While the cast and creators of the Fantastic Beasts sequel have been delicately battling controversy after controversy when it comes to Johnny Depp's casting as Grindelwald (the actor has been accused of domestic abuse by ex-wife Amber Heard) and the portrayal of Dumbledore's (Jude Law) queerness (it was announced that the character would not be "explicitly gay" in the film), star Ezra Miller had some slightly blunter words for critics.
“Why don’t you wait until you see the film before you start talking shit on Twitter?” he told Total Film, according to Entertainment Weekly. “Or wait to make up your own mind about something for once in your life. Do your own research. Make up your own mind. Follow your heart, and really, really investigate situations before you identify yourself and pick a side, and start throwing things at the opposition. Because that’s what’s totally screwing everything up right now. And it polarizes us. We’re all human, and there’s a lot of things we can agree on.”
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Miller didn't address the Depp controversy, but had some detailed thoughts to share with those worried Dumbledore's sexuality is being erased.
“It’s a funny idea to me that every form of representation has to look the same,” he continued. “For me, personally, I find Dumbledore’s queerness extremely explicit in this film. I mean, all around. He sees Grindelwald, his young lover who’s the love of his life; he sees him in the Mirror of Erised. What does the Mirror of Erised show you? Nothing more than the most desperate desire of your heart. If that’s not explicitly gay, I don’t know what is."
Miller stresses, however, that a character's story shouldn't hinge on their sexuality, and reminded readers of the step forward author J.K. Rowling took when she first revealed Dumbledore's sexuality after the final Harry Potter book was published.
"People have to also take a moment and acknowledge the gift that Jo Rowling gave us by writing one of the greatest characters in literary history, one of the most beloved characters across the whole spectrum of civil society, and the beliefs and ideologies there; one of the most beloved characters; and then, at the end of writing that series, was like, ‘Oh, yeah, and he’s gay. What? Step to me,’" Miller said. "She is forever a god for that."
Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald premieres November 16.