Earlier this week it was announced Johnny Depp would be receiving an award from the San Sebastian International Film Festival. The actor, who is best known for appearing as Captain Jack Sparrow in Pirates of the Caribbean, is due to receive the festival’s most prestigious gong, the Donostia Award. The decision to give the star the award has come under fire, however.

Depp’s award is being criticised by Cristina Andreu, the president of Spain’s Association of Female Filmmakers and Audiovisual Media.

The San Sebastian festival names Depp as one of “contemporary cinema’s most talented and versatile actors”, but Andreu made a different point.

Andreu was “very surprised” by the festival’s decision to award Depp the prize.

She said: “This speaks very badly of the festival and its leadership, and transmits a terrible message to the public: ‘It doesn’t matter if you are an abuser as long as you are a good actor.'” (Via AP)

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Andreu added that the association, who has a strong relationship with the San Sebastian festival, was “studying next steps”.

Andreu is referring to Depp’s recent court case against a British publication that accused the star of being a “wife-beater”.

The claims followed reports Depp and his ex-wife, Amber Heard, were abusive towards one another.

Depp lost the court battle, allowing the publication to uphold the headline in question.

Since the court battle, Depp has lost his role in the ongoing Harry Potter spin-off series, Fantastic Beasts.

The Hollywood star played the main antagonist in the series, Gellert Grindelwald, but was asked to step down after he lost the case.

At the time he announced on his Instagram account: “In light of recent events, I would like to make the following short statement. Firstly I’d like to thank everybody who has gifted me with their support and loyalty. I have been humbled and moved by your many messages of love and concern, particularly over the last few days.

“Secondly, I wish to let you know that I have been asked to resign by Warner Bros from my role as Grindelwald in Fantastic Beasts and I have respected that and agreed to that request.

“Finally I wish to say this, The surreal judgement of the court in the UK will not change my fight to tell the truth and I confirm that I plan to appeal. My resolve remains strong and I intend to prove that the allegations against me are false. My life and career will not be defined by this moment in time. Thank you for reading. Sincerely, Johnny Depp.”

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Depp’s position in Disney’s Pirates of the Caribbean series has since been called into question as well.

The future for the actor’s position in the series has not yet been announced by Disney, leaving fans to believe he may have been quietly axed from the franchise.

Following this, a petition was started by fans titled “We want JOHNNY DEPP back as CAPTAIN JACK SPARROW”.

At the time of writing, Depp’s support petition has more than 640,000 signatures.

In the meantime, Margot Robbie has been confirmed to be starring in a Pirates of the Caribbean reboot.

The film is being written by Christina Hodson of Birds of Prey fame, and will reportedly contain “lots of girl power”.

The Pirates of the Caribbean films are available to watch on Disney Plus now.

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