In a twist that has set the internet ablaze, Warner Bros.’ decision to cast British actor Paapa Essiedu as Severus Snape in the upcoming Harry Potter HBO Max series has ignited a massive backlash—reviving the viral Adam Driver meme that screams, “You ruined it!” Fans are once again pulling no punches in expressing their fury, and the digital fallout is spreading fast.
The Meme Returns: Adam Driver in the Spotlight Again
The now-iconic meme, originally pulled from Driver’s emotionally charged scene in Marriage Story, has reemerged on social media, this time captioned with outrage: “JK Rowling and HBO have ruined it!” TikTok, X (formerly Twitter), Reddit, and Instagram are flooded with users reposting versions of the meme with millions of views, targeting Warner Bros. and Rowling herself.
The meme’s resurgence speaks volumes—when a piece of internet culture reappears this aggressively, it’s clear that emotions are running high. What was supposed to be a fresh, inclusive take on the Wizarding World has instead rekindled old tensions within the Harry Potter fanbase.
Casting Controversy: Paapa Essiedu as Snape
The source of the backlash? Warner Bros.’ decision to cast Paapa Essiedu—a talented, Emmy-nominated Black actor—as the brooding, complicated Potions Master. The choice was meant to be bold, modern, and representative of a new direction for the franchise. But instead, it’s drawn accusations of “tokenism,” “political correctness gone too far,” and even “erasure of iconic legacy.”
While some fans have praised Essiedu’s acting chops and see the move as a refreshing shake-up in a franchise often critiqued for its lack of diversity, others have been far less forgiving. The majority of the criticism doesn’t seem to stem from racism (though some of it unfortunately does), but rather from a deep emotional attachment to Alan Rickman’s legendary portrayal of Snape.
“Alan Rickman was Snape. You can’t just rewrite that legacy,” wrote one viral X user, whose post gained over 800,000 likes within 24 hours. “It’s not about race. It’s about rewriting the DNA of the series we loved.”
A Divided Fandom, Again
For Warner Bros., the casting decision was likely made with progressive intentions—but it has inadvertently re-divided an already fractured fanbase. Ever since JK Rowling’s highly publicized comments about gender identity in 2020, many fans have distanced themselves from the author, even while continuing to engage with the world she created.
Now, with Rowling attached as an executive producer for the series, many fans view the reboot as not only unnecessary but potentially damaging. Some have even called for a boycott, trending hashtags like #NotMySnape and #BoycottHBOPotter.
Creators Under Fire
JK Rowling and the showrunners are also catching heat. Critics claim they’re attempting to use diverse casting as a shield to deflect from Rowling’s controversial public image. Others argue that HBO Max is exploiting nostalgia while disregarding fan sentiment.
“It feels corporate. Manufactured. Like they’re trying to win us back without actually listening,” said one Reddit commenter in a thread with over 2,000 upvotes.
Meanwhile, actors like Daniel Radcliffe and Emma Watson have remained silent on the reboot, with some fans interpreting their absence as quiet disapproval.
A PR Nightmare in the Making?
Whether the backlash will die down or grow into a full-blown PR disaster remains to be seen. But for now, the reaction is a harsh reminder that Harry Potter—once a unifying cultural force—is now a minefield of conflicting emotions, ethics, and expectations.
Marketing experts suggest that Warner Bros. may need to pivot quickly.
“They have a potential catastrophe brewing,” says PR strategist Angela Chen. “They either double down on their vision and risk further alienation, or they pause and reconsider major creative decisions.”
The Silver Lining?
Ironically, all this uproar has generated enormous buzz. The controversy is dominating headlines, and social media engagement is through the roof. Whether people love or hate the direction of the reboot, they’re talking—and that, in the world of entertainment, is half the battle won.
But as one X user succinctly put it:
“The magic is gone. And no meme can bring it back.”
