HollyWeird: Johnny Depp’s Courtroom Drama

Editor’s Note: Whether on screen or off, Hollywood can always be counted on to keep us entertained. This is especially true when it comes to politics. Join us each week as we shine the spotlight on Tinseltown’s A-listers and their wacky and sometimes inspiring takes on today’s current events.

Johnny Depp’s Courtroom Drama

Have you been following the Johnny Depp-Amber Heard court battle? Depp's $50 million defamation lawsuit and Ms. Heard's $100 million counter-suit have brought out some dirty laundry from the couple’s time together. The Aquaman actress made claims that Depp physically and emotionally abused her. Although he didn’t win the previous defamation suit stemming from an op-ed she wrote in a prominent Washington newspaper, Depp said he wanted to set the record straight and fight against her accusations, which he calls unfounded and untrue.

The Pirates of the Caribbean actor said he waited for six years after their divorce in 2016 to tell his side of the story, claiming Ms. Heard’s allegations were “heinous and disturbing” and “not based in any species of truth.” He added that “nothing of the kind had ever happened” and “Never did I reach the point of striking Ms. Heard in any way or any woman in my life.” The actor claimed Heard has ruined his career with her false allegations, saying:

“My goal is the truth because it killed me that all these people I had met over the years … that these people would think that I was a fraud.”

Depp talked about his childhood and being raised by an abusive mother. He explained how his mother would have him get her “nerve pills” from her purse and that because they seemed to calm her down, he started taking them at age 11.

The actor described various instances in which Ms. Heard had been both physically and emotionally abusive toward him. When asked why he didn’t end his marriage earlier, the actor said she threatened to kill herself. He explained that after his father had walked out, his mom got seriously depressed and attempted suicide. Ms. Heard, he said, would try to stop him from leaving by saying “I can’t live without you, I’m going to die.”

Johnny tried to clear up the incident that led to his loss of part of a finger. He claimed Heard had thrown a bottle at him that severed the digit and that he had lied about how it had happened because he didn’t want to get her into trouble.

While Heard has accused him of being physically violent towards her, Johnny explained an incident where she “roundhouse” punched him in the face. A recording of Heard has her admitting it, but calling the Cry-Baby actor, well, a baby:

"I didn't punch you... I was hitting you, it was not punching you. You didn't get punched, you got hit... I did not f----ng deck you, I f----ng was hitting you. But you're fine, I did not hurt you... you're a f----ng baby. You are such a baby, grow the f--- up, Johnny."

After the recording was played in court, Mr. Depp said: "What was just played on these audio recordings was very much the tone, and the aggression, and the attitude, and the need for a fight from Ms. Heard.”

Heard had her own recordings that had Johnny yelling, calling her names, and hitting cabinet doors. “Being illegally recorded by your chosen other is, well it’s quite fitting with the rest of the photographs,” Depp responded. “If she was intimidated, why was she filming?” he added. “If she was scared to death, why didn’t she just leave?”

The court was treated to text messages where Johnny referred to Heard as a “filthy whore” and “idiot cow.” In another text exchange, Depp is talking with actor Paul Bettany (Vision from Marvel’s Avengers) where he says, “Let’s burn Amber!!!”

This is only the tip of the iceberg, as they say. The courtroom drama is expected to last for several weeks, so there is surely more to come.

Cheers and Jeers

Sometimes, HollyWeird players make headlines for silly or bizarre happenings, so here is a collection of newsworthy doings — honorable and dishonorable — by the tenants of Tinseltown.

Disney: Tinkerbell and Captain Hook are “Potentially Problematic”

In its continued quest to be woke, Disney has been going through its volumes of movies and characters to see what might offend the liberals. The company has decided that Tinkerbell and Captain Hook of Peter Pan fame are characters who are “potentially problematic” and may need to carry a warning label on Disney+.

For Tinkerbell, the company thinks she’s a concern because of her jealousy over Peter Pan’s attention towards Wendy as well as the fact that she is “body-conscious,” you know, because she’s so tiny and all. And for Captain Hook, well, his hook is the problem. Apparently having a prosthetic in place of a hand could be prejudice against the disabled, since he is a villain.

But the Stories Matter panel wasn’t finished. Ursula of The Little Mermaid is also being targeted. Her dark purplish color could be seen as racist, according to the group, and her flamboyant personality could be considered “queer-coded” and may be interpreted as homophobic. These are only the latest classic cartoons and characters to get thrown under the bus by Disney. They join the ranks of Dumbo, Lady and the Tramp, Aristocats, and Jungle Book.

Rust Production Team Fined for “Plain Indifference”

The Rust production team has been slapped with a maximum penalty for “plain indifference” for firearm safety. The set, where Alec Baldwin shot and killed cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, was found to not have the proper protections in place.

Rust Productions will owe New Mexico $139,793, according to the AP. The state’s Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHB) said:

“Members of Rust management knew that firearm safety procedures were not being followed on set and acted with plain indifference to employee safety by failing to review work practices, adhere to film industry standards for firearm safety, and take corrective action.”

Baldwin’s attorney claimed the findings “exonerates” the actor, since he had believed the gun was “cold,” meaning not loaded.

Jacqueline Avant’s Murderer Sentenced

Aariel Maynor was sentenced to life in prison for shooting Jacqueline Avant in the back during a robbery at her Beverly Hills home on Dec. 1, 2021. Jacqueline is the wife of Clarence Avant, a renowned music executive. Her daughter, Nicole Avant, was a US ambassador to the Bahamas under President Barack Obama’s administration and the wife of Ted Sarandos, co-CEO  and founder of Netflix.

Maynor was a parolee who had been released just three months before committing this crime. After shooting Jacqueline, he went to a second house to try to burglarize it, since his first attempt at the Avant house failed. He was then taken into custody after shooting himself.

Tune in next week to see what else Tinseltown has planned.