Depp also described the nature of cancel culture as that of ‘polluted air’
Johnny Depp has come out to criticise cancel culture, stating that “no one is safe” and comparing the current atmosphere around it as like “polluted air”.
As reported by Deadline, Depp appeared at the San Sebastian Film Festival in Spain on Wednesday (September 22) where he was receiving an honorary Donostia Award, which recognises individuals’ outstanding contributions to cinema.
However, the 58-year-old actor was aware that his presence may cause a stir given his ongoing libel case involving ex-wife Amber Heard and The Sun, admitting that he was “worried” that his attendance “would offend people” and that he “didn’t want to offend anyone”.
Depp was called a “wife beater” by the tabloid in 2013 and was ultimately denied his chance to appeal early this year. He now claims he is a victim of cancel culture, stating: “It can be seen as an event in history that lasted for however long it lasted, this cancel culture, this instant rush to judgement based on what essentially amounts to polluted air”.
He went on to say that: “It’s so far out of hand now that I can promise you that no one is safe. Not one of you. No one out that door. No one is safe. It takes one sentence and there’s no more ground, the carpet has been pulled.
“It’s not just me that this has happened to, it’s happened to a lot of people. This type of thing has happened to women, men. Sadly at a certain point they begin to think that it’s normal. Or that it’s them. When it’s not.”
As per The Guardian, the president of Spain’s Association of Female Filmmakers and Audiovisual Media, Cristina Andreu, released a statement via their website saying that awarding this honour to Depp “transmits a terrible message to the public, adding that “It doesn’t matter if you are an abuser as long as you are a good actor”.
Nevertheless, Depp insists “I haven’t done anything, I just make movies”, as well as praising the event and its director, Jose Luis Rebordinos for their “undying support” and for “not buying what has been, for far too long, some notion of me that doesn’t exist”.
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