Johnny Depp publicly claimed to be a victim of “cancellation culture” and rebelled against the movement during a press conference Wednesday ahead of the San Sebastian Festival honoring his career.
The decision to award the organization the Donostia Prize “to one of the most talented and diverse actors in contemporary cinematography” was a decision that sparked controversy because the actor was involved in a domestic violence case that took him to court and rocked his image.
“It can be seen as an event in history that has gone on for as long as it has gone on, this culture of cancellation, this instant race to judge on what essentially amounts to air pollution. It’s so out of control now that I can assure you that no Nobody is in a safe place. None of you. Nobody is safe,” he added, adding that “those movements that have emerged, I imagine with the best of intentions, are out of control.”
“One sentence is enough and there is no more floor, pull the rug. It didn’t happen to me alone, it happened to a lot of people. This situation has already happened to women and men. Children have suffered from all kinds of harassment. Unfortunately, sure. Then they start to think It’s normal. Or they are. And when it’s not,” Depp continued.
Three-time Oscar nominee Johnny Depp, who has played all kinds of characters, most of them inappropriate, such as Eduardo Scissorhands, pirate captain Jack Sparrow or eccentric director Ed Wood, will receive the trophy at a party at 10 p.m. local time.
The award of the award, which has already been celebrated in other editions of the festival by artists such as Al Pacino, Isabelle Hubert or Woody Allen, has drawn criticism from associations of women filmmakers due to the legal problems in which the actress is involved.
Depp sued British tabloid tabloid The Sun for portraying him in 2018 as “wife abuser” in reference to his ex-wife, actress Amber Heard.
The actor lost the case after a judge ruled that “the vast majority of the alleged assaults were proven” during a trial that also exposed his drug abuse and extravagant lifestyle that damaged his image.
During a press conference in which the festival organizers dismissed all unprofessional questions, the actor made a slanted comment that was understood as a reference to the public libel case he lost: “I think if you are armed with the truth, then that’s all it takes. It doesn’t matter if the verdict.. It requires some artistic liberties. When there is an injustice, whether it’s against you or against someone you love or believe in…Stand up, don’t stand up because people need you.”
Depp had to abandon, for example, the role of the villain in the new series of films “Fantastic Beasts”, inspired by the world of Harry Potter.
In 2016, Depp and Amber Heard divorced in a turbulent lawsuit that resulted in accusations of physical assault, the actress pulled out after receiving a $1 million payment.
What message does the San Sebastian Festival direction want to convey? […] That the woman’s accusations are not credible? […] Is this art above good and bad? asked the Association of Women Filmmakers and Audiovisual Media (CIMA), one of the voices critical of the honor.
But the festival defended itself and warned of “indiscriminate killings on social media.”
“Depp has not been arrested, charged in court, or convicted of mistreatment, [então] “When someone says they are an abuser, that person makes value judgments that go beyond judges,” festival director Jose Luis Ribordino told AFP.
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