Johnny Depp ‘to spark BRIT Award backlash’ as he makes longlist

Johnny Depp has entered the longlist for BRIT Awards nominations – which could spark a backlash following his high-profile court case with ex-wife Amber Heard.

The Pirates of the Caribbean star, 59, won his US legal battle with Heard in the summer following a bitter six-week defamation trial.

Depp sued Heard, 36, for defamation over a 2018 Washington Post op-ed she wrote about the alleged domestic violence she suffered, although she did not name her ex-husband.

He denies ever physically or sexually assaulting Amber.

While Depp got $10m (£8m) in compensatory damages and $5m (£4m) in punitive damages (later reduced to $350,000), Heard was awarded $2million (£1.6m) in compensatory damages – quite some distance from the $100million (£80m) she had initially counter-sued her ex-husband for.

However, his court win came two years after he lost a UK libel case against The Sun after his ex-wife Heard gave evidence to back its claim that he was a ‘wife-beater’.

An insider has predicted that some female artists may boycott the BRIT Awards ceremony because of his ex-wife’s abuse allegations against him.

“Depp would liven up an increasingly dull event,” the source told the Daily Mail. “But the Amber Heard case means female artists would probably refuse to share the stage.”

Now, making his mark in the music world Depp is nominated for three BRIT Awards thanks to his collaboration with veteran English guitarist Jeff Beck.

Good friends Beck and Depp collaborated on the new album after Beck unexpectedly invited Depp to join him on his recent UK tour as he awaited his trial verdict.

The actor has since made the long list for three BRIT Award categories, as a result of his album, 18, with former Yardbirds star Beck, 78. They are: album of the year; best group; and alternative/rock act.

Depp co-wrote two songs for the album and makes references to his ex-wife Heard.

In one of the songs, Depp can be heard singing, “I think you’ve said enough for one motherf***ing night.”

Only two of the songs on the album are originals by Depp; the rest are covers of songs by Lou Reed, The Velvet Underground, and The Beach Boys.

This is A Song for Miss Hedy Lamarr , the album’s lead single, was allegedly written by Depp. ‘You’re sitting there like a dog with a seven-year itch … If I had a dime, it wouldn’t reach your hand,’ he sings on another track, called Sad Motherf**kin’ Parade .

But if he attends the star-studded BRITs ceremony the evening could promise a drama fuelled night.