Lost in all the excitement about the Met Gala: Page Six’s exclusive on Johnny Depp being an asshole on the set of his new film, LAbyrinth. There’s a lot to unpack here so read the report first:
An out-of-control Johnny Depp attacked a location manager on the set of his upcoming film, “LAbyrinth,” multiple sources told Page Six. The spat even included Depp attempting a punch and bellowing at the veteran production pro, “I’ll give you $100,000 to punch me right now!” before he was pulled off.
“LAbyrinth” stars Depp as the real LAPD detective Russell Poole, who investigated the murder of Biggie Smalls. But an insider said trouble on the “toxic” set began when Depp took over directing a scene in which he cast two of his pals as a cop and a homeless man. “Johnny’s friends were in the scene, and it just turned into way more than it should have been,” said a source. A downtown LA street was closed off, but when the permit ran out, Depp wanted to keep the cameras rolling.
“The producers kept asking for the time to be extended,” explained a source familiar with the production. Finally, a location manager informed the film’s director, Brad Furman, that the scene had to wrap, but, “Brad interjected, ‘Tell that to Johnny Depp!’ ” The location manager told Depp, “This is the last shot,” a source said, when an irate Depp — who’d been “smoking and drinking all day on set” — got in the staffer’s face. “He was 6 inches away, yelling, ‘Who are you? You have no right!’ ” sources said. “The producers kept asking for the time to be extended,” explained a source familiar with the production. Finally, a location manager informed the film’s director, Brad Furman, that the scene had to wrap, but, “Brad interjected, ‘Tell that to Johnny Depp!’ ” The location manager told Depp, “This is the last shot,” a source said, when an irate Depp — who’d been “smoking and drinking all day on set” — got in the staffer’s face. “He was 6 inches away, yelling, ‘Who are you? You have no right!’ ” sources said.
When the well-liked worker told Depp, “I’m just doing my job,” a source said Depp tried to punch him in the ribs. But the weak blow didn’t make an impact, and Depp yelled, “I’ll give you $100,000 to punch me right now!” The stunned staffer stood still, and Depp was finally pulled away.
I go to boxing class every Wednesday. I would have taken the $100,000.
It was exactly a year ago that The Hollywood Reporter published a story on Johnny Depp, a “star in crisis”. So they’ve had 12 months to rework that image. In that time, he’s been sued by even more people, he’s lost lawyers, and now he may or may not be getting into fights with people who are JUST TRYING TO DO THEIR JOB.
It is a location manager’s job to let production know about permits and overtime – “boring” details that artists don’t have to concern themselves with because they’re too busy making art. When the star of a film shouts, “You have no right!” to a location manager who’s informing the crew that they have to pack up or risk a fine, or going over-budget, it means he doesn’t actually understand or care that other people have work to do too. They’re not doing it for kicks, they’re doing it because they’re protecting the project. To be threatened with assault by the most powerful person on the team is tantamount to harassment. So… you’d think that the person doing the harassing would be appropriately dealt with, right? As in admonished? Well. Per Page Six:
A rep for Depp had no comment. Furman insisted the alleged incident was overblown. “Johnny Depp is a consummate professional, great collaborator and a supporter of other artists,” he said in a statement. “He always treats the crew and people around him with the utmost respect. Movies can be stressful, and nonevents often become exaggerated. We all love stories — there isn’t one here.”
As always, there’s an excuse being made for Johnny Depp. He roughs up his wife and she’s the liar. He’s irresponsible with his money and his ex-managers are the frauds. He’s a dick on-set and it’s an overblown story. When is Johnny Depp ever held accountable? Catherine Hardwicke (who directed Twilight) cried for a few minutes by herself behind a tree while on location one day and she was labelled “emotional” and it hurt her reputation. Johnny Depp, who is not a director, decides to harass a location manager who’s doing their job and the producers are going out of their way to defend him. That seems fair?
And we haven’t even talked about how he weaponises his money. “I’ll give you $100,000 to punch me” – first of all, as IF he actually has $100,000 to throw around right now with all his cash-flow problems but also? That tells you how abusive he can be with his money. How he uses it to intimidate and impose his will.
But you know what? Don’t worry about Johnny Depp.
They’re still lining up new projects for him and selling current projects with him all around the world.