Johnny Depp has made it clear: despite years of legal battles, media scrutiny, and personal turmoil following his high-profile split from actress Amber Heard, he refuses to carry hatred in his heart. The former couple officially separated in 2016, but their conflict intensified in the years that followed.
The turning point came when Heard published an op-ed in which she described herself as a survivor of abuse. Although she did not directly name Depp, the implications were widely understood, and the consequences were immediate.
Depp responded by filing a defamation lawsuit, claiming the accusations had irreparably damaged his reputation and career. The legal saga captivated the public and played out on a global stage, with courtroom footage and statements dominating headlines. Despite the controversy, Depp says he is not consumed by resentment.
In a candid interview with The Telegraph, the actor shared his perspective: “This sounds like horses***, but one can simply hold hate [until it] inspires some species of malice in your skull. Makes you think of revenge. But hating someone is a great big responsibility to hang on to.”
He added, “The real truth of it, that I won’t allow, is that in order for me to hate, I have to care first. And I don’t care. What should I care about? Did I get done wrong by others? Plenty of people get done wrong.”
Depp emphasized that his decision to pursue legal action wasn’t driven by spite, but by a need to defend his integrity in an industry that was quick to turn its back on him. He explained that allowing a false narrative to define his worth as an actor was simply unacceptable.
“Going through all that in real time amounted to seven or eight years,” Depp reflected. “It was a harsh, painful internal journey. Would I rather not have gone through something like that? Absolutely. But I learnt far more than I ever dreamed I could.”
At the height of the legal conflict, Depp described his exile from Hollywood as deeply disorienting—a time when he felt “lost with no direction.” Yet even now, as he slowly returns to the screen and rebuilds his public image, he maintains that bitterness is not part of his journey.
Through it all, Depp seems to have found peace, choosing growth over anger and focusing on what lies ahead.