It’s never easy to learn that someone you admire actually has another side to them that’s not so great. Unfortunately, this is the case for many celebrities, who often present one persona to the media while keeping their true selves private. When that true self is finally brought to light, fans can be in for a shock.
This was recently the case for Johnny Depp, an actor who has played many beloved characters such as Jack Sparrow and Willy Wonka. In 2016, his then-wife Amber Heard filed for divorce, accusing him of physical abuse. Although Depp has had a rocky past, the idea that he was abusive was shocking for many of his fans. In fact, according to an article written for Insider, “Depp denied these accusations and through his representatives said Heard was ‘attempting to secure a premature financial resolution by alleging abuse.’” Four years later, in January of this year, phone recordings were released in which Heard admitted to hitting Depp.
According to the same article, during the trial in which Depp sued The Sun for libel, “Depp alleged that Heard defecated in his bed and punched him, which Heard denies. Depp also accused Heard of having extra-marital affairs with James Franco and Elon Musk, which Heard also denies.”
It’s evidently been a rough and convoluted road to finding the truth about what happened between the couple, and the issue likely won’t be fully resolved for some time. On Nov. 2, the court ruled against Depp, saying that “The Sun was correct in reporting that Depp was violent towards his ex-wife.”
Depp is planning to appeal this decision, but some damage was already done.
Depp announced on Nov. 6 that he had been asked by Warner Bros to step down from his role in the upcoming film in “The Fantastic Beasts” franchise. Depp played the dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald and received praise for his performance from many Harry Potter fans. However, Heard has not been asked to step down from her role as Mera in the “Aquaman” franchise, despite the films also falling under the Warner Bros umbrella; which has led to much protest from Depp’s fanbase.
One fan, Winthrop University senior Jacob Klingensmith, said that “Johnny Depp is getting robbed of a fantastic opportunity, no pun intended” in facing pressure to step down from the role, and that “it’s absolutely a double-standard” that Heard did not receive the same repercussions her ex-husband did.
While there have been many cases of abuse in Hollywood, this is one of the few known cases that has involved abuse towards a man. Klingensmith said that one of the reasons this case is so important is because it shows that “this kind of thing can happen to guys too, not just girls.”
While women are more likely to be victims of physical and sexual abuse, according to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, “1 in 7 men experience intimate partner contact sexual violence” and “1 in 4 men have experience some form of physical violence by an intimate partner.”
It can be hard to come to terms with reality that a character you love may have been played by a bad person. But, in Kligensmith’s words, “You can still admire the work they’re doing but not really care for them as human beings.”
Only time will tell what the future has in store for Johnny Depp and Amber Heard.
Image courtesy to KIKA/WENN.com
