In a deeply personal interview, Johnny Depp candidly revealed the violent and emotionally abusive childhood he endured, as well as the feelings of betrayal following his removal from the spotlight in Hollywood. Depp spoke about these issues while reflecting on his sudden exit from the Fantastic Beasts series and the impact of losing key supporters during his legal struggles with ex-wife Amber Heard.
Despite the setbacks, Depp experienced vindication after winning his 2022 defamation trial, an event that brought some closure to his tumultuous public ordeal.
Depp Shares Childhood Trauma and Its Lasting Impact
Now 62, Depp reflected openly on the lasting emotional scars left by his late mother, Betty Sue Palmer, who died in 2016 at the age of 81. He described the torment he faced growing up under her harsh treatment and how it shaped him as a person and a father.
She beat me with a f-cking stick, a f-cking shoe, an ashtray, a phone, it didn’t matter, man,
Depp told The Telegraph.
But I thank her for that.
Depp, father to two children, Lily-Rose, 26, and Jack, 23, with former partner Vanessa Paradis, explained that his mother’s abusive behavior taught him what he wants to avoid in parenting.
She taught me how not to raise kids. Just do the exact opposite of what she did,
he said.
These revelations were initially made public during Depp’s highly publicized $100 million defamation trial against Amber Heard, where he denied all abuse allegations. The case created a media frenzy, leaving both parties sidelined by studios and the entertainment industry.
In our house, we were never exposed to any type of safety or security, the only thing to do was stay out of the line of fire,
he said during his testimony.
My mother was quite unpredictable. She had the ability to be as cruel as anyone can be with all of us,
Depp added.
Emotional Abuse Surpassed Physical Violence in Lasting Damage
Depp recounted his family’s difficult life, moving from Kentucky to Florida and living in a motel for nearly a year, where the emotional strain was as damaging as the physical abuse inflicted by his mother.
Physical violence, physical abuse. That was a constant,
Depp remembered.
We were all somewhat shell-shocked. She’d walked past, you’d shield yourself because you didn’t know what would happen.
He went on to describe the violent nature of the abuse, mentioning objects thrown or used as weapons during assaults.
She could become quite violent, and she was quite violent, and she was quite cruel. There was physical abuse, certainly, which could be in the form of an ash tray being flung at you, or you’d get beat with a high heeled shoe, or a telephone, or whatever’s handy.
Although the physical abuse caused immense pain, Depp revealed it was the psychological torment that inflicted the most enduring wounds.
The verbal abuse, the psychological abuse, was almost worse than the beatings,
he explained.
The beatings were just physical pain. The physical pain, you learn to deal with. You learn to accept it. You learn to deal with it.
Depp Describes Hollywood’s Attempt to Push Him Out
Besides his family struggles, Depp opened up about his experience in the film industry, particularly the sudden decision to remove him from his role as Gellert Grindelwald in the Fantastic Beasts franchise, even after filming parts of The Crimes of Grindelwald in 2018.
It literally stopped in a millisecond,
he said.
Like, while I was doing the movie. They said we’d like you to resign. But what was really in my head was they wanted me to retire.
Refusing to accept defeat, Depp reacted defiantly to what he perceived as an attempt to end his career.
F-ck you. There’s far too many of me to kill. If you think you can hurt me more than I’ve already been hurt, you’re gravely mistaken.
Feeling Abandoned by Close Friends Amid Legal Battles
Depp also expressed the emotional toll of personal betrayals during his public legal conflict with Amber Heard. He shared feelings of abandonment by three of his closest friends, who distanced themselves following the abuse allegations during the couple’s tumultuous divorce.
Speaking to the Sunday Times, he reflected on the hurt caused by those once close to him.
I’ll tell you what hurts. There are people, and I’m thinking of three, who did me dirty. Those people were at my kids’ parties, throwing them in the air.
He went on to acknowledge the difficult decisions others faced in choosing whether to support him.
Look, I understand people who could not stand up [for me] because the most frightening thing to them was making the right choice.
Depp Finds Redemption in Courtroom Victory
Adding complexity to his struggles, Depp’s longtime agent, Tracey Jacobs, whom he had fired in 2016, testified against him during the defamation trial, stating studios hesitated to hire him due to alleged habitual tardiness.
Depp responded to the claims firmly, emphasizing his loyalty throughout his career.
My loyalty is the last thing anybody could question. I was with one agent for 30 years, but she spoke in court about how difficult I was.
Following a legal defeat in the UK, Depp ultimately prevailed in the United States defamation suit against Heard in June 2022, a landmark ruling that captured worldwide attention.
He described the verdict as life-changing.
The jury gave me my life back. I am truly humbled,
Depp said.
Speaking the truth was something that I owed to my children and to all those who have remained steadfast in their support of me. I feel at peace knowing I have finally accomplished that.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Is Johnny Depp blind or deaf?
A. Johnny Depp’s portrayal of Captain Jack Sparrow in “Pirates of the Caribbean” hid a secret—he is blind in one eye and near-sighted in the other. He revealed this in a 2013 Rolling Stone interview, saying he has “never had proper vision.”
Q. What funeral did Johnny Depp go to?
A. Johnny Depp is serving as a pallbearer at Shane MacGowan’s funeral.
Q. Is Johnny Depp blind?
A. When Johnny Depp played Captain Jack Sparrow in “Pirates of the Caribbean,” he had a hidden fact—he can’t see out of one eye and has poor vision in the other. He shared this information in a 2013 Rolling Stone interview.
Q. How did Johnny Depp get his scars?
A. Amber Heard has stated that Johnny Depp has many scars on his body from self-harm. She also claimed he once put out a cigarette on his cheek. During their relationship, Heard said they discussed the “deep cuts” she noticed on Depp.
