Helena Bonham Carter Calls Johnny Depp ‘Completely Vindicated’—Here’s Why She’s ‘Totally Fine’ With His Exoneration!

Helena Bonham Carter, a long-time friend and collaborator of Johnny Depp, publicly expressed her support for the actor following his highly publicized defamation trial against Amber Heard. In an interview with The Sunday Times Magazine in November 2022, Bonham Carter declared that she felt “completely vindicated” regarding Depp’s exoneration, offering her full endorsement of the trial’s outcome. Her comments, made several months after the verdict, have sparked mixed reactions, but they also reflect her longstanding personal and professional ties to Depp.

The Context of the Defamation Trial

The defamation trial between Johnny Depp and Amber Heard was a significant legal battle that garnered widespread media attention. It stemmed from a 2018 op-ed written by Heard for The Washington Post, where she discussed domestic violence without directly naming Depp. Depp filed a $50 million defamation lawsuit, claiming that the article damaged his career, while Heard countersued for $100 million, alleging that Depp’s actions had harmed her reputation.

The trial, which took place between April and May 2022, concluded with a mixed verdict on June 1, 2022. Depp was awarded over $10 million in compensatory damages, while Heard received $2 million in damages from her countersuit. The decision was largely seen as a victory for Depp, clearing his name of the serious allegations made against him, and was interpreted by many as an exoneration.

Bonham Carter’s Supportive Statements

Helena Bonham Carter, who has worked closely with Depp in multiple Tim Burton films, such as Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Alice in Wonderland, and is also the godmother to Depp’s children, made her supportive stance clear in the November 2022 interview. When asked about the outcome of the trial, Bonham Carter confidently declared that Depp was “completely vindicated,” saying, “I think he’s fine now. Totally fine.”

Her strong statement indicated that she felt comfortable with the outcome of the trial, which she viewed as a formal clearance of Depp’s name. She also criticized Heard, suggesting that people may have “jumped on the bandwagon” in support of Heard’s allegations due to the broader cultural trend of supporting victims, rather than because the claims were substantiated. Bonham Carter’s comments were a clear public stand in favor of Depp, reflecting her personal and professional relationship with him.

Timing and Public Reaction

Bonham Carter’s statements, made months after the conclusion of the trial, were strategically timed, coming in November 2022. This delay likely reflects a careful approach to the controversy, as high-profile celebrity endorsements can be contentious, particularly in the sensitive context of the #MeToo movement. While some fans supported her decision to speak out in favor of Depp, others criticized her for taking a side in a highly divisive issue, especially given the broader societal conversations about domestic violence and victim advocacy.

Her comments were significant, given the timing of the trial and the powerful emotional and cultural discourse surrounding it. The #MeToo movement, which has called attention to issues of sexual harassment and abuse, created a complex backdrop for any public statements made during or after the trial. Bonham Carter’s defense of Depp raised eyebrows in some circles, particularly due to her reference to the larger cultural trend of victim advocacy.

“Feeling Fine with Exoneration”

The phrase “felt perfectly fine with him being exonerated” encapsulates Bonham Carter’s stance on the trial’s outcome. By using terms like “completely vindicated” and “totally fine,” Bonham Carter communicated that she believed the legal system had rightfully cleared Depp’s name, aligning with her own judgment of his character. This public display of support reinforced her close relationship with Depp and her confidence in his exoneration.

Supporting Evidence and Media Coverage

Bonham Carter’s stance was widely reported by various media outlets. People Magazine and The Guardian both covered her statements, emphasizing her view that Depp had been “completely vindicated” after the trial. These reports, published in late November 2022, provided further confirmation of her public defense of Depp. Earlier reports, such as from The Things in October 2021, had hinted at her general support but did not feature explicit statements of this nature until after the trial had concluded.

Interestingly, there was a noticeable absence of comments from Bonham Carter following the trial in June 2022, suggesting that her definitive stance was a later development. This timeline aligns with her cautious approach to making public statements about the trial while the legal and social controversy was still ongoing.

Conclusion

Helena Bonham Carter’s remarks in November 2022, in which she expressed her belief that Johnny Depp had been “completely vindicated,” were a significant public defense of her long-time friend and colleague. While her statements generated mixed reactions, they also underscored the complexities of navigating public support in the aftermath of a high-profile trial. As Depp’s legal battle finally concluded, Bonham Carter’s words reflected her personal conviction about the outcome, demonstrating both her loyalty to him and her views on the broader cultural discourse surrounding the case.