Johnny Depp Says ‘I Was a Crash Test Dummy for #MeToo' and ‘I Didn't Feel Nervous' Facing Off Against Amber Heard in Court: ‘I'll Fight Until the Bitter F—ing End'
Johnny Depp called himself a 'crash test dummy for #MeToo' in a sprawling new interview with The Sunday Times as he sets out to promote the U.K. theatrical release of his latest directorial effort, 'Modi: Three Days on the Wing of Madness.' Depp was referring to the allegations first leveled at him in 2016 by ex-wife Amber Heard, who accused him of domestic violence when she filed for divorce.
Heard's allegations notably fed into two trials that garnered global attention. Depp brought a libel lawsuit against The Sun in 2018 after the publication referred to him as a 'wife beater.' The trial kicked off in summer 2020 and ended with the court determining that the characterization of Depp as a 'wife beater' was 'substantially true.' Later in the year, Depp exited Warner Bros.' 'Fantastic Beasts' franchise after saying the studio asked him to resign from the role in the aftermath of the trial.
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A second and even more highly-publicized trial took place in the U.S. in 2022 after Depp sued Heard in 2019 for defamation over an op-ed she wrote in The Washington Post in which she referred to herself as 'a figure representing domestic abuse.' The 2022 trial was live-streamed on YouTube and became an online sensation. The jury ultimately ruled that Heard did defame Depp in the op-ed, while also ruling Depp defamed Heard in the course of fighting back against her charges. Over the course of the trial, shocking details about Depp and Heard's personal lives were revealed.
'Look, it had gone far enough,' Depp told The Sunday Times about the viral 2022 trial. 'I knew I'd have to semi-eviscerate myself. Everyone was saying, 'It'll go away!' But I can't trust that. What will go away? The fiction pawned around the fucking globe? No it won't. If I don't try to represent the truth it will be like I've actually committed the acts I am accused of. And my kids will have to live with it. Their kids. Kids that I've met in hospitals. So the night before the trial in Virginia I didn't feel nervous. If you don't have to memorize lines, if you're just speaking the truth? Roll the dice.'
Depp said he survived 'all the hit pieces, the bullshit' that accompanied the trial, adding: 'Look, none of this was going be easy, but I didn't care. I thought, 'I'll fight until the bitter fucking end.' And if I end up pumping gas? That's all right. I've done that before.'
A few years after the end of the U.S. trial, Depp is now getting the chance to come back to Hollywood by starring opposite 'Blow' co-star Penelope Cruz in the Lionsgate action comedy 'Day Drinker.' He told the Times about his life: 'I have no regrets about anything — because, truly, what can we do about last week's dinner? Not a fucking thing.'
'Day Drinker' is scheduled to release in theaters sometime in 2026.
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CNN
18 minutes ago
- CNN
Venice is wild with rumors over the secretive Bezos-Sanchez wedding
Plagued by the looming threat of disruptive protests, the upcoming Venetian wedding of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and former news anchor and licensed pilot Lauren Sanchez — which is expected to be a lavish, multimillion-dollar affair — may be one of the most anticipated and closely guarded events to be held in the floating city of love. Spokespeople for the couple remain tight-lipped and invited guests have been required to sign NDAs, but a lid cannot be kept on widespread speculation about every detail of the event that is expected to take place this week. At Harry's Bar, a fabled institution that once counted Ernest Hemingway among its customers, the waiters are hoping some of the 200 guests — a mix of A-list celebrities, political dignitaries and powerful business executives — might stop in for one of their famous Bellini cocktails. Whether or not Bezos will bring his yet-unnamed groomsmen there, as George Clooney did when he married Amal Alamuddin in 2014, is anyone's guess. 'We hope so,' one of the waiters told CNN. 'We can't divulge anyone who has made a reservation. We protect the privacy of all of our guests, not just the billionaires.' From the date to the guest list, possible venues and the bridal gown, the rumor mill is spinning at a rapid pace. Proceedings are being overseen by boutique event planners Lanza and Baucina, the Italian duo who transformed Venice's Grand Canal into a red carpet for the Clooneys' glitzy wedding. Protesters believe there's no space for a Bezos wedding in Venice, but the company has insisted that its plans are respectful of the city and the unique set of challenges it faces as one of the most overpopulated tourist sites in Europe. 'Rumors of 'taking over' the city are entirely false and diametrically opposed to our goals and to reality,' they said in a statement shared with CNN. 'From the outset, instructions from our client and our own guiding principles were abundantly clear: the minimizing of any disruption to the city.' The couple is sourcing some 80% of wedding provisions from local vendors, including pastries from the Rosa Salva pastry shop, the oldest in Venice, whose owners told CNN they have been commissioned to create 'about 200 goodie bags.' Murano glassware designer Laguna B also confirmed to CNN that it is creating special party favors. The company declined to share any further details. Veneto regional president Luca Zaia is not concerned about the city's plans to manage the wedding, telling one local paper, 'I repeat, this is a city that handles 150,000 people a day. George Clooney, François-Henri Pinault and Salma Hayek, Alexandre Arnault, Elton John and many others got married here.' He also surmised that the President of the United States, who is scheduled to be in Europe this week for the NATO summit, could conceivably be on the guest list, telling Corriere della Sera, 'Of course, Donald Trump could also come to this wedding.' One imagines that Trump's priorities may have shifted considerably over the weekend. With guests sworn to secrecy about their attendance, Sanchez's very public bachelorette party in Paris last month may offer clues as to who will watch on as she and Bezos say 'I do.' Kim Kardashian, Kris Jenner, Katy Perry, and Eva Longoria all took part in celebrations that included a boat trip along the Seine. Oprah Winfrey, Mick Jagger and Ivanka Trump have also been invited, according to the Associated Press. As is tradition, Sanchez will be keeping details of her wedding gown, and its designer, under wraps until the big day, but close followers of her fashion will know she is a regular wearer of Dolce & Gabbana. Sanchez sat front and center at the Italian house's Alta Moda show in Sardinia last summer as her son Nikko Gonzalez walked the runway, signaling a close relationship with the brand. Others in the running to dress the bride could be the storied house of Oscar de la Renta. Sanchez did not attend this year's Met Gala, but she did notably wear a custom-made gown by the label for her 2024 debut. Around 30 of the city's elite water taxis, out of 280 total, are also thought to be reserved. One taxi driver told CNN he has been booked from June 25th through the 30th for 'a big wedding,' but declined to say more on the subject. Gondolas have also been put on hold, with the city's gondola association confirming they are ready for the event. The city's nine yacht ports have also been booked for the week leading up to the main event. Bezos' $500 million Koru, which is always tailed by the smaller L'Abeona, are both in the Adriatic Sea already, according to the Marine Traffic website. Venice's airspace is closed to drones and non-authorized traffic, but one source told CNN that permission has been granted for private helicopters, particularly for anyone needing special security, such as heads of state. The Marco Polo airport, no stranger to private jet traffic, already has a secluded area with direct access to private water taxis, making it easy for stars to slip into the city unseen. The wedding date itself, by far the most protected detail, still remains unconfirmed and the couple seem hellbent on keeping everyone guessing up until the last minute. A person close to Venice City Hall told CNN that the wedding planners secured a variety of venues over a period of days and will decide what happens where and when based on the most uncontrollable factors — weather and protesters. The wedding is expected to use a small handful of hotels in the city to accommodate guests or host events. One of the most talked-about possible venues is the Cini Foundation on the island of San Giorgio Maggiore, which has hosted everything from G7 events to private concerts. The sculpted gardens and monastery, where monks still pray, sit across the lagoon from the famous Piazza San Marco and would provide an intimate setting ideal for a dinner. Building work being carried out in mid-June looked suspiciously like a set being built — perhaps for a wedding concert? The Aman hotel on the Grand Canal, where the Clooneys chose to wed, has also been mentioned as a potential location. Another top contender is the Scuola Grande della Misericordia, a 16th-century armory that would be perfect for the ceremony itself — although it is more vulnerable to protesters, who have already threatened to block the canals if the wedding party tries to reach the venue. Interestingly, a rather wedding-esque gazebo has been erected next to the Excelsior Hotel on the Venice Lido, a stone's throw from where the Venice Film Festival is held each year. But, as with the rest of the venues, nothing is confirmed.
CNN
23 minutes ago
- CNN
Venice is wild with rumors over the secretive Bezos-Sanchez wedding
Plagued by the looming threat of disruptive protests, the upcoming Venetian wedding of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and former news anchor and licensed pilot Lauren Sanchez — which is expected to be a lavish, multimillion-dollar affair — may be one of the most anticipated and closely guarded events to be held in the floating city of love. Spokespeople for the couple remain tight-lipped and invited guests have been required to sign NDAs, but a lid cannot be kept on widespread speculation about every detail of the event that is expected to take place this week. At Harry's Bar, a fabled institution that once counted Ernest Hemingway among its customers, the waiters are hoping some of the 200 guests — a mix of A-list celebrities, political dignitaries and powerful business executives — might stop in for one of their famous Bellini cocktails. Whether or not Bezos will bring his yet-unnamed groomsmen there, as George Clooney did when he married Amal Alamuddin in 2014, is anyone's guess. 'We hope so,' one of the waiters told CNN. 'We can't divulge anyone who has made a reservation. We protect the privacy of all of our guests, not just the billionaires.' From the date to the guest list, possible venues and the bridal gown, the rumor mill is spinning at a rapid pace. Proceedings are being overseen by boutique event planners Lanza and Baucina, the Italian duo who transformed Venice's Grand Canal into a red carpet for the Clooneys' glitzy wedding. Protesters believe there's no space for a Bezos wedding in Venice, but the company has insisted that its plans are respectful of the city and the unique set of challenges it faces as one of the most overpopulated tourist sites in Europe. 'Rumors of 'taking over' the city are entirely false and diametrically opposed to our goals and to reality,' they said in a statement shared with CNN. 'From the outset, instructions from our client and our own guiding principles were abundantly clear: the minimizing of any disruption to the city.' The couple is sourcing some 80% of wedding provisions from local vendors, including pastries from the Rosa Salva pastry shop, the oldest in Venice, whose owners told CNN they have been commissioned to create 'about 200 goodie bags.' Murano glassware designer Laguna B also confirmed to CNN that it is creating special party favors. The company declined to share any further details. Veneto regional president Luca Zaia is not concerned about the city's plans to manage the wedding, telling one local paper, 'I repeat, this is a city that handles 150,000 people a day. George Clooney, François-Henri Pinault and Salma Hayek, Alexandre Arnault, Elton John and many others got married here.' He also surmised that the President of the United States, who is scheduled to be in Europe this week for the NATO summit, could conceivably be on the guest list, telling Corriere della Sera, 'Of course, Donald Trump could also come to this wedding.' One imagines that Trump's priorities may have shifted considerably over the weekend. With guests sworn to secrecy about their attendance, Sanchez's very public bachelorette party in Paris last month may offer clues as to who will watch on as she and Bezos say 'I do.' Kim Kardashian, Kris Jenner, Katy Perry, and Eva Longoria all took part in celebrations that included a boat trip along the Seine. Oprah Winfrey, Mick Jagger and Ivanka Trump have also been invited, according to the Associated Press. As is tradition, Sanchez will be keeping details of her wedding gown, and its designer, under wraps until the big day, but close followers of her fashion will know she is a regular wearer of Dolce & Gabbana. Sanchez sat front and center at the Italian house's Alta Moda show in Sardinia last summer as her son Nikko Gonzalez walked the runway, signaling a close relationship with the brand. Others in the running to dress the bride could be the storied house of Oscar de la Renta. Sanchez did not attend this year's Met Gala, but she did notably wear a custom-made gown by the label for her 2024 debut. Around 30 of the city's elite water taxis, out of 280 total, are also thought to be reserved. One taxi driver told CNN he has been booked from June 25th through the 30th for 'a big wedding,' but declined to say more on the subject. Gondolas have also been put on hold, with the city's gondola association confirming they are ready for the event. The city's nine yacht ports have also been booked for the week leading up to the main event. Bezos' $500 million Koru, which is always tailed by the smaller L'Abeona, are both in the Adriatic Sea already, according to the Marine Traffic website. Venice's airspace is closed to drones and non-authorized traffic, but one source told CNN that permission has been granted for private helicopters, particularly for anyone needing special security, such as heads of state. The Marco Polo airport, no stranger to private jet traffic, already has a secluded area with direct access to private water taxis, making it easy for stars to slip into the city unseen. The wedding date itself, by far the most protected detail, still remains unconfirmed and the couple seem hellbent on keeping everyone guessing up until the last minute. A person close to Venice City Hall told CNN that the wedding planners secured a variety of venues over a period of days and will decide what happens where and when based on the most uncontrollable factors — weather and protesters. The wedding is expected to use a small handful of hotels in the city to accommodate guests or host events. One of the most talked-about possible venues is the Cini Foundation on the island of San Giorgio Maggiore, which has hosted everything from G7 events to private concerts. The sculpted gardens and monastery, where monks still pray, sit across the lagoon from the famous Piazza San Marco and would provide an intimate setting ideal for a dinner. Building work being carried out in mid-June looked suspiciously like a set being built — perhaps for a wedding concert? The Aman hotel on the Grand Canal, where the Clooneys chose to wed, has also been mentioned as a potential location. Another top contender is the Scuola Grande della Misericordia, a 16th-century armory that would be perfect for the ceremony itself — although it is more vulnerable to protesters, who have already threatened to block the canals if the wedding party tries to reach the venue. Interestingly, a rather wedding-esque gazebo has been erected next to the Excelsior Hotel on the Venice Lido, a stone's throw from where the Venice Film Festival is held each year. But, as with the rest of the venues, nothing is confirmed.
Yahoo
39 minutes ago
- Yahoo
'Why Jordan Gray's new trans sitcom Transaction is so important'
Jordan Gray has created, written and stars in Transaction, which follows a chaotic trans shop worker and her experiences at work. (ITV) Watching ITV's new sitcom about Liv, a trans woman who raises hell in a local supermarket, I found myself actively disliking Jordan Gray's protagonist, especially at first. And it turns out that's kind of the point. As the creator of Transaction said herself once in a chat with Gay Star News: "Trans people are just people, some people are just d**kheads – ergo: some trans people are just d**kheads too." In both the original 2020 miniseries and her new sitcom that it inspired, Liv is Gray's "attempt to represent a regular tit-for-brains, not some tragic hero." She adds, "I was getting bored of seeing us represented as either poor suffering saints or hypersexualised villains." Two episodes into season one, it's clear that Liv is neither. Transaction features an unlikeable character at the centre, which is kind of the point. (ITV) With Tom, her long-suffering bestie in tow, Gray's lead is rude and obnoxious to everyone at her new job, from Nick Frost's keeno manager to Francesca Mills's even keener subordinate. But with a "vag load" of pro-trans protestors rallying outside, Simon knows he can't fire Liv without making things even worse for himself. Said protestors are only there in the first place because he accidentally used the words "Ladyboys get out!" in a disastrous marketing campaign for the shop. And now they're out for blood. ADVERTISEMENT Free to do as she pleases then, Liv immediately orders her boss Simon to remove any phallic food shaped like her own unwanted genitals before going on to terrorise her colleague Millie for being too nice, and therefore, "a psycho." When asked to actually do something at work, Liv's go-to is that she'd rather "be at home pleasuring [herself] to a VHS of Cats." Liv isn't the most sympathetic protagonists, especially when she does things like accidentally trick her co-workers into raising money for gender reassignment surgery. (ITV) Relatable, but even so, Gray's protagonist isn't exactly the most sympathetic figure. She even tricks the others (accidentally) into raising money for a gender reassignment procedure Liv doesn't actually want herself. Gray describes her creation as "a monster" (via The Guardian), and she's right to do so. But with Liv, it's not all chaos and snarky one-liners. Amidst the bedlam, there are also some glimpses of humanity, such as when she calms down the protestors with an old adage my own nan used to share fondly: "Opinions are like arseholes… They're worth exploring." Plus Liv's friendship with Tom means much more to her than she makes out too, even if she did forget his birthday and continues to annoy him endlessly at work. With a "vag load" of anti-trans protestors speaking so cruelly about trans people online these days, it's refreshing and even important to see someone like Gray provide space for trans people to be a bit messy on screen beyond those "saintly" or "villainous" archetypes she touched on earlier. In doing so, she doesn't just poke fun at bigotry, but also liberals who might unfairly put trans people on a pedestal just because of their identity. While some shows decide to depict transgender people in more flattering light, Transaction gives them room to be messy. (ITV) While Clean Slate went down the wholesome route and What It Feels Like For A Girl chose anarchy, Transaction melds the two for its own unique take on what it means to be trans in 2025. The fact this exists on ITV of all places is in itself an accomplishment, as they're not exactly known for pushing the envelope in ways that Channel 4 and even the BBC have done before. ADVERTISEMENT It would have been far easier for ITV to go down a much more likeable route, or avoid commissioning a trans-fronted sitcom at all in these volatile times. But there's something special to be found in that moral tension, as Gray herself pointed out in that aforementioned chat with Gay Star News: "Being trans – or anything other than straight white cis – means that the audience is already primed with a certain amount of social tension. And tension is literally the fuel of comedy. We manipulate which direction that tension travels in (ie in or out of the body) to get the reaction we want." That "reaction" might not always be one of fondness. In fact, you don't have to like Liv at all. But if you do dislike her, make sure it's because she's "a d**khead", and not because she's trans. Transaction premieres on ITV2 on Tuesday, 24 June.
