Johnny Depp says J.K. Rowling knows he was 'falsely accused' of domestic abuse because she has 'seen the evidence'
Johnny Depp is finally responding to the controversy over his Fantastic Beasts casting.
Depp stars as the central villain in the new sequel Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald, which is written by author J.K. Rowling and set years before the Harry Potter series. Some have criticized Depp's presence in the movie, as his ex-wife, Amber Heard, accused him of domestic violence in 2016. Depp denied her accusations. As part of their divorce settlement, the two released a statement saying that during their relationship there was "never any intent of physical or emotional harm," BuzzFeed News reports. However, when Depp again denied her allegations in a recent interview, Heard's attorney accused him of "psychological abuse" and pointed to "multiple witnesses to Mr. Depp's physical abuse."
Now, Depp tells Entertainment Weekly that J.K. Rowling "knows I was falsely accused" because she has "seen the evidence." Rowling in 2017 had offered a slight defense of keeping Depp onboard the project, but she was careful not to get into the specifics of the case, saying she wanted to respect Depp's and Heard's privacy.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Entertainment Weekly notes that Depp's attorney says unspecified evidence will be presented in court during a defamation case against The Sun next month. The actor added that he "felt bad" that Rowling took so much heat over his casting, but "she doesn't take things lightly" and "would not stand up if she didn't know the truth."
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Brendan worked as a culture writer at The Week from 2018 to 2023, covering the entertainment industry, including film reviews, television recaps, awards season, the box office, major movie franchises and Hollywood gossip. He has written about film and television for outlets including Bloody Disgusting, Showbiz Cheat Sheet, Heavy and The Celebrity Cafe.
-
Kevin Hart awarded Mark Twain Prize
Speed Read He is the 25th recipient of the prestigious comedy prize
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Is Downton Abbey set to return for a final film?
Speed Read Imelda Staunton reveals that a third movie may be in the pipeline
By Adrienne Wyper, The Week UK Published
-
'Oppenheimer' sweeps Oscars with 7 wins
speed read The film won best picture, best director (Christopher Nolan) and best actor (Cillian Murphy)
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
'Rust' armorer convicted of manslaughter
speed read The film's cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was shot and killed by actor Alec Baldwin during rehearsal
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
The Beatles are getting 4 intersecting biopics
Speed Read Director Sam Mendes is making four separate movies, each told from the perspective of one band member
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Taylor Swift to Miley Cyrus: female artists dominate 2024 Grammys
Speed Read SZA, Phoebe Bridgers and Lainey Wilson were also among the winners at LA gala
By Arion McNicoll, The Week UK Published
-
South Korea passes law banning sale and production of dog meat
Speed Read Rare bipartisan support 'highlights changing attitudes' as young people shun centuries-old tradition
By The Week UK Published
-
Out of touch: Daryl Hall obtains restraining order against bandmate John Oates
Speed Read Lawsuit reveals unharmonious relationship between most commercially successful duo in pop history
By Jamie Timson, The Week UK Published