J.K. Rowling voiced her support for Johnny Depp and his casting in an upcoming sequel to "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them," following earlier domestic abuse allegations made against the actor.
The author published a statement on her website Thursday, breaking her silence on what had been a simmering controversy for the franchise. Some Harry Potter fans have said they would boycott "Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald" after Depp's ex-wife Amber Heard in May 2016 said that Depp was "verbally and physically abusive" to her during their marriage. Depp earlier called that claim and others "salacious false stories, gossip, misinformation and lies." The two settled their divorce last year.
Rowling acknowledged that the reports "deeply concerned" her and others behind the production, and that she and director David Yates considered recasting Depp's role. While Depp had a brief cameo in "Fantastic Beasts," he has a starring role as More