Actor Johnny Depp has had a rough couple of years due to his public trial against ex-wife Amber Heard. The Aquaman actress put forth domestic abuse allegations against Depp and wrote public articles about their tumultuous relationship, leading the Pirates of the Caribbean star to file a defamation case against her.

Last year’s trial seemingly got Johnny Depp off the hook from the authorities but he still seems to be a pariah in Hollywood. After losing out on roles in blockbuster franchises such as Fantastic Beasts and Pirates of the Caribbean, the actor reportedly expressed his anguish over being boycotted. However, Amber Heard will soon appear in Aquaman 2.

Why Was Johnny Depp Boycotted From Hollywood?

Johnny Depp in Fantastic Beasts

Actor Johnny Depp is one of the most recognized stars working in Hollywood, starring in multiple acclaimed films such as Edward Scissorhands, Ed Wood, What’s Eating Gilbert Grape, and others. The actor was mostly known for his diverse role choices and his ability to steal the scene even in an ensemble cast.

Depp’s stardom took a turn for the worse when he was accused of domestic abuse by his ex-wife Amber Heard. Despite a settlement, Heard wrote an op-ed article in 2018 that spoke about the alleged abuses, leading Depp to file a defamation case against her. He also filed a lawsuit against the British tabloid The Sun which called him a ‘wife-beater’.

Johnny Depp and Amber Heard

Depp, however, lost the lawsuit against the tabloid, leading him to lose quite a few roles. His 2021 film Minamata was postponed to an unspecified date at the time by MGM Studios, despite premiering at the Berlin International Film Festival. In an interview with The Sunday Times, Depp said,
“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?”
Depp was also replaced by Mads Mikkelsen in the Fantastic Beasts franchise and was reportedly asked to depart from the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise.

How Has Amber Heard Fared During The Controversy?

Amber Heard as Mera

In 2022, Johnny Depp and Amber Heard were the subject of a widely publicized defamation trial which led to many on the Internet picking sides. Both actors had accused each other of domestic abuse and while Depp seemed to have been punished by his professional life taking a tumble, netizens were quick to point out that Amber Heard had not faced any such boycott.

During the trial, Depp mentioned the damage the accusations had caused to his career and brought up the lost Fantastic Beasts and Pirates roles. Heard brought up her fight against her removal from WB’s (the same studio behind Fantastic Beasts) Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom. She said in her testimony (via The Hollywood Reporter),
“I was given a script, then given new versions of the script that had taken away scenes that had action in it, that depicted my character and another character — without giving any spoilers away — two characters fighting with one another. They basically took a bunch out of my role.”
However, she was not removed entirely from the film and has also reportedly earned $2 million for her reduced role in the superhero film. Heard has also starred in a number of films since 2018, when the trials began, such as London Fields, Aquaman, Zack Snyder’s Justice League, Gully, and In The Fire.