Amber Heard Criticizes Warner Bros After J.K. Rowling Defends Johnny Depp's Casting in 'Fantastic Beasts'

Amber Heard has responded to Warner Bros. and J.K. Rowling, after they issued statements defending her ex-husband Johnny Depp's casting (opens in new tab) as Gellert Grindelwald in the forthcoming sequel to Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.

J.K. Rowling broke her silence on Thursday (December 7) after a number of fans threatened to boycott  (opens in new tab)Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald following accusations of domestic violence (opens in new tab) made against him by ex-wife Amber Heard during their divorce proceedings (opens in new tab).

Depp has staunchly denied any and all allegations of domestic violence, and his friends and family all publicly showed their support to the actor.

"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," Rowling wrote in a statement on her website (opens in new tab).

"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."

Warner Bros concurred with the author of the Harry Potter (opens in new tab) franchise, in its own statement, given to Digital Spy on Thursday (December 7): "We are of course aware of reports that surfaced around the end of Johnny Depp's marriage, and take seriously the complexity of the issues involved.

"This matter has been jointly addressed by both parties, in a statement in which they said there was never any intent of physical or emotional harm.

"Based on the circumstances and the information available to us, we, along with the filmmakers, continue to support the decision to proceed with Johnny Depp in the role of Grindelwald in this and future films."

But Heard took to Twitter to share the full joint statement issued after their divorce in August 2016 (opens in new tab), and appeared to criticise the studio's comments by saying that it's "not right" for anyone to take quotes from hers and Depp's joint statement "out of context."

"For the record, this was our FULL joint statement," she wrote. "To pick & choose certain lines & quote them out of context, is not right."

"Women, stay strong," she added.

Their full joint statement at the time said: "Our relationship was intensely passionate and at times volatile, but always bound by love.

"Neither party has made false accusations for financial gains. There was never an 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."

Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald opens in cinemas on November 16, 2018.