When Johnny Depp was announced as playing OG Harry Potter villain/Dumbledore's ex-lover, Gellert Grindelwald, in the upcoming Fantastic Beasts sequel, The Crimes of Grindelwald, people were...less than pleased.

However, quick to Depp's defense is long-time HP director, David Yates, who has made some interesting claims about the whole debacle, mainly centred around the abuse allegations brought against him by ex-wife Amber Heard.

In a new interview with Entertainment Weekly, Yates says that someone (Heard) "took a pop at him (Depp)" - yikes - and that it's a "dead issue" - double yikes.

"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.”

Idk Dave, mate, kinda sounds like you're calling Amber Heard a liar.

He also goes on to say that Depp's case doesn't compare to the cases of sexual assault allegations brought against Harvey Weinstein, Kevin Spacey and the countless other powerful men in Hollywood.

“[Depp’s is] 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.”

Yikes x infinity.

if you or someone you know is the victim of domestic abuse contact lifeline here or white ribbon here.