comments she made regarding transgender issues.

An illustration from The Protocols of the Elders Zion

An original illustration from J.K. Rowling, sketched before Warner Brothers began making the films

The Protocols of the Elders of Zion is an antisemitic text which depicts a Jewish scheme for global dominance. The illustration to the right can be seen in The Protocols of the Elders of Zion. J.K. Rowling’s sketch of Harry Potter visiting Gringotts Bank in Harry Potter and The Sorcerer’s Stone is shown left. This was long before Warner Brothers acquired the movie franchise.

When he first saw the Harry Potter films, Stewart said he expected other theater patrons to ‘be like “h*** shit, she did not, in a wizarding world, to just throw Jews in there to run the f***ing underground bank.” Everyone was like the “Wizards.”

Stewart isn’t the only one to complain about the goblins – Pete Davidson, a Saturday Night Live comedian expressed similar frustrations in 2020.    

In the Harry Potter books and movies, he said, ‘the woods are controlled by centaurs, the schools are run by wizards and ghosts, but who controls the banks… Jews obviously—little giant-nosed Jew Goblins.’

Twitter had already questioned the goblin characters before comedians even mentioned them. 

For example, a user in December 2019 asked: “Why did you give money to goblins hooked noses Joanne?”

Another quipped: ‘if you liked grateful slaves & hooknosed banking goblins you’ll love harry potter and the biological essentialism of gender.’     

Rowling (56), has been accused of transphobia following mockery of an article online in June 2020 that used the phrase ‘people who have their periods’ rather than ‘women’

The possibility that the goblins that run Gringotts bank in Harry Potter's universe are crude Jewish stereotypes was raised long before Jon Stewart mentioned the issue on his podcast

Jon Stewart did not mention the possibility that Gringotts Bank’s goblins were Jewish stereotypes.

Twitter questioned the goblin characters even before they were mentioned by the comedians

Twitter asked about the goblin characters before the comics mentioned them.

One user from December of 2019, for example, asks 'Why did you give the money goblins hooked noses, Joanne?'

For example, a user in December 2019 asked: “Why did you give money to goblins hooked noses Joanne?”

Another quipped: 'if you liked grateful slaves & hooknosed banking goblins you'll love harry potter and the biological essentialism of gender'

Another quipped: ‘if you liked grateful slaves & hooknosed banking goblins you’ll love harry potter and the biological essentialism of gender’

Later, she defended herself in an essay passionately against these claims but was criticized ever since.

Last week she hit back at a claim on US website that she believed there are only two genders.

Rowling stated: “Small, but crucial point: I have never claimed that there are just two genders. There are many different gender identities.

“The core of the debate revolves around whether gender identity or sex should determine the basis for decisions regarding safeguarding, provision and/or sporting categories as well as other areas in which women and girls are currently protected and have legal rights.

Rowling, 56, has already faced accusations of transphobia after she mocked an online article in June 2020 which used the words 'people who menstruate' instead of 'women'

Rowling (56), has been accused of transphobia following mockery of an article online in June 2020 that used the phrase ‘people who have their periods’ rather than ‘women.

In 2020, J.K. Rowling shared a number of articles concerning biological essentialism and detransitioning transgendered people

J.K. Rowling has shared a variety of articles about bio essentialism in 2020.

It is a mistake to use the words “sex” and “gender” interchangeably. This obscures the core issue.

If you want to know what I really said, here is a link – in which I say “Trans lives matter” and “Trans rights are Human Rights   

The question of Rowling appearing in the Harry Potter reunion broadcast on Sky has been a hot topic for the last few weeks.

The New Year’s Day Special featured clips in which stars praised her writing. She was also revealed to have appeared in archives footage. 

In a 2019 segment, she is seen discussing her struggle to find Harry’s actor during casting of The Philosopher’s Stone.

It is a highly anticipated reunion that Daniel will join Emma Watson (hermionegranger) and Rupert Grint (ruun weasley), in celebrating 20 years of the franchise’s first airing.

The reunion special was attended by a star-studded crowd, but the franchise’s author wasn’t there. This triggered outrage among fans who claimed that makers were trying to remove her opinions.