Johnny Depp has praised his fans calling them warriors for undying support during his legal battle with ex-wife Amber Heard.
John Christopher Depp II, 58, is an American actor, producer, and musician. His awards include Golden Globe Award and a Screen Actors Guild Award, in addition to nominations for three Academy Awards and two British Academy Film Awards.
In the 2000s, Depp became one of the most commercially successful film stars by playing Jack Sparrow in the swashbuckler film series Pirates of the Caribbean (2003–present).
Amber Heard, his ex-wife, filed for divorce in May 2016 and acquired a temporary restraining order against Depp, alleging in her court declaration that he had been verbally and physically abusive throughout their relationship, usually while under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
The case got Johnny to leave the Fantastic Beasts franchise and, according to Minamata‘s director, MGM “burying” his new movie.
In footage posted to Twitter by account name @salveogvm on Thursday (26 August), Johnny can be seen waving to fans from a car.
The clip is claimed to have been taken by the actor this week.
One fan is heard telling Johnny that they “believe him” in a reference to the allegations of abuse directed at the actor.
Depp is seen clapping his hands together and blowing a kiss to the crowd, stating: “You’re warriors. You’re all warriors. You’re all amazing soldiers. Thank you, bless you.”
Last November, Depp had lost a defamation proceeding in London against The Sun’s publisher after naming him a “wife-beater” in relation to his ex-wife, Amber. The actor lost a bid to overturn the High Court ruling in March this year.
However, Fairfax County Chief Judge Penney Azcarate refused to dismiss the case against Amber, as seen in legal documents obtained by Deadline.
Amber testified under oath at a deposition, but a settlement was eventually reached after she withdrew her request for a domestic violence restraining order. She also rescinded her spousal support request of $50,000 a month.
Johnny and Amber also released a joint statement, saying: “Our relationship was intensely passionate and at times volatile, but always bound by love. Neither party has made false accusations for financial gain.”
“There was never any intent of physical or emotional harm,” they added.
Amber received $7 million from the divorce but donated it to charity, according to People.
But earlier this month, Johnny won a legal victory in an attempt to discover if Amber had fulfilled her vow to donate her $ 7 million divorce settlement proceeds to a charity.
The actor said in an interview with The Times, “surreal five years” since Amber first made accusations against him.
He described it as an “absurdity of media mathematics… whatever I’ve gone through, I’ve gone through. But, ultimately, this particular arena of my life has been so absurd.”
Depp also applauded his supporters saying: “I’m proud of these people, because of what they are trying to say, which is the truth. The truth they’re trying to get out since it doesn’t in more mainstream publications.”
“It’s a long road that sometimes gets clunky. Sometimes just plain stupid. But they stayed on the ride with me and it’s for them I will fight. Always, to the end. Whatever it may be,” he added.
Johnny Depp’s $50 million defamation lawsuit against the Aquaman star will proceed in April 2022.
The Pirates of the Caribbean star recently addressed “Hollywood’s boycott” of him in the wake of his libel suit loss, with a High Court judge ruling in favor of The Sun‘s publisher News Group Newspapers (NGN).
Johnny Depp had been separated from Vanessa Paradis in June 2012 and began dating actress Amber Heard with whom he had co-starred in The Rum Diary (2011). They were married in a civil ceremony in February 2015.
Amber filed for divorce in May 2016, a settlement was reached in August 2016 and the divorce was finalized in January 2017.