Johnny Depp’s removal from the *Fantastic Beasts* franchise in 2020 stirred both controversy and confusion. While Warner Bros. requested Depp’s resignation from his role as Gellert Grindelwald after losing his libel case against *The Sun*, public opinion remained split, with a significant portion of Depp’s fanbase and peers voicing support for the actor. The case, centered around allegations of domestic violence made by his ex-wife Amber Heard, led to a highly publicized legal battle. The court ruled against Depp, declaring that the newspaper’s characterization of him as a “wife-beater” was “substantially true.”
However, the court’s decision did not definitively sway public sentiment. Many fans felt the ruling was unjust, citing Depp’s claims of innocence and abuse he allegedly suffered at the hands of Heard. Supporters rallied around him online, using hashtags like #JusticeForJohnnyDepp to argue that the actor had been unfairly vilified by the media and treated harshly by the studio. Others pointed to Heard’s continued involvement in films like *Aquaman* as evidence of a double standard, leading to further polarization.
Yet, not all opinions were firmly in Depp’s favor. Some felt that given the serious nature of the allegations, Warner Bros. had made the right call in distancing itself from the actor. The ambiguity surrounding the case, compounded by mixed public opinion, created a murky situation where support for Depp was vocal but not universal.
Depp’s departure from *Fantastic Beasts* ultimately highlighted the broader complexities of separating art from the artist in cases of public scandal, where opinions are divided, and no resolution seems entirely clear-cut.