Johnny Depp suggested that Hollywood and the entertainment industry had been boycotting him, adding that the last five years have been “surreal” for him.
During his first published interview since he lost the defamation lawsuit against The Sun, the actor spoke to The Sunday Times about his new film and how his personal life has affected his work.
Depp plays real-life photographer W. Eugene Smith in the upcoming movie Minamata, where he also served as a producer.
American photojournalist W. Eugene Smith is known for his work with Life magazine in the early 1970s when he documented mercury poisoning of Japanese villagers.
The star said he had recently reflected on his life, juxtaposing both Japanese villagers and people who have suffered from Covid-19.
“That’s like getting scratched by a kitten,” Depp said of the experiences he has faced in recent years “Comparatively.”
Depp also spoke about the fact that the film has not been released in the United States as it has in the United Kingdom.
Both the actor and Minamata director Andrew Levitas seem to blame Depp’s personal life.
Depp recently filed a lawsuit against The Sun over a 2018 headline in which the Britain newspaper labeled him a “wife-beater” amid his bitter split from Amber Heard.
However, a London court ruled that the evidence showed the tabloid’s comments were substantially true.
Although the actor has maintained his innocence, claiming that Heard’s accusations have been a hoax, his career has been considerably affected.
Depp’s alleged actions have had professional repercussions, including the actor’s decision to step down from the role he played in Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.
Moreover, Minamata was shelved by MGM without receiving a release date in the United States yet.
Speaking about MGM’s decision to delay the film’s national release indefinitely, Depp said: “We looked at these people in the eyeballs and promised we would not be exploitative. That the film would be respectful.”
“I believe that we’ve kept our end of the bargain, but those who came in later should also maintain theirs,” he added.
Depp also referred to “Hollywood’s boycott of, erm, me.”
Heard and Depp married in 2015 after dating for various years but broke up the following year.
Both parties have accused each other of bad behavior and violence. But the actor has denied abusing Heard and has filed a defamation lawsuit against her that is currently making its way through courts.
