Johnny Depp's casting in Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them: The Crimes Of Grindelwald raised a few eyebrows when it was announced, as some expected Depp to be replaced in light of the allegations surrounding his personal life and relationship with Amber Heard.

In a blog post on her website, JK Rowling explained the situation as clearly as she could, and said that she could "understand why some have been confused and angry" about why Depp was not recast.

"For me personally, the inability to speak openly to fans about this issue has been difficult, frustrating and at times painful. However, 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. 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."

Rowling finishes out the statement, saying that she accepts "that there will be those who are not satisfied with our choice of actor in the title role."

"However, conscience isn’t governable by committee. Within the fictional world and outside it, we all have to do what we believe to be the right thing." You can read the full statement here, or check out a screenshot of the statement below.

 

Via JKRowling.com