Johnny Depp says Hollywood is 'boycotting' him, but tells fans he will 'fight to the end'

vt-author-image

By Nika Shakhnazarova

Article saved!Article saved!

Johnny Depp says he's being boycotted by Hollywood amid "an unpleasant and messy situation" in his split with ex-wife Amber Heard.

The 58-year-old actor spoke with The Sunday Times about his new drama Minamata, which has not yet secured a US release date.

The Pirates of the Caribbean star blamed the professional difficulties on the "absurdity of media mathematics" in the wake of a "surreal five years" following his 2016 split with Heard amid allegations of domestic violence.

Depp last year lost a libel case against The Sun over their reporting of the split, after the outlet labeled him a "wife-beater."

 wp-image-1263122871
Credit: PA Images / Alamy

"That's like getting scratched by a kitten," Depp said of what he's been through, per CNN. "Comparatively."

As their rocky marriage continued to make headlines, MGM went on to suspend the release of Minamata, which is directed by Andrew Levitas and in which Depp plays the role of photojournalist W Eugene Smith, in his 1970s work in Japan.

Last month, Levitas wrote a letter to MGM accusing it of "burying" the motion picture as a result of Depp's legal issues, Deadline reported.

Depp told The Sunday Times: "Some films touch people and this affects those in Minamata and people who experience similar things. And for anything … for Hollywood’s boycott of me? One man, one actor in an unpleasant and messy situation, over the last number of years?"

 wp-image-1263122868
Credit: CORDON PRESS / Alamy

He also referred to "Hollywood's boycott of, erm, me."

"One man, one actor in an unpleasant and messy situation, over the last number of years?" he said. "But, you know, I'm moving towards where I need to go to make all that... To bring things to light."

Heard and Depp tied the knot in 2015 after dating for several years.

They split the following year in what became a months-long, bitter breakup with allegations of abuse from both sides before their divorce was finally settled.

Depp has consistently denied he abused Heard and has filed a $50 million defamation suit against her, which is currently making its way through the courts, CNN reports.

Featured image credit: PA Images / Alamy