American movie star, Johnny Depp has revealed that he’s being boycotted by Hollywood in his first interview since losing his high-profile “wife-beater” libel suit.
While speaking to The Sunday Times’ Jonathan Dean in an interview published Saturday, Depp opened about his latest film. The film had an international premiere at the Berlin International Film Festival in February but has not yet been released for American audiences.
In the film, Depp plays real-life photographer W. Eugene Smith, who documented the mercury poisoning of Japanese villagers in the early 1970s. He told the Times that his own struggles are “like getting scratched by a kitten” compared to those poisoning victims, or “people who suffered with COVID.”
However, he seemed to imply that the film is not getting the attention it deserves due to his own personal troubles. Minimata premiered Friday in the U.K. and Ireland, but its U.S. release has yet to be announced. Depp was also forced to depart the Fantastic Beasts franchise after losing his libel case.
“Some films touch people,” the actor continued. “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?”
He then noted that he is “moving towards where I need to go to make all that … to bring things to light.” In the interview, Depp also called his fall from grace an “absurdity of media mathematics.”
“Whatever I’ve gone through, I’ve gone through,” he continued. “But, ultimately, this particular arena of my life has been so absurd…”
Amid the career crisis in the U.S., Depp is set to be honored by Spain’s San Sebastian film festival next month, and the Czech Republic’s Karlovy Vary International Film Festival later this month.
The Karlovy Vary International Film Festival stated it would ‘recognize and pay tribute to the acclaimed actor’s extensive career and lasting legacy on the film industry globally.’
For the San Sebastian film festival, Depp is set to be given the Donostia Award for his ‘outstanding contributions to the film world.’
