Harry Potter fans are not happy JK Rowling is defending Johnny Depp

08 Dec 2017

JK Rowling at the Fantastic Beasts premiere.

Anya's feminist icons are Leslie Knope and Lauren Bacall. When…

JK Rowling released a statement today regarding the casting of Johnny Depp in Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.

‘Harry Potter fans had legitimate questions and concerns about our choice to continue with Johnny Depp in the role,’ she acknowledges.

Fans’ issue with the casting stems from Depp’s relationship with his ex-wife, Amber Heard, whom he allegedly physically abused.

She also reveals the team at Warner Bros. considered recasting him. However, based on the ‘agreements that have been put in place to protect the privacy of two people’ and an ‘understanding of the circumstances’, the team decided they were ‘comfortable’ and ‘genuinely happy’ to keep Depp on board.

‘Conscience isn’t governable by committee,’ she concludes. ‘Within the fictional world and outside it, we all have to do what we believe to be the right thing.’

Rowling is canceled

Many Harry Potter fans are expressing their outrage over this statement.

Some are particularly unhappy Depp is playing a queer character (Grindelwald had an unspecified relationship with Dumbledore, which may be explored in the movies), especially after the domestic abuse allegations against Heard, who is openly bisexual.

Twitter user cjandmiles wrote a short thread about it.

The next time someone wants to tell me that @jk_rowling is an ally to queer people or a feminist, I'm going to need you to GTFO. "The filmmakers and I are…genuinely happy to have Johnny playing a major character in the movies.”

— cj. (@theysingular) December 7, 2017

The queer baiting was already horrible and laughable, the idea you can just postdate something and spring a "SURPRIIIIISE HE WAS GAY ALL ALONG", but it could easily pass as sort of well-meaning, if a little tone deaf.

— cj. (@theysingular) December 7, 2017

The queer baiting refers to Rowling revealing Dumbledore’s sexuality after all the books were finished, rather than within the text itself.

But to have a queer character played by a man who physically abused his openly bisexual wife? Craven, cowardly, and totally fucking shameless. 2017: the year of no more heroes.

— cj. (@theysingular) December 7, 2017

It's what happens when you have a lot of money, I guess. You just want to make sure you get a little bit more. Always just a little bit more. Just make it work for you, a little bit more, and who cares about the message you send.

— cj. (@theysingular) December 7, 2017

Numerous others cite the themes of the Harry Potter series, including abuse and doing the right thing, in regards to their disappointment in Rowling.

That statement reads like a slap in the face to the many victims of abuse among the HP fan community. I have loved your books since I was seven, and I expect better from the person who taught my generation empathy.

— Christine (@sailawayblogger) December 8, 2017

https://twitter.com/AHandsomeLady/status/938925520309374976

jk rowling created a character who was a victim of abuse FOR YEARS. harry potter gave people hope. and now she casted an abuser and said she's happy to work with him. this is so disrespectful, not only for amber, but for all abuse survivors

— jess (@wildmoony) December 7, 2017

https://twitter.com/anthroqveer/status/938877122738835457

"There will be a time when we must choose between what is easy and what is right."

I've carried this quote deep in my heart ever since I first read it. I am so sad to see that you chose what is easy.

— kathleen quinlan (@kathleenq) December 7, 2017

JK Rowling wrote a whole 7-book series about an abused boy only to turn around and defend a known abuser pic.twitter.com/0nQbkeaRmm

— BLIИKTWIƆE™ (@MlNACHAEYU) December 7, 2017

Others brought up their own misgivings with the series.

I love the world JK Rowling created, and will always be glad she created it.
But that doesn't mean I won't criticise how she restricts it or allows it to be represented.
She won't allow the concept of a gay Sirius Black, but is "happy" let an abuser play a gay character? Nah, Jo.

— too small for fall damage (@serhawke) December 7, 2017

After seeing @jk_rowling support and defend domestic abuser Johnny Depp, I have Z E R O respect for her.

But I suppose I shouldn't be surprised from the woman who thought Severus Snape could be redeemed.

— Juliana "running man running man brrrrRAH" Sabo (@JulianaSabo) December 7, 2017

Many are also saying Rowling is now canceled and beyond.

jk rowling is canceled, harry potter belongs to the fans now and it's not hers anymore pic.twitter.com/MKYNNm7uPK

— rojo applebaum (@ria_tee) December 7, 2017