Female Filmmakers Livid Over 'Abuser' Johnny Depp Receiving Lifetime Achievement Award Following Amber Heard Domestic Violence Claims
Controversial actor Johnny Depp is poised to receive the lifetime achievement award — also called the Donostia Award — next month at the San Sebastian International Film Festival, and a group of female filmmakers are livid.
Cristina Andreu, the president of Spain’s Association of Female Filmmakers and Audiovisual Media, said she was “very surprised” the festival would honor Depp given his history of domestic violence accusations.
“This speaks very badly of the festival and its leadership, and transmits a terrible message to the public: ‘It doesn’t matter if you are an abuser as long as you are a good actor,’” Andreu told the AP.
The angry filmmaker added that her organization is contemplating their next move when it comes to how to handle the award ceremony. The Blow star is expected to accept the honor in person at the festival in northern Spain on Sept. 22.
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As OK! previously reported, Depp has been plagued by accusations he abused ex-wife Amber Heard during their marriage. The pair met in 2011 while filming The Rum Diary, tied the knot in 2015 and split in 2016.
During divorce proceedings, the Never Back Down star accused the Pirates of the Caribbean alum of abuse and was granted a temporary restraining order. At the time, Los Angeles police investigated her shocking claims, but found no evidence of a crime.
The 58-year-old has maintained his innocence over the years, while Heard continues to claim he physically assaulted her. Depp is suing his ex for $50 million claiming defamation over her Washington Post op-ed on domestic violence, where she linked her experiences with the Edward Scissorhands star. The case has been postponed until April.
Depp recently won a legal victory after a judge ruled that he can legally request to see if Heard donated part of the $7 million from their divorce settlement to charity like she claimed she was. The Aquaman star declared that after their bombshell split she would donate to the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and Children's Hospital Los Angeles.
