If you haven’t been following along with the Johnny Depp and Amber Heard drama since last fall — and even before, when the former couple’s problems began with police reports in Los Angeles and an alleged “hostage” situation during a Pirates of the Caribbean shoot in Australia — there’s quite a lot you need to catch up on.
The exes’ public battle began when U.K. News Group Newspaper publication The Sun ran an article that alleged Mr. Depp had domestically abused Ms. Heard on multiple occasions. Depp himself, Depp’s lawyer, and even ex-partners Vanessa Paradis and Winona Rider vehemently denied the claims from the start.
Depp also recently lost the right to appeal the verdict. This seemingly cemented his firing from his two biggest roles at the moment: Captain Jack Sparrow in Disney’s Pirates of the Caribbean franchise and Gellert Grindelwald in Warner Bros.’ Fantastic Beasts Harry Potter spinoff series.
Margot Robbie has reportedly been tapped to lead Pirates of the Caribbean 6, while Mads Mikkelsen (Rogue One: A Star Wars Story) has taken on the role of Grindelwald.
The fact that Depp was fired from both popular franchises, while Heard has maintained her role in another Warner Bros. IP — she plays Mera opposite Jason Momoa’s Aquaman in the Aquaman films — is where the issue at hand really begins, according to many fans who have been closely following the case.
Throughout the couple’s legal drama, it has been alleged time and time again that the actress was actually the abuser in the relationship. Per a BBC report, Stephen Deuters — who is now European president of Depp’s production company, Infinitum Nihil, and has been in the actor’s employ since 2004 — stated:
“I knew that Ms Heard was the abuser in the relationship and I was appalled that she would behave in this way.”
Over the course of the legal proceedings, it came to light that Heard had actually admitted on audio tape that she had, in fact, physically hit Depp on at least one occasion. The recording can be heard in the Court TV video below:
Now, armed with this information — and the fact that Heard is reportedly being probed by the LAPD in conjunction with a possible perjury charge that could result in jail time — fans have taken to social media in a bid to get the actress fired from Aquaman 2, Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom.
Both DC Comics fans and Johnny Depp fans are extremely unhappy that Warner Bros. maintained Heard’s employment while letting Depp go, even though there are grounds to accuse her of domestic violence, as well. There are petitions calling for boycotts of both Fantastic Beasts 3 and Aquaman 2 if Depp is not rehired and Heard is not fired, respectively.
Griaa_ wrote:
Absolute BS. Johnny Depp gets removed from his future projects because of this whole situation, but Amber Heard is still in Aquaman 2 even though there are mounds of evidence that she is abusing him? #JusticeForJohnnyDepp
Absolute BS. Johnny Depp gets removed from his future projects because of this whole situation, but Amber Heard is still in Aquaman 2 even though there are mounds of evidence that she is abusing him? Bullshit. #JusticeForJohnnyDepp ✊
Cant believe amber heard is still gonna be in aquaman2! @warnerbros im not watching if shes in the movie! Johnny Depp deserves better! You removed him from the fantastic beasts but youre still keeping his abuser! Shame on you! #JusticeForJohnnyDepp
Cant believe amber heard is still gonna be in aquaman2! @warnerbros im not watching if shes in the movie! Johnny Depp deserves better! You removed him from the fantastic beasts but youre still keeping his abuser! Shame on you! #JusticeForJohnnyDepp
— Neepa – BTS has permission to dance with meâŸâŸ¬âŸ¬âŸ (@NeepaGummapu) June 29, 2021
Henry James Coulson shared a Parks and Rec GIF along with his Twitter post:
Me if I see a single glimpse of the psychopath abuser Amber Heard on my screen while streaming Aquaman 2 (as I’m not paying to see a film that supports abusers ) #JusticeForJohnnyDepp #FireAmberHeard #AmberHeardandthemagicalbruises #AmberHeardIsAnAbuser #amberhearddidnotdonate
For those who believe Amber Heard is innocent, you need only look at the court case and the evidence to discover she has a history of Domestic Violence. She also admits to hitting Johnny Depp.
#AmberHeardIsAnAbuser #FireAmberHeard
For those who believe Amber Heard is innocent, you need only look at the court case and the evidence to discover she has a history of Domestic Violence. She also admits to hitting Johnny Depp.#AmberHeardIsAnAbuser#FireAmberHeardpic.twitter.com/if4YuKAnaZ
There are thousands of other posts regarding this ongoing situation on social media. The outcome of the former couple’s $50 million civil suit in the United States remains to be seen — Heard would like the entire matter thrown out in the U.S.
What do you think? Will you be boycotting Warner Bros. Pictures for the time being?