Jon Stewart, who recently slammed J.K. Rowling over goblins that run Gringotts bank in her Harry Potter film series, says he didn’t actually accuse the author of being anti-Semitic and that people need to ‘get a f***ing grip’.

Stewart shared a Twitter clip Wednesday claiming that he did not believe J.K. Rowling was anti-Semitic.

“She doesn’t need to answer any questions. I don’t want the Harry Potter movies censored in any way. It was an amicable conversation. Get a f***ing grip!’

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

Stewart, who is Jewish, questioned why Rowling chose 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 was talking about the fictional Gringotts Bank in both book and film. It is run by Goblins. 

Potter enthusiasts quickly rallied to Rowling’s defence, drawing attention to her criticisms regarding anti-Semitism. Rowling also was described as’very supportive by a Jewish charity’.

Jon Stewart (pictured Wednesday), who recently slammed J.K. Rowling over goblins that run Gringotts bank in her Harry Potter film series, says he didn't actually accuse the author of being anti-Semitic and that people need to 'get a f***ing grip'

Jon Stewart (pictured Wednesday), who recently slammed J.K. Rowling over goblins that run Gringotts bank in her Harry Potter film series, says he didn’t actually accuse the author of being anti-Semitic and that people need to ‘get a f***ing grip’

Stewart clarified his remarks on Wednesday that he said were part in a “lighthearted conversation”.

He claimed that he ‘loves Harry Potter films’, and that the accusation Rowling is Semitic was ‘nonsense’. 

“I need to deal with this. He said it in a social media video. ‘I don’t think J.K. Rowling has anti-Semitism. Her anti-Semitism was not something I accused her of. I do not think the Harry Potter movies are anti-Semitic.’

He continued, “I truly love Harry Potter movies. Perhaps too much for someone my size.”

Stewart said he loves the Harry Potter films and is 'not accusing J.K. Rowling (pictured) of being anti-Semitic'

Stewart stated that he loved Harry Potter movies and doesn’t accuse J.K. Rowling of being antisemitic.

Stewart, 59, said last month the banker goblin characters were based on caricatures of Jews from The Protocols of the Elders of Zion, an infamous anti-semitic text that purports to show a Jewish plan for world domination.

Stewart stated, “Here’s how to know Jews are still there,” before referring to the fact that those he has spoken to were reluctant to admit the similarities.

“I’m just going to show you a cartoon. They’re all like “Oh, I see that! That’s Harry Potter!” You’re thinking, “No! That’s just a cartoon of a Jew taken from antisemitic literature.” J.K. Rowling asked, “Can these guys run our bank?”

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.” Everybody was exactly like “Wizards.” 

Now, the comedian claims that he is a “These comments would not have been understood by a reasonable individual.

‘There is no reasonable person that could’ve watched it and not seen it as a lighthearted conversation between colleagues and chums, having a larf, enjoying ourselves about Harry Potter — my experience watching it for the first time in a theater as a Jewish guy, and how some tropes that are so embedded in society that they’re basically invisible even in a considered process like movie making,’ Stewart said Wednesday.

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

Stewart described the goblins in an anti-Semitic stereotype and asked why not more people did the same. (Pictured: A still from Harry Potter’s first Harry Potter movie)

The comedian now claims ' no reasonable person' would have heard those comments and assumed they were serious (Pictured: A goblin from the first Harry Potter film)

He now says that “no reasonable person” would have heard the comments.

We did this about a month back, two COVID mutants ago. Back when we still lived in Beta World or where ever we were at the time, it was one month ago. This morning I wake up and it’s trending on Twitter and here’s the headline from Newsweek:  “Jon Stewart accuses J.K. Rowling of anti-Semitism”‘.

He continued: ‘Let me say this as clearly as I can. Jon Stewart is my name. J.K. Rowling doesn’t seem anti-Semitic, I assure you. She was not anti-Semitic, I didn’t accuse. It is all false.

Stewart then slammed Newsweek, calling their business model ‘f***ing arson’ and part of the problem with the media.

‘Let me say this to Newsweek – Your business model is f***ing arson and not the good kind,’ he said. 

‘The kind of arson where you’re on the mountain and you’ve got f***ing five minutes and you don’t know where the dogs are. That’s your business model and now all the sh**heads ridiculously out of context nonsense that you out out there.’

Stewart slammed Newsweek - who published an article alleging he called Rowling anti-Semitic - called their their business model 'f***ing arson' (Pictured: Tweet Stewart posted Wednesday)

Stewart slammed Newsweek – who published an article alleging he called Rowling anti-Semitic – called their their business model ‘f***ing arson’ (Pictured: Tweet Stewart posted Wednesday)

Stewart (center, pictured in the social media video) reiterated Wednesday: 'Let me say this as clearly as I can. My name is Jon Stewart. I do not think J.K. Rowling is anti-Semitic. I did not accuse her of being anti-Semitic. None of that is true'

Stewart (center, pictured in the social media video) reiterated Wednesday: ‘Let me say this as clearly as I can. Jon Stewart is my name. J.K. Rowling doesn’t seem anti-Semitic, I assure you. She was not anti-Semitic, I didn’t accuse. It is not true.

Fans and the Jewish community responded to the podcaster’s humorous remarks.

Comedian Sarah Silverman was one of the first to weigh in on the controversy, although she said she hadn’t read the books or seen the films. 

“After seeing the video below, and the clips in the thread, I’m just kinda stunned. You know when you giggle but it’s really more fear than joy?’ On Twitter, she shared her thoughts. 

MailOnline was told by Dave Rich, Director of Policy at Jewish charity, the Community Security Trust that Rowling has been supportive of Jewish communities. 

He explained that JK Rowling was very supportive of Jewish communities in recent years. Rowling also regularly tweeted against antisemitism. It is therefore hard to imagine Rowling using anti-semitic images in her books. Sometimes, a goblin can be just a goblin. 

Fans also defended the author, suggesting that her depiction of the goblins was typical of the fantasy genre, with the likes of JRR Tolkien and Terry Pratchett making similar descriptions (Pictured: Goblins as seen in The Lord of The Rings films)

The author’s portrayal of the goblins received support from fans. Terry Pratchett, JRR Tolkien, and Terry Pratchett all used similar imagery (Pictured, Goblins as in The Lord of The Rings movies)

Jewish readers were quick to point out that the author has repeatedly called for anti-Semitism during recent years. 

David Baddiel, comedian and author, joined in the discussion, adding, “The goblins from Harry Potter should not be seen in a #teamRowling or #antiteamRowling manner, but in a long-centuries-long, deeply subconsciously cultural context.”

Nicholas Jubber is a writer and literary expert who told MailOnline, “Rowling appears not to have followed British traditions in fantasy literature. It was the German term ‘kobold’ that gave rise to the name ‘cobalt, which indicates the association these creatures have with precious ore mining. It makes perfect sense, then that goblins are associated with underground storage and vaults.

Jewish supporters were quick to point out that Rowling was an anti-Semite in recent years. She has been a constant critic of Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership of Labour Party, and she refused to be a part of a cultural boycott against Israel. 

Her depiction, according to fans, of goblins seemed typical of fantasy fiction. Terry Pratchett as well as JRR Tolkien were also fond of similar images. 

Fans took to social media to defend the author

Social media was used by fans to support the author. 

On Wednesday, one said: “Goblins were depicted and described like this decades before Rowling.” These activists should stop trying to depict goblins in fantasy books or mythos.

One added, “You’d have to paint all fantasy writers like Tolkien or artists in the same way that goblins have been depicted since the 19th century. 

“They are often depicted as mean hoarders of gold and people with identical features in fantasy and children’s books.” 

Some others noted that Rowling’s original goblin sketch was quite different from the Warner Brothers movie portrayal of them.