Bowen Yang Has a Wardrobe Malfunction While Skewering J.K. Rowling on SNL: ‘Oh, Dobby’s Come Undone’

Bowen Yang didn’t let a little nip slip get in the way of his performance. 

While jokingly commenting on J.K. Rowling’s controversial opinions on transgender rights and her recent drama with Emma Watson — all while dressed as Dobby the house elf from the Harry Potter franchise — Yang navigated an unexpected wardrobe malfunction during the Oct. 4 episode of Saturday Night Live. 

“Why would Dobby be scared, sir? Dobby’s just about to publicly weigh in on trans people, that’s all,” Yang, 34, said in a shrill voice to imitate the fictional character during SNL’s Weekend Update. “Master sent Dobby to go on the telly and define once and for all what a woman is, sir.”

After accidentally letting it slip that his master was the author of the Harry Potter novels herself, Yang repeatedly bashed his head against the Weekend Update desk as part of the sketch, causing his sack-like costume to come undone at one of the shoulders. 

Though he didn’t realize what had happened immediately, Yang said moments later, “Oh, Dobby’s come undone,” and continued the sketch while clutching the fabric against his chest. “Sorry! My fatigues are not well-made,” he quipped.

Later in the segment, the Las Culturistas host went as far as leaping over the desk so that Dobby could punish himself once again by banging his head against the camera. And while he smoothly managed to keep the shirt from flailing about, fellow cast members Colin Jost and Michael Che struggled to contain their laughter in the background. 

To explain why he kept hurting himself, Yang said in character, “Dobby doesn’t know. Perhaps because house elves are somehow always the problem, even though we’re only 1% of the population, but house elves aren’t the victims. Master Rowling is. She gets so much hate mail.”

Yang’s wardrobe malfunction occurred during the first episode of season 51, featuring host Bad Bunny and musical guest Doja Cat, following the shocking departure of SNL cast members Devon Walker, Ego Nwodim, Heidi Gardner, Michael Longfellow and Emil Wakim. 

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As for when Yang thinks he might move on from Lorne Michael’s sketch comedy show? Yang explained that he’s “always gone by the instinct of, do I have more to do?”

“Lorne was like, ‘You have more to do,’ and that means a lot, because I even confessed to him. I was like, ‘I feel the audience is maybe getting sick of me.’ And he was like, ‘That’s not true. There’s more for you to do. I need you.’ ” he told PEOPLE in September. 

“I have to honor that,” Yang continued. “That man has changed my life, and I owe a lot of my life to that show. And I love working there, the people are the best. I really love each of them so much.”