On December 7, Harry Potter author JK Rowling, shared a blog post where she said that Johnny Depp, who has been cast as the dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald, would continue in the franchise despite public outcry over allegation of abuse that were revealed by Depp’s former wife Amber Heard.
“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,” Rowling wrote in a detailed blog that has been widely circulated on both mainstream and social media.
David Yates, who is directing the film also came in defence of Depp, who has been accused of domestic abuse by Heard. “"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," he said. "With Johnny, it seems to me there was one person who took a pop at him and claimed something. I can only tell you about the man I see every day: He's full of decency and kindness, and that's all I see. Whatever accusation was out there doesn't tally with the kind of human being I've been working with,” he said in an interview with Entertainment Weekly.
Social media, however, did not take too kindly to Rowling’s remark, given that she has always been a champion of women’s rights and social equality, and her most famous character, too, was a victim of abuse at the hands of his aunt and uncle.
However, there were those who supported the author as well, with one even claiming that Heard and falsely implicated Depp.
Heard got a temporary restraining order against Depp in 2016, accusing him of being "verbally and physically abusive" during their marriage. She later dismissed the request after the two settled their divorce. Depp denied the alleged abuse at the time.
"Our relationship was intensely passionate and at times volatile, but always bound by love," Depp and Heard said in a joint statement after settling their divorce. "Neither party has lied nor made false accusations for financial gain. There was never any intent of physical or emotional harm. Amber wishes the best for Johnny in the future. Amber will be donating financial proceeds from the divorce to a charity. There will be no further public statements about this matter."
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 "JK Rowling at a book reading at The White House")
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