"Absolutely vile" - Internet divided as Johnny Depp to be honored with Lifetime Achievement Award at Rome Film Festival

Johnny Depp to win Lifetime Achievement Award at Rome Film Festival (image via @johnnydepp on Instagram)
Johnny Depp to win Lifetime Achievement Award at Rome Film Festival (image via @johnnydepp on Instagram)

Johnny Depp will be awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2024 Rome Film Festival, which runs from October 16 to 27. His upcoming directorial film Modi- Three Days on the Wing of Madness will also be screened at the festival.

The award comes as the actor tries to move on from the public legal battle with his ex-wife, Amber Heard.

After news about Depp's honor at the upcoming Rome Film Festival went viral on the internet, Pop Base posted the news on X. Many users disapproved of the choice for the award.

Many took to the comment section, calling Johnny Depp out while supporting Amber Heard for her allegations of domestic abuse against the actor,

"what you are about to see is a r*pist, r*cist, n*zi. a homoph*be and a transph*be. also violently misogynistic. this man is PREDATOR" - commented one user.
"lifetime achievement award for rotting at an absolutely inhuman speed even amber would say these words" - another user opined.
"walking the fenty show, still getting movie offers and now this, men get away with everything" - a user commented

While other users believe that Johnny Depp is a deserving candidate for the honor,

"Good! That man deserves it! Goodness, it feels right to see him achieve positive success again. He's incredible." - another user commented
"A well-deserved honor for Johnny Depp, celebrating a remarkable career at the Rome Film Festival" - says a user
"From Hollywood exile to lifetime achievement award—Depp’s comeback is the ultimate plot twist. Cancel culture just took an L, and the industry’s showing it’s not done with him yet. 🎬🔥" - another user opined

What happened between Johnny Depp and Amber Heard?

Johnny Depp and Amber Heard began dating in 2012, tied the knot in 2015, and filed for divorce in 2016. In 2018, Heard wrote an op-ed in The Washington Post, claiming that she is a victim of domestic abuse, but didn't name the abuser. Depp then went on to sue Heard in 2019, claiming that her op-ed ruined his career. As per the New York Times, Depp lost a $22.5 million deal to star in the sixth movie of Pirates of the Caribbean.

The legal battle between Amber and Johnny was widely publicized, with the lawsuit being streamed online. In 2022, the jury ultimately ruled in Depp's favor, awarding him $10 million in compensatory damages and $350,000 in punitive damages. The trial was also made into a Netflix documentary titled Depp V. Heard.

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Edited by Priscillah Mueni