Warner Bros Sever Ties with Johnny Depp Amid Fans Continued Support after He Lost Libel Case
After the prolonged controversy surrounding famous American actor Johnny Depp, Warner Bros. decided to sever ties with him after he lost the libel case he filed against the publisher of "The Sun" newspaper.
In a saddening turn of events, American actor Johnny Depp has been pulled off production of the third installment of the blockbuster five-part Warner Bros. movie "Fantastic Beasts."
The decision was made on November 4 by the studio's film chief Toby Emmerich after Depp lost the libel case filed against the publisher of "The Sun" newspaper because the actor was called a "wife-beater."
Johnny Depp on September 06, 2019 in Venice, Italy | Photo: Getty Images
His defamation claims were dismissed by the judge, making it easier for several other news outlets to use similar terms to describe the actor when referring to his controversial marriage to actress Amber Heard.
Keeping Depp on the movie would be bad publicity for the movie studio, so there was no better choice than to let him go. They are, however, still responsible for paying his full salary.
The actor was signed under a contract which required that he receive his full pay whether or not the movie was released and even if unforeseen contingencies forced him to quit filming.
The pair laid it all bare in an explosive back and forth, and eventually, the lucky cards fell at his wife's feet.
Fans' comments under a letter posted by Johnny Depp on his Instagram page. | Photo: Instagram/johnnydepp
Also, since Depp is suing Heard for defamation, he was required to show up in court for three consecutive days in November. His busy schedule would likely constitute a problem as it would clash with filming "Fantastic Beasts."
A day after he was let off the movie role, the star took to his Instagram to announce the heartbreaking news to his fans and followers. He expressed his profound appreciation for everyone who supported him during the tough time.
Fans' comments under a letter posted by Johnny Depp on his Instagram page. | Photo: Instagram/johnnydepp
Depp ended the letter by reinforcing that his resolve remained strong, and he intended to prove that the allegations against him were false. He then added that his life and career would not be defined by this moment in time.
For over three years, the 57-year-old struggled to keep his name out of the bad light after Heard accused him of being physically and verbally abusive to her during the course of their brief marriage.
Fans' comments under a letter posted by Johnny Depp on his Instagram page. | Photo: Instagram/johnnydepp
After the allegations made the rounds, several fans proposed that Depp be removed from "Fantastic Beasts." However, in an official statement, J.K Rowling, author of the book, revealed her decision to keep the actor on, despite the controversy.
Unfortunately, the story was full-blown, and the newspaper company "The Sun" soon published an article that called the actor a wife-beater. In a bid to defend his innocence and salvage his reputation, the actor filed a libel case.
Depp, however, lost the case after Heard made a court appearance as a witness. The pair laid it all bare in an explosive back and forth and eventually, the lucky cards fell at his wife's feet. After this major defeat, one can only wonder what is in store for the loved actor.