'Harry Potter' Fans Say ‘Avada Kedavra’ to New Muggles Slang in ‘Fantastic Beasts’
by Graeme McMillan
J.K. Rowling has revealed a previously unknown piece of information about the upcoming Harry Potter prequel Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them and, judging by the response on social media, fans are not amused.
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Entertainment Weekly broke the news that Fantastic Beasts, which is set in 1920s New York, replaces a beloved piece of Potter lore, with American wizards choosing to call non-magical humans “No-Maj” (pronounced, “no madge,” and short for “no magic”) instead of the Potter books’ “muggle.” However, not all of the no-maj fanbase seems to be in favor of the change.
NOPE. I refuse. I will not call muggle No-Maj. Nope nope nope. https://t.co/36m797puYN
— Trinity Bramhall (@panicxgirl16) November 4, 2015
“No-Maj” sounds 100% more like a slur. WAY TO GO, AMERICA. https://t.co/UcVSqPweUN
— Melanie Johnson (@melogna) November 4, 2015
The new word, replacing 'Muggle’ is now 'No-Maj’, for the spinoff films. What kinda shit is that.
— Kyle Beard (@KBeard7) November 4, 2015
I’ve been accepting of the evolving nature of the Harry Potter franchise but “No-Maj” crosses an unspeakable line. https://t.co/iE8stuJ5x5
— Katie Coyle (@krcoyle) November 4, 2015
Apparently American wizards don’t say muggle, they say no-maj. I don’t like this 😑 I am a #muggle!
— Meg Mardian (@MegMardian) November 4, 2015
Of course, such concern should be expected from a change to a fan-favorite property — remember the many fans upset about the cross guards on Kylo Ren’s lightsaber in the first Star Wars: The Force Awakens teaser? By the time that Fantastic Beasts hits screens in November, 2016, expect the word to have been adopted by all but the most traditional of muggles — I mean, No-Majes. (That is the plural, right … ?)
