Johnny Depp shares bizarre New Year message after libel trial

Instagram post references evil and killing

Johnny Depp has shared a New Year message on Instagram, which includes a literary reference to killing with “no regret”.

The actor recently lost a libel case against The Sun over a 2018 article that called him a “wife beater”.

Depp was denied permission to appeal against the High Court’s ruling, which concluded that he assaulted his ex-wife Amber Heard. However, he was allowed to apply directly to the Court of Appeal, which he has done. The Court of Appeal is yet to issue a decision on the application. 

The actor has always denied being violent towards Heard.

Depp resigned from the Fantastic Beasts franchise at the request of Warner Bros last year after the trial.

In a New Year message to fans on Instagram, Depp shared the preface to William Saroyan’s 1939 play The Time of Your Life.

The preface includes the words: “Despise evil and ungodliness, but not men of ungodliness and evil. These, understand. Have no shame in being kindly and gentle, but if the time comes in your life to kill, kill and have no regret.”

In caption alongside the picture of the text, he wrote: “A New Year’s wish to all. Though the world is in mourning for better days, I hope all of you are able to find a moment tonight to smile and more importantly, to laugh and make others laugh, as much as possible.”

He concluded: “I know this may be difficult in the midst of these trying times, but I wish nothing but happiness and health to all. May you be surrounded in perfection. With all my love and respect, JD.”

Depp’s ex-wife Heard recently condemned a “paid campaign” to have her removed from the Aquaman sequel.

The petition, which has received more than 1.8 million signatures, was set up by fans of Depp, and accuses the actor of a “systematic crusade to ruin Depp in Hollywood”.

This article was updated on January 7, 2021, to add that Depp was given permission to apply directly to the Court of Appeal regarding the libel trial, which he has done.