Adam B. Vary Senior Entertainment WriterOn Dec. 7, 2017, J.K. Rowling posted a lengthy statement to her website in defense of Johnny Depp, the actor cast to play the infamous dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald in the “Fantastic Beasts” movie franchise, part of Rowling’s “Wizarding World of Harry Potter” media fiefdom.
For over a year, Depp had been dogged by headlines surrounding his disintegrated marriage to actor Amber Heard, who alleged Depp had repeatedly physically and verbally abused her.
Even before the #MeToo movement exploded in late 2017, many of Rowling’s fans had made clear how upset they were that, after briefly appearing in 2016’s “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them,” Depp was set to headline the follow-up, “Fantastic.
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