Amber Heard fires back at J.K. Rowling's Johnny Depp defense

Amber Heard has fired back at J.K. Rowling after the author defended her decision to cast the actress' ex-husband Johnny Depp in the Fantastic Beasts films.

Fans of the wizarding franchise, prequels to the Harry Potter films, have questioned Rowling and the judgment of film producers who have allowed Depp to keep the role of Gellert Grindelwald after his former wife alleged he’d been physically and mentally abusive with her throughout their short-lived marriage.

The 31-year-old actress also obtained a temporary restraining order when she first split from Depp, 54.

On Thursday (07Dec17), Rowling released a statement, explaining that “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".

Heard clapped back on Friday, taking to social media to share an image of the joint statement she and Depp released when they settled their divorce in August, 2016.

“Our relationship was intensely passionate and at times volatile, but always bound by love,” the statement read. “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.”

She captioned the image: “For the record, this was our FULL joint statement. To pick & choose certain lines & quote them out of context, is not right. Women, stay strong. Love, Amber.”

Heard was awarded $7 million in the divorce settlement, and she has vowed to donate the cash to the American Civil Liberties Union and the Children's Hospital Los Angeles.

The couple’s divorce was finalized in January.

Johnny will star in the next Fantastic Beasts movie, The Crimes of Grindelwald, alongside Eddie Redmayne, Katherine Waterston and Ezra Miller. It hits theaters next November.