Johnny Depp's 'Outlaw' GQ Cover And Interview Comes Under Fire

"Stop dramatising his behaviour as though he is some sort of misunderstood hero."

The decision to feature Johnny Depp on the front cover of British GQ has not been well-received on social media.

Depp appears on the cover of the magazine’s November issue with the headline: “An outlaw talks (and talks and talks…). The divorce. The violence. The excess. The vengeance.”

The magazine has been accused of romanticising the actor’s recent personal scandal, most notably the accusations that he physically abused his ex-wife Amber Heard, who later split her divorce settlement between two charities, one of which specialised in helping victims of domestic abuse.

.@BritishGQ November cover. @JonathanHeaf interviews #JohnnyDepp. Read the interview here https://t.co/O2ZQ7MXdvB pic.twitter.com/uuM22kBDgq

— British GQ (@BritishGQ) October 2, 2018

In particular, the language used to describe Depp has been a point of contention among people on Twitter, specifically the word “outlaw”:

Omg @BritishGQ are you trolling us with this cover? is this legit real?! Johnny Depp the "outlaw" talks "violence". JEEZ I JUST CANT. gross https://t.co/yBC2pT4JbV

— Hannah Dickinson (@HannahDCKNSN) October 3, 2018

can’t believe i have to say this @britishgq but being accused of domestic violence does not make you cool. it does not make you an “outlaw”. it does not make you a sexy, conflicted hero. it does not mean you know “torment”. it does not lead you to the “sordid beautiful truth”. pic.twitter.com/a2JdZJvRYG

— anna leszkiewicz (@annaleszkie) October 3, 2018

When this Johnny Depp cover speaking about alleged domestic abuse, was signed off, I wonder how many women (real women, not a Wendy) were in the room.

*a Wendy is the only girl in the boy’s club so becomes its strictest enforcer in order to protect her position. pic.twitter.com/g8imTrF5Uo

— Megha Mohan (@meghamohan) October 3, 2018

Johnny Depp is not a movie character, he is a real person accused of much distress, disorder, and domestic violence.

Stop dramatising his behaviour as though he is some sort of misunderstood hero. He's not. pic.twitter.com/kVKqIZRsnK

— Hanna Flint (@HannaFlint) October 3, 2018

If GQ thought putting Johnny Depp on their cover in the same month as the #MeToo anniversary would get them some attention then they’re fucking right. WHAT 👏🏻 IS 👏🏻 THIS https://t.co/uHfQQNVwPS

— Emily Baker 🐝 (@emilyrbakes) October 3, 2018

“Violence, excess and vengeance”. That’s the GQ cover for a man accused of domestic violence. What part of that is meant to appeal to me @BritishGQ? pic.twitter.com/crBPI3JQLg

— Antonia Tam (@AntoniaTam) October 3, 2018

Amber Heard came forward with allegations of domestic abuse and was bullied into dropping the charges. Johnny Depp, meanwhile, is the titular character in the next big Potter blockbuster and on the cover of GQ. Tell me again how these accusations ruin men's careers?

— Philip Ellis (@Philip_Ellis) October 3, 2018

The interview itself faced similar criticism, particularly as Depp reflected on how recent years have affected his public perception, as he goes into detail about the abuse allegations:

Can perspective be hoodwinked????? Aside from being dangerous this is laughable garbage pic.twitter.com/zsQJevVhqr

— Laura Snapes (@laurasnapes) October 3, 2018

*screams into the void forever* That was the worst profile I've ever read. Morally void and stylistically laughable. Well done, GQ. pic.twitter.com/WWqBChREbg

— Laura Snapes (@laurasnapes) October 3, 2018

Johnny Depp and Amber Heard's divorce settlement means he gets to do this. He can talk all he wants, while she was forbidden from mentioning the domestic violence allegation again, as part of the terms. pic.twitter.com/jT2BgM2a2H

— Rachel McGrath (@RachelMcGrath) October 3, 2018

That fawning GQ Depp piece is honestly one of the most embarrassing things I've ever read. Imagine spending your life becoming a writer to churn out vanity pieces for Johnny Depp without a hint of journalistic integrity.

— 👻spooOoOoOrts👻 (@full_hearts) October 3, 2018

Reflecting on Heard’s allegations, he tells the magazine: “How could someone, anyone, come out with something like that against someone, when there’s no truth to it whatsoever?

“I’m sure it wasn’t easy for my 14-year-old boy to go to school, you know what I mean? With people going, ‘Hey, look at this magazine, man. What, your dad beats up chicks or something?’ Why did he have to go through that? Why did my daughter have to go through that?”

He added: “We probably shouldn’t be talking about this, but I am worried.

“I worry about the people that bought it and I worry about her. It’s just not right. I will never stop fighting. I’ll never stop. They’d have to fucking shoot me. An episode like this takes time to get over.”

After reaching a settlement in 2016, the former couple said in a joint statement: “Our relationship was intensely passionate and at times volatile, but always bound by love.

“Neither party has lied nor made false accusations for financial gain. There was never any intent of physical or emotional harm. Amber wishes the best for Johnny in the future.

“Amber will be donating financial proceeds from the divorce to a charity. There will be no further public statements about this matter.”

The actress later disclosed she’d split her settlement between the ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union), with the specific intention that it be put towards “stopping violence against women”, and a children’s hospital.

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