Johnny Depp under fire for alleged mistreatment receives backing from loved ones and acquaintances
Johnny Depp, the famed actor and musician, finds himself at the centre of a heated legal battle with his estranged wife, Amber Heard. Despite the allegations of assault, Depp's supporters, including fellow celebrities and acquaintances, have come forward in his defence.
In a series of US concerts scheduled for July, Depp will perform with his band, the Hollywood Vampires. The band recently played in Stockholm, Sweden at Grona Lund amusement park, and is due to perform in Denmark on Tuesday, followed by the Romanian capital Bucharest on June 6.
One of Depp's most vocal defenders is Terry Gilliam, a renowned actor, director, and Monty Python alum. Gilliam has spoken out in defence of Depp, drawing criticism from Twitter users for his comments about Heard.
Standup comedian Doug Stanhope has also weighed in, writing a column about the situation. Stanhope claims that he and his girlfriend were at Depp's house on May 21, the day of the alleged assault, and that Depp told them Heard had threatened to lie about him publicly if he didn't agree to her terms.
Lily-Rose Depp, Johnny's daughter, has also expressed her support for her father, describing him as a loving person on Instagram. Vanessa Paradis, Johnny's ex-partner and mother of his son Jack, has written a handwritten letter to celebrity news website TMZ, describing Depp as a sensitive, loving, and loved person, denying any history of physical abuse. TMZ posted the letter online.
Paradis' letter comes after a judge imposed a temporary restraining order on Depp, ordering him to stay away from Heard. A judge has also banned Depp from coming within 100 yards (91 meters) of Heard, and the order will be reviewed on June 17.
Heard, in her court filings, has claimed that Depp was verbally and physically abusive to her during their entire relationship and that he has a "totally acknowledged public and private history of drug and alcohol abuse." She has submitted pictures to the court showing a bruise on her face that she claims was inflicted during a fight on May 21.
TMZ also published a picture showing Heard with bruising around her right eye, claiming that the picture was taken shortly after Depp hurled his iPhone at her face on the evening of May 21.
Annika Troselius, spokeswoman for Grona Lund, stated that they oppose all forms of violence but cannot hold Depp responsible for a crime he has not been found guilty of.
Lori Anne Allison, Depp's ex-wife from the 1980s, has also spoken in Depp's defence, telling celebrity news website TMZ that she doesn't believe Heard's allegations and referring to Depp as a "soft person."
The ongoing legal drama has led to boycott appeals on social media, with some calling for a boycott of Depp's films and concerts. As the case unfolds, it remains to be seen how the public will respond and whether the allegations will impact Depp's career.
