J.K. Rowling breaks silence on Johnny Depp casting controversy, saying she's 'genuinely happy' to have him in 'Fantastic Beasts'

Warner Bros.; Chris Jackson/Getty Images

• J.K. Rowling defended her decision to keep Johnny Depp in her "Fantastic Beasts" series.
• "The filmmakers and I are not only comfortable sticking with our original casting, but genuinely happy to have Johnny playing a major character in the movies," she said in a statement.
• Depp's ex-wife Amber Heard accused him of beating her when they were married. Heard dropped her charges during their divorce settlement process.
• Rowling suggested contractual agreements prevented her from speaking more openly about the situation.

J.K. Rowling responded Thursday to fan backlash about Johnny Depp's casting in her "Fantastic Beasts" movie series, saying she's "genuinely happy" to have him aboard despite the domestic abuse allegations against him.

"Based on our understanding of the circumstances, the filmmakers and I are not only comfortable sticking with our original casting, but genuinely happy to have Johnny playing a major character in the movies," Rowling said in a statement.

Rowling is both writing and producing the "Fantastic Beasts" series, a planned five-part "Harry Potter" spin-off with Warner Bros. Depp plays Gellert Grindelwald, the main villain in the plot, and will be front and center in the next film, "Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald," due in November 2018.

Depp was accused of assault by his ex-wife, Amber Heard, when they were married. She dropped the charges during their divorce settlement process in 2016. Some fans of Rowling were furious that he remained in the "Fantastic Beasts" series despite the allegations. Rowling even apparently blocked one fan who criticized her on Twitter.

It's part of a growing chorus of voices trying to draw attention to workplace sexual harassment amid the downfall of powerful media figures like Harvey Weinstein and Charlie Rose.

Rowling said stories about Depp "deeply concerned" her and the rest of the filmmakers around the time his scenes were filmed for "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them," the first movie in the series, which was released in 2016. She acknowledged in her statement that fans' concerns about his casting were "legitimate" and said she had considered recasting him.

But in the end, Rowling and the movie's director, David Yates, decided to keep him.

Rowling also suggested that contractual agreements prevented her from speaking more openly about the situation.

"For me personally, the inability to speak openly to fans about this issue has been difficult, frustrating and at times painful," Rowling said. "However, the agreements that have been put in place to protect the privacy of two people, both of whom have expressed a desire to get on with their lives, must be respected."

In a November interview with Entertainment Weekly, Yates was dismissive about Heard's allegations against Depp.

"Honestly there's an issue at the moment where there's a lot of people being accused of things, they're being accused by multiple victims, and it's compelling and frightening," Yates said. "With Johnny, it seems to me there was one person who took a pop at him and claimed something."

Read Rowling's full statement below:

"When Johnny Depp was cast as Grindelwald, I thought he'd be wonderful in the role. However, around the time of filming his cameo in the first movie, stories had appeared in the press that deeply concerned me and everyone most closely involved in the franchise.

"Harry Potter fans had legitimate questions and concerns about our choice to continue with Johnny Depp in the role. As David Yates, long-time Potter director, has already said, we naturally considered the possibility of recasting. I understand why some have been confused and angry about why that didn't happen.

"The huge, mutually supportive community that has grown up around Harry Potter is one of the greatest joys of my life. For me personally, the inability to speak openly to fans about this issue has been difficult, frustrating and at times painful. However, the agreements that have been put in place to protect the privacy of two people, both of whom have expressed a desire to get on with their lives, must be respected. Based on our understanding of the circumstances, the filmmakers and I are not only comfortable sticking with our original casting, but genuinely happy to have Johnny playing a major character in the movies.

"I've loved writing the first two screenplays and I can't wait for fans to see 'The Crimes of Grindelwald.' I accept that there will be those who are not satisfied with our choice of actor in the title role. However, conscience isn't governable by committee. Within the fictional world and outside it, we all have to do what we believe to be the right thing."

If you are a victim of sexual assault, you can visit RAINN or call its hotline at 1-800-656-4673 to receive confidential support from a trained staff member.

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