MEAWW.COM / NEWS / CELEBRITY NEWS

Helena Bonham Carter sparks vicious online debate by defending JK Rowling and Johnny Depp

Helena Bonham Carter reportedly called all the brouhaha around JK Rowling 'horrendous' while stating that Johnny Depp was 'totally fine' now

LONDON, ENGLAND: Helena Bonham Carter recently sparked a fierce debate online after she spoke out in defence of her long-time friends JK Rowling and Johnny Depp. Carter built a strong bond with Depp after sharing screen space with him in seven films, five of which were directed by her former partner Tim Burton. She also starred as Bellatrix Lestrange in the 'Harry Potter' film franchise, based on Rowling’s books.

Despite the scandal around Rowling and Depp, the 56-year-old voiced her opinion in the pair’s defense. Speaking to The Times in a new interview, the actress described the backlash against the author as "horrendous" and a "load of b***ocks." "I think she has been hounded. It’s been taken to the extreme, the judgmentalism of people. She’s allowed her opinion, particularly if she’s suffered abuse. Everybody carries their own history of trauma and forms their opinions from that trauma and you have to respect where people come from and their pain," Carter said, as per The Independent.

READ MORE

JK Rowling slammed for attacking trans women in Women's Day tweet: 'She's gone top-tier TERF'

‘Johnny vs Amber The US Trial’: First look at new documentary on Johnny Depp and Amber Heard defamation case

The 57-year-old author, who has long been a critic of gender ideology, became the subject of numerous death threats as well as abuse after she publicly voiced some of her opinions on transgender rights. Her opinion offended trans rights activists who called "transphobic." However, the author has publically denied all the accusations against her. Carter believed that the backlash against Rowling was just an outcome of jealousy. "If she hadn’t been the most phenomenal success, the reaction wouldn’t be so great. So I think there’s a lot of envy unfortunately and the need to tear people down that motors a lot of this canceling. And schadenfreude," she continued.

Meanwhile, speaking about, Depp, who was embroiled in a legal battle with his ex-wife Amber Heard, Carter said, "Johnny certainly went through it." She even accused Heard of having gotten on "that pendulum" of the "MeToo movement." Depp sued Heard for defaming him in a Washington Post op-ed about domestic violence published in 2018. "That’s the problem with these things — that people will jump on the bandwagon because it’s the trend and to be the poster girl for it. Oh, I think he’s completely vindicated. I think he’s fine now. Totally fine,” Carter reportedly added.

However, it seems like Carter’s opinion didn’t fit well with a few people online. While many slammed her for defending the pair, some applauded her for her view. Calling out the actor, one person tweeted, “Helena Bonham Carter defends wife-beater and rapist, Johnny Depp. Holding your abuser accountable is apparently just a trend to her.” A second person said, "Are you surprised? She defends many abusers. And I find it very strange that this circle of people and family members are always involved with wrong things.”

“The pendulum is going to swing back so hard that it breaks off its hinges. Helena Bonham Carter is the GOAT #JusticeforJohnnyDepp,” a third user said while the fourth asserted, “Helena has known Johnny for ages. He has lived with her and Tim. She knows what she's talking about, and we love to see it.” “She’s never been in a romantic relationship with him so how would she know? Abusers are often well behaved with friends so that when there are accusations people won’t believe the victim,” wrote yet another person.

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.