J.K. Rowling Apologized for Killing Snape & Now 'Harry Potter' Fans Are Fighting Again
Every May 2, for the past three years, "Harry Potter" author J.K. Rowling has apologized for killing off a character. She started in 2015 with Fred Weasley. In 2016, it was Lupin. In 2017, she -- rather reluctantly, 'cause she knew it would re-start fandom riots -- picked Severus Snape.
OK, here it is. Please don't start flame wars over it, but this year I'd like to apologise for killing (whispers)... Snape. *runs for cover*
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) May 2, 2017
Rowling probably wasn't trying to troll, but she knows Snape is the third rail of the Potter fandom. She's been through this debate before.
Many fans love Severus Snape (played on film by the late great Alan Rickman) but others still see him as a cruel bully for how he treated Harry Potter, Neville, and pretty much all non-Slytherins at Hogwarts. So that debate got rehashed in Rowling's replies. Other fans jumped in just to wish she had picked Dobby, or Lily Evans Potter, or even Hedwig, as this year's Death Day apology. And one fan started a Justice for Hufflepuffs movement, which got some support on Twitter as well.
Here's a taste of the reaction:
@jk_rowling yeah but why'd you kill all the hufflepuffs though? Justice for hufflepuffs
— Calum McSwiggan (@CalumMcSwiggan) May 2, 2017
@jk_rowling It made sense for the story. We love him so much... pic.twitter.com/WrYizZ9M54
— Nick (@NickEllis) May 2, 2017
@NickEllis@jk_rowling bitch who is this "we" you're talking about?
— charli (@halseysreid) May 2, 2017
@NickEllis@halseysreid@jk_rowling He also bullied Harry and tried to make his school life hell just because he was petty and bitter???
— Kim (@kimcarlton_) May 2, 2017
@kimcarlton_@NickEllis@halseysreid@jk_rowling Also physically and verbally abused like more than half his students and traumatized both Neville and Hermione & was a literally Death Eater
— Kai Bishop (@KaiInMotion) May 2, 2017
@syltherinpotter@NickEllis@KaiInMotion@kimcarlton_@halseysreid@jk_rowling Snape was only for in it for himself.
— Bridget Conway (@dadiva18) May 2, 2017
@jk_rowling Obsession isn't love. Snape was abusive and cruel. He got what he gave, in the end.
— Rune Johansson (@Runesael) May 2, 2017
@Runesael@jk_rowling He loved her enough to let her be happy with James and to save her son, so how is that abuse?
— Shana Tristan (@ShanaTristan1) May 2, 2017
@ShanaTristan1@jk_rowling I can't forgive Snape for what he did to Neville. They were both bullied, underestimated, mocked. He could have been kind. He wasn't.
— Rune Johansson (@Runesael) May 2, 2017
@Runesael@ShanaTristan1@jk_rowling I mean if Harry forgave him, why can't you?
— Mel (@Mel82M) May 2, 2017
@Mel82M@ShanaTristan1@jk_rowling Harry Potter is a kind, sentimental person with a tendency to romanticize the past. He's also a bit dense.
— Rune Johansson (@Runesael) May 2, 2017
@Runesael@Mel82M@ShanaTristan1@jk_rowling That's so insulting 2 JKR. Do u realise that? Harry forgave Snape because he was grateful for what Snape did to end the war. He's not dense.
— Brain and Nerve (@BoundingHeart) May 2, 2017
@jk_rowling It...was unavoidable. Dobby, however.... pic.twitter.com/UF7kH32yBI
— Blake Leyers (@BlakeLeyers) May 2, 2017
There's a lot more of that in her replies. Rowling knew it was coming, and cheers to her for being brave enough to go there anyway. Because, as we all know, "It takes a great deal of bravery to stand up to our enemies, but just as much to stand up to our friends."
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