DEPP OUT
TOXIC wife beater Johnny Depp will never work in Hollywood again following his axing from Fantastic Beasts, says a top lawyer.
The disgraced star, 57, revealed on Instagram yesterday that he had “respected and agreed” to Warner Bros’ request to quit as film baddie Gellert Grindelwald.
8
8
8
Media lawyer Mark Stephens said: “This is devastating for Depp. He is now toxic. He will be known for ever as a wife beater, a drunkard and a druggie. It will be written on his headstone.”
Depp’s Insta post sparked new fury when he dismissed as “surreal” this week’s verdict that he repeatedly attacked his ex-wife, actress Amber Heard, 34.
Survivors’ charity Women’s Aid accused him of trying to “minimise” the judge’s findings.
A spokesman said: “The allegations of domestic abuse were extremely serious.
“The judge ruled that Depp had abused Ms Heard on 12 occasions, and ruled that, as Depp said in a text, he had ‘no mercy’ for her.
“It is vital that this is not minimised or dismissed in any way.”
Shamed Depp added in his post that the ruling will “not change my fight to tell the truth and I confirm I plan to appeal.
“My resolve remains strong and I intend to prove that the allegations against me are false.
“My life and career will not be defined by this moment in time.”
But Mr Stephens said an appeal would be “hopeless and hapless”.
He added: “The Court of Appeal can only interfere if the judge has made a mistake on the law, but even Depp’s lawyers have been unable to identify any legal error.
8
8
“An appeal will not succeed. This is a cynical attempt to undermine the judge’s very careful decision and distract from the facts.”
Mr Stephens said Warner Bros will “undoubtedly be pulling out their insurance policy” so they can airbrush Depp out of future films.
PR guru Mark Borkowski described the case as “one of the biggest showbiz fails for a long time”.
He said: “Depp’s brand had a sort of edge, but that edge now has turned to something really ugly and abusive. This is an indelible stain on his character.”
Depp’s post was the first time he has commented publicly since Mr Justice Nicol released his devastating findings on Monday.
The actor had sued The Sun for calling him a “wife beater” after Amber was granted a domestic violence restraining order in the US in 2016.
CAREER CRASH
But Mr Justice Nicol ruled our article was accurate. He also rejected Depp’s flippant claim that Amber was a gold-digger who invented her allegations as part of “a choreographed hoax”.
Last night, family law barrister Paula Rhone-Adrien, who has represented many abuse survivors, accused Depp of “gaslighting”.
She said: “It is often the case that perpetrators of domestic abuse attempt to diminish, deflect, and deny their behaviour after a judge has found against them.
"The perpetrators attempt to gaslight the court system in the same way they attempted to control their victim — by suggesting the system or judge is crazy for arriving at such a decision.
The 12 times Depp beat Amber
THE judge ruled Depp attacked his ex-wife Amber Heard 12 times in their relationship. These were:
- In early 2013, Depp slapped and knocked Heard to the ground after she made a joke about his "Wino Forever" tattoo
- In March 2013, the actor flew into a rage while high on drugs and hit Amber so hard he made her lip bleed
- In June 2013, Depp attacked Amber in a trailer in Hicksville - throwing glasses at her and ripping her dress
- In May 2014, the actor screams at his wife on a private jet after taking drugs and boozing before kicking her in the back or bum
- In 2014, Depp grabs Amber by the hair, slaps her and pushes her to the ground on a detox trip to the Bahamas.
- In January 2015, the star again attacks Amber while on drugs - this time slapping her and pushing her to the ground. He then forced her tears as he stood over her yelling.
- In March 2015, Depp launches into a brutal three-day attack in Australia - leaving Heard with a broken lip, swollen nose and cuts all over her body. He trashed the house in the violent rampage and pushed Amber to the ground, choking her and spitting in her face as he made the star "fear for her her life"
- In March 2015 in the couple's LA home, Depp grabbed Amber in front of her sister Whitney and repeatedly hit her
- In August 2015 on the couple's honeymoon, Depp pushed Amber against a wall by grabbing her by the throat
- In December 2015, Depp chucked a glass decanter at Amber at their LA home in a drug binge. He also slapped her and dragged her through the apartment by her hair - ripping a chunk out. He then hit her again in the back of the head and headbutted her in the face and screamed 'I will f***ing kill you'. Depp then pushed her face into a mattress and repeatedly punched her in the back of the head
- In April 2016 at Amber's birthday party, Depp assaulted his wife after receiving 'grim news' about his finances.
- In May 2016, Depp chucked a phone at Heard - injuring her eye - before pulling her hair and striking her
The judge dismissed two allegations made by Ms Heard but did not conclude she had been untruthful. These were:
- In December 2014, Heard claimed Depp was "violent towards" her and later branded himself a "f***ing savage"
- In November 2015, she said Depp "threw her around the room" and pushed her over a chair
“This behaviour is obvious to the courts and those who support survivors of abuse.”
In July, the High Court heard lurid accounts of Depp’s drink and drug abuse, irrational jealousy and violent rage.
The court heard the actor’s star was waning as a result of domestic abuse allegations before he even instructed his first lawyer.
He had been stripped of his lucrative Pirates of the Caribbean role by Disney and another movie he had finished, City of Lies, was scrapped by Miramax.
Production on the third entry in JK Rowling’s money-spinning Fantastic Beasts franchise was already under way at Leavesden Studios, Herts, and was due to continue into early next year.
Depp was one of the highest-paid actors in Hollywood.
His films have grossed more than £7.7billion at the box office, and led to him setting a world record for the highest-paid actor in 2012.
He commanded at least £15.5million per movie, but also managed to land a 20 per cent profit deal with Disney.
Between 2008 and 2015 alone, he made £500million from his Pirates of the Caribbean role as Captain Jack Sparrow.
He made £50million from Disney’s Alice in Wonderland and was a big signing for the second Beasts film in 2018, titled The Crimes of Grindelwald.
Most read in Celebrity
However, Depp claimed more than £495million was stolen by former business associates — leaving him an estimated fortune of £155million.
READ MORE SUN STORIES
Depp’s first film role came in 1984 horror A Nightmare on Elm Street, as a victim of serial killer Freddy Krueger, for which he was paid just £7,750.
He later struck up a long-running collaboration with gothic fantasy tycoon Tim Burton, appearing in eight of his films including Edward Scissorhands, Sweeney Todd, Ed Wood and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
8
8
8