Harry Potter and the Cursed Child lead actor fired over misconduct
By Dan Selcke
James Snyder, who plays the title character in Harry Potter and the Cursed Child on Broadway, has been fired after costar Diane Davis, who plays Ginny, accused him of misconduct.
Although it’s divided fans, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child — a play that catches up with Harry, Ron and Hermione as adults — has been tremendously successful. The play recently reopened on Broadway after some COVID-related difficulties, but it’s now been hit with a scandal: James Snyder, the actor who plays adult Harry, has been fired.
According to Deadline, this decision was made after Diane Davis, who plays Ginny Weasley in the play — in this future, she and Harry are married — filed a complaint against Snyder in November of last year. We don’t know the contents of the complaint, but the production suspended Snyder and commissioned an independent investigation. And now, following completion of the investigation, Snyder’s contract has been terminated.
“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,” producers said in a statement. “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.”
Producers also said that Davis “has made the personal decision to take a leave of absence. Out of respect for her privacy – and to maintain the integrity of the investigation – we will make no further comment regarding the matter.”
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child debuted on the stage as two plays you had to see in separate sittings, but the new version of Broadway combines them into one show. There’s been talk of the actors from the Harry Potter movies — Daniel Radcliffe, Rupurt Grint and Emma Watson — reprising their roles for a movie version of the play at some point, but nothing solid yet.
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