‘It’s a dead issue’: Fantastic Beasts 2 director David Yates defends Johnny Depp casting after backlash

The British filmmaker said Depp is full of 'decency and kindness'
Backlash: David Yates has defended casting of Johnny Depp
Jennifer Ruby29 November 2017
The Weekender

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Fantastic Beasts 2 director David Yates has defended Johnny Depp’s role in the film, following domestic abuse allegations against the star.

In the wake of a backlash against the casting decision, the British filmmaker has described any controversy still surrounding the actor as a “dead issue”.

Fans of the first film were quick to express their concern over Depp’s prominent role in the sequel after his ex-wife Amber Heard accused him of physical and emotional abuse last year.

“Honestly, there’s an issue at the moment where there’s a lot of people being accused of things, they’re being accused by multiple victims, and it’s compelling and frightening,” Yates told Entertainment Weekly.

In defence: David Yates describes Johnny Depp as a 'decent' man
Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images

“With Johnny, it seems to me there was one person who took a pop at him and claimed something.

“I can only tell you about the man I see every day: He’s full of decency and kindness, and that’s all I see. Whatever accusation was out there doesn’t tally with the kind of human being I’ve been working with.”

Line-up The Fantastic Beasts 2 cast in full
Warner Bros

Defending the actor even further, Yates continued: “By testament, some of the women in [Depp’s] life have said the same thing — ‘that’s not the human being we know.’

“It’s very different [than cases] where there are multiple accusers over many years that need to be examined and we need to reflect on our industry that allows that to roll on year in and year out.

“Johnny isn’t in that category in any shape or form. So to me, it doesn’t bear any more analysis. It’s a dead issue.”

A number of viewers slammed the casting choice on social media after it was revealed that the follow-up film, titled The Crimes of Grindelwald, will mainly focus on Depp’s character.

Actress Heard accused Depp of assault back in 2016 during the deterioration of their 15 month marriage and filed a restraining order against him.

They were finally granted a divorce in January 2017, with Depp paying the actress £5.7 million, which she donated to domestic abuse charities.

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