Johnny Depp is facing backlash after continuing to take on projects in Spain, where his ex-wife, Amber Heard, relocated after their highly publicized 2022 defamation trial.
Depp and Heard’s legal battle began when Depp sued Heard over an Op-Ed she wrote in The Washington Post in 2018, where she identified herself as a victim of domestic abuse, though she never named Depp. The trial, which took place in Virginia, concluded with a jury finding Heard liable for defamation in all three of Depp’s claims, ordering her to pay $15 million in damages. However, Depp was also found liable for one of Heard’s defamation counterclaims and was ordered to pay her $2 million.
Since the trial, Amber Heard has remained mostly out of the spotlight, leading a quiet life with her child in Madrid, Spain, where she is expecting her second baby. Although much of the online vitriol towards Heard has diminished, particularly with support from feminist organizations and victim advocates who defend her, her presence online still attracts hate-filled comments and personal attacks.
Meanwhile, Depp has stayed in the public eye, appearing in several projects. He has toured with Jeff Beck and his band, The Hollywood Vampires, and directed Modi, Three Days on the Wing of Madness (2024). Depp also stars in the upcoming film Day Drinker (2026) and remains the face of a Dior men’s fragrance, making several appearances in its ad campaigns.
However, it was his recent shoot for Dior in Spain that sparked controversy online. After TMZ posted about Depp’s European shoot earlier this month, some social media users accused Depp of purposely taking work in Spain to “stalk” Amber Heard. One user on X (formerly Twitter), @drugproblem, wrote:
Is this not creepy that he’s going out of his way to book jobs in Spain where he knows Amber Heard moved to escape him? This is the 4th or 5th job he’s purposely taken in Spain to stalk her this year.
Dior previously shot his campaigns in Utah, now suddenly they’re filming in Spain? He also went out of his way to shoot an Italian movie in Madrid earlier this year, and booked several TV appearances in the area. This is literal stalker behavior
Dior previously shot his campaigns in Utah, now suddenly they’re filming in Spain? He also went out of his way to shoot an Italian movie in Madrid earlier this year, and booked several TV appearances in the area. This is literal stalker behavior
— la bella vita (@drugproblem) April 7, 2025
The post quickly gained traction, amassing nearly 50,000 likes and hundreds of replies.
Others joined in with their own accusations.
“He’s still obsessed with her,” @televisualities replied.
he’s still obsessed with her.
— Courtney | a prime example of social decay (@televisualities) April 7, 2025
“He’s also a textbook narcissist, and the public attention and validation he got in 2022, after years of decline, must have been intoxicating to him,” said @patiencemosher. “I think he’s hoping to recapture that in some small way — ‘Amber Heard lives there, remember what he did to her? That was so cool.’”
He’s also a textbook narcissist, and the public attention and validation he got in 2022, after years of decline, must have been intoxicating to him. I think he’s hoping to recapture that in some small way — “Amber Heard lives there, remember what he did to her? That was so cool”
— patiencemosher (@patiencemosher) April 7, 2025
These accusations echoed the sentiment that Depp’s presence in Spain was more than just a coincidence. “Not a fan of Heard, but what he has been doing is psychotic,” @tut_tut_tut_tut wrote.
Not a fan of Heard, but what he has been doing is psychotic.
— CANfan (@tut_tut_tut_tut) April 7, 2025
Some users defended Depp, arguing that his professional commitments were unrelated to Heard’s location.
“Amber heard doesn’t own a country,” @Bobolon_Dos replied.
Amber heard doesn’t own a country
— Bobolon (@Bobolon_Dos) April 8, 2025
“This is stupid,” @uruwick1414 responded. “It’s clear yall obsessed with this guy. He’s doing a job and Spain is a whole ass country.”
This is stupid. It’s clear yall obsessed with this guy.
He’s doing a job and Spain is a whole ass country.— uruu (@uruwick1414) April 8, 2025
Johnny Depp has not publicly commented on the proximity of his current shoot locations to Amber Heard’s home in Madrid. Similarly, Heard has not made any public statements regarding her ex-husband’s presence in Spain.
Should Johnny Depp stop working in Spain? Share your thoughts with Disney Dining in the comments.
I think the only one’s stalking someone are the toxic feminists like yourself stalking Depp’s every move. Amber will be doing her papwalk soon enough. She always does a papwalk anytime Depp gets good publicity. She’s extremely predictable
He can go wherever he wishes ,it’s just business. Shouldn’t make any difference as to whether she’s in the same country or not . This is ridiculous,just let it go already .
This is some really far fetched conclusions by some of these people. I think they need to watch less of drama and soap operas, and more comedy. Considering how he got “banned” due to Heard in the United States, Seriously, he had to give up Fantastic Beasts, and Disney hasn’t said anything about him coming back to Pirates. It’s truthfully a miracle he was able to survive in the movie/tv world considering her accusations. So if the sponsor decides to shoot in Spain, then I guess he’s going to go to Spain. Stalking? Not even. Poor people so obsessed with famous people, so they create drama wherever they can. They really need to get a life. I’m glad to see him still doing well!