Advertisement

Broadway’s ‘Harry Potter and the Cursed Child’ actor fired after conduct complaint

A sign for "Harry Potter and the Cursed Child" outside a theater
James Snyder, the actor who plays Harry Potter in “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child,” has been fired.
(Evan Agostini / Invision/Associated Press)
Share via

The actor playing Harry Potter has been fired from the Broadway production of “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child” following a complaint by a co-star about his conduct.

Producers said Sunday night that, after an independent investigation of the incident, they decided to terminate the contract of James Snyder. The exact nature of his conduct was not specified. Snyder did not immediately reply to a request for comment.

As the Harry Potter play officially opens in San Francisco on Sunday, the production continues to sidestep a deeper discussion about casting.

Dec. 1, 2019

Producers said in a statement that they received a complaint against Snyder from a female co-star in November and immediately suspended Snyder. The female co-star has decided to take a leave of absence from the Broadway show.

Advertisement

The play, which picks up 19 years from where J.K. Rowling’s last novel left off, portrays Potter and his friends as grown-ups. It won the Tony Award for best new play in 2018.

2021 didn’t quite go as planned for stage performances, but our critic has several memories to cherish.

Dec. 17, 2021

“We are committed to fostering a safe and inclusive workplace, which is why we have robust workplace policies and procedures in place for all those involved in ‘Harry Potter and the Cursed Child,’” the statement by producers said.

“This includes strict prohibitions against harassment in any form, as well as channels through which any employee can report conduct that they believe is inappropriate. We will continue to do all we can to ensure the extremely talented team that brings this production to life feels safe, empowered, and fully supported,” the producers said.

Advertisement