Rowling voices her support for Depp

NEW YORK — J.K. Rowling has supported Johnny Depp and his casting in an upcoming sequel to Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them after domestic-abuse allegations were 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 said last year that he was “verbally and physically abusive” to her during their marriage. Depp called the 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. Depp had a brief cameo in Fantastic Beasts, but has a starring role in the follow-up film, and potentially future instalments in the pre-Potter franchise.

“The agreements that have been put in place to protect the privacy of two people ... must be respected,” Rowling wrote.

“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.”