Aiden Steward, a 9-year-old student at Kermit Elementary School in Texas, was suspended from school after claiming to use Ring against a classmate to turn him invisible.

After seeing The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies in the cinema, Aiden told a classmate that he would put the Ring over another child’s head to turn him invisible. The school took the decision to suspend 9-year-old Aiden and send him home.

Aiden’s father, Jason, said “I assure you my son lacks the magical powers necessary to threaten his friend’s existence. If he did, I’m sure he’d bring him right back.” The school declined to comment.

About the Author: Shaun Gunner

Shaun is the CEO of The Tolkien Society, having previously served as the Chair from 2013 to 2025. Shaun has overseen the Society's expansion from 600 to over 4,000 members. Shaun regularly speaks about adaptations of Tolkien's works and the future of Tolkien scholarship whilst passionately believing the Society needs to reach out to new audiences. In his spare time he can be found playing video games and Lego, or on X (formerly known as Twitter). He chaired another charity, Mankind, and is a local councillor.