Johnny Depp’s unexpected downfall that rocked Hollywood

Johnny Depp's downfall is still considered one of the hot topics in Hollywood.

The A-lister’s scandals involve his marred public image, legal battles, and allegations of abuse.

However, the defamation lawsuit between Depp and his ex-wife, Amber Heard significantly impacted his thriving career, leading him to being dropped from major franchises and facing difficulty grabbing new roles. 

It seemed like a fairytale when the couple got married in February 2015; however, the tale soon faced reality within a year with both heading for divorce in May 2016, leading the The Aquaman actress filed for a restraining order, alleging the Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald actor had physically and verbally abused her throughout their relationship, which he denied.

In August 2016, Heard received a $7 million settlement in her divorce from Depp. Then what actually happened between the two that took toll on Depp’s career and him taking his wife to the court?

The already tensed situation took an ugly turn after the The Rum Diary actress wrote an op-ed titled “Amber Heard: I spoke up against sexual violence—and faced our culture’s wrath. That has to change” for The Washington Post in 2018 on domestic violence in which she described herself as a “public figure representing domestic abuse”.

Although Depp wasn't mentioned by name, this single article led to significant reputational damage and career consequences for the actor.

According to the actor’s legal team, Heard’s article cost him roles, including his departure from the Fantastic Beasts franchise and Pirates of the Caribbean franchise.

It was then when "Jack Sparrow" filed a defamation lawsuit for $50 million against "Mera" over an op-ed which later became a major turning point in Depp's career and public image.

The trial that kicked off in 2022 and lasted approximately 6 weeks, found the Magic Mike XXL actress liable on all three counts of defamation.

The Jeanne du Barry actor was also awarded $10 million in compensatory damages and $5 million in punitive damages which were later reduced to $350,000.

The London Fields actor and the Zack Snyder's Justice League actress later reached a settlement after Heard counter-sued Depp’s defamation lawsuit, but with the new settlement, the actress would pay the actor $1 million, which he pledged to donate to charity.

The lawsuit victory of Johnny Depp, who faced significant challenges in career, marked a significant turning point in his line of work, allowing him to potentially revive his professional life after facing public scrutiny and career setbacks he faced following the allegations.

His highly publicised case also sparked debates about domestic violence, #MeToo particularly regarding how such allegations are handled and the potential impact on the movement.