SNL sketch has Snape call out Harry Potter as racist in satire on fandom backlash

Saturday Night Live is drawing attention for a sketch that directly tackles the backlash surrounding the casting of a Black actor as Severus Snape in the upcoming Harry Potter series.

According to Variety, the sketch featured comedian Kam Patterson as Snape, who delivers a pointed critique of the wizarding world and of Harry Potter himself. During the segment, Snape calls Harry “racist,” referencing the idea that he “told everyone the school’s only Black teacher was secretly evil.”

The sketch is a clear satire of real-world reactions to the casting of Paapa Essiedu as Snape in HBO’s upcoming series, which has sparked racist backlash online. Rather than simply parodying the franchise, the segment flips the narrative to highlight how those reactions mirror deeper issues around representation and bias.

The controversial “Proud Boy” line is part of that broader critique, using exaggerated humor to comment on how fandom discourse can veer into extreme territory. The sketch blends SNL’s signature satire with commentary on racism in fan communities, making it more pointed than a typical parody.

While some viewers praised the show for confronting the issue head-on, others found the approach too provocative, fueling ongoing debate about how far satire should go when addressing sensitive cultural topics.

Ultimately, the sketch wasn’t just about Harry Potter—it was a commentary on the real-world reaction to change within beloved franchises, and the tensions that come with it.