J.K. Rowling Apologizes For Killing Controversial Character Snape

J.K. Rowling has made an annual tradition of apologizing for killing off some of Harry Potter‘s most beloved characters. In 2015, she apologized for the death of Fred Weasley, one of Ron’s older twin brothers. In 2016, she apologized for the death of Remus Lupin, a close friend of Harry’s father and uncle. But on Tuesday, the nineteenth anniversary of the fictional Battle of Hogwarts, in which, many characters died, Rowling has apologized for killing Severus Snape.

Snape was a complicated character, hated by many throughout the series and understandably so. As a professor, he abused and humiliated his students – Harry in particular – and he was often working on behalf of Voldemort. He was redeemed only in the end, when it was discovered that he was only mean to Harry because of his love for Harry’s mother, Lily. Snape was jealous of Harry’s father and took out his frustration on ‘the boy who lived.’

“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*,” Rowling’s tweet read.

Her tweets show that her apology might infuriate fans who never forgave Snape for his many evil actions – and also knowing that her fan base is quite overzealous. In deed, many fans reacted strongly online.

“Obsession isn’t love,” one tweet read, “Snape was abusive and cruel. He got what he gave, in the end.”

Back in 2015, Rowling tweeted out her feelings about Snape, offering that, although he wasn’t always a good guy, he redeemed himself in the end.

“Snape didn’t die for ‘ideals’. He died in an attempt to expiate his own guilt. He could have broken cover at any time to save himself but he chose not tell Voldemort that the latter was making a fatal error in targeting Harry. Snap’s silence ensured Harry’s victory,” she wrote.

Disappointed fans will just have to wait until next year to get an apology they feel is more deserved.