There wasn’t much time between Johnny Depp and ex-wife Amber Heard‘s appearances at Comic-Con on Saturday.
The 55-year-old actor was a surprise guest at Warner Bros.’ Comic-Con Hall H panel, where he promoted his new movie, Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald, by dressing up as the titular villain to deliver an in-character speech.
Afterwards, the 32-year-old actress appeared at a Warner Bros. panel to support the upcoming Aquaman film, though the two were not seen crossing paths at the event.
While both of their panels occurred in the same room, there was at least an hour separating their appearances.
Johnny Depp and Amber Heard Broadimage/REX/Shutterstock; Albert L. Ortega/Getty Images
RELATED: Johnny Depp Surprises Comic-Con as His Dark Fantastic Beasts Character: ‘The Moment Has Come’
Depp’s casting in the Fantastic Beasts sequel caused some controversy when it was first announced, as fans questioned why domestic violence allegations made against Depp by Heard didn’t preclude him from being involved with the project.
Heard had asked for a domestic violence restraining order against Depp just a week after she filed to end their 15-month marriage in May 2016, claiming the actor had been abusive on several occasions, including one incident that she claimed left her in fear for her life.
Through his lawyers, Depp vehemently denied the abuse allegations throughout the contentious divorce, calling the claims “salacious false stories, gossip, misinformation, and lies.” His lawyers also accused the actress of making the allegations up in an attempt to “extend her fifteen minutes of fame.”
In June, Depp filed a defamation suit against British tabloid The Sun, disputing claims that he abused Heard.
Johnny Depp and Amber Heard Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic
Depp and Heard settled their nasty divorce in January 2017 — with Depp paying Heard a $7 million settlement (all of which she vowed to donate to charity).
Author J.K. Rowling came out in defense of Depp’s casting last December, writing in part on her website, “Based on our understanding of the circumstances, the filmmakers and I are not only comfortable sticking with our original casting, but genuinely happy to have Johnny playing a major character in the movies.”
Distributor Warner Bros. also stood by the decision to have Depp in the film.
“We are of course aware of reports that surfaced around the end of Johnny Depp’s marriage, and take seriously the complexity of the issues involved,” they said in a statement obtained by Entertainment Weekly. “This matter has been jointly addressed by both parties, in a statement in which they said ‘there was never any intent of physical or emotional harm.’ Based on the circumstances and the information available to us, we, along with the filmmakers, continue to support the decision to proceed with Johnny Depp in the role of Grindelwald in this and future films.”
Johnny Depp drew both cheers and boos at Warner Bros. Pictures' 2018 Comic-Con presentation of Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald on Saturday, an hour and a half before his ex-wife Amber Heard joined her Aquaman co-stars on the same stage.
It is unclear if the two, who divorced in 2017 after a turbulent marriage and breakup, interacted at the convention. They did, however, come within as little as 20 minutes of running into each other outside the San Diego Convention Center, E! News has learned.
Presentations for Warner Bros. Pictures' new films were held at Hall H. After Depp helped promote Fantastic Beasts, panel discussions for Warner Bros.' Lego Movie 2: The Second Part, Godzilla: King of all Monsters, Wonder Woman 1984 and Shazam! were held, after which Heard, Jason Momoa and several other of their fellow Aquaman cast members took the stage.
The actress and Depp have not been spotted together since before their 2016 split, following 15 months of marriage.
"I saw Amber down by the loading dock and she was talking to some security guards before her panel," an eyewitness told E! News. "Didn't see her and Johnny in the same place but Johnny did come out to the dock to smoke a cigarette before his panel. He was there about 20 to 30 minutes before I saw Amber."
"[Depp] left right after he was done on stage in a white car," a second eyewitness said. "I never saw them in the same place."
Both eyewitnesses said that Heard hung out in a room backstage before the Aquaman event and that Depp was not with her.
"It was a close call backstage though, but Johnny was done on stage before Amber got to that backstage area," the second source said.
According to new reports, Johnny Depp is furious at Amber Heard for speaking out about domestic abuse. Now he has stonewalled payments in their $6.8 million divorce settlement.
Johnny Depp is Furious at Amber Heard for Speaking About Domestic Abuse 0:49
JOHNNY Depp has made an awkward surprise appearance at Comic-Con, giving a creepy speech as fans slammed him for featuring on the same panel as his former wife, Amber Heard.
Depp surprised fans at San Diego’s Comic-Con, appearing on the Warner Brothers panel to promote the next instalment of Fantastic Beasts.
It was the first appearance for Depp, in full costume of his character, Gellert Grindewald, since the Rolling Stone’s salacious report that painted a sad portrait of the star’s life.
Depp’s Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindewald co-stars Eddie Redmayne, Jude Law and Zoe Kravitz were also on the panel, answering questions, while Mr Depp skipped the Q and A, only showing up to deliver a speech, embodying Grindelwald.
Although some fans were excited to see the actor, others were angered, calling his appearance on the panel “inappropriate” as ex-wife Amber Heard was on the same panel promoting her upcoming film, Aquaman.
One fan deemed the appearance “unreal and irresponsible”.
Amber Heard and Johnny Depp filed for divorce in May 2016. Ms Heard then filed for a restraining order and alleged he was violent with her.
Many fans expressed their concerns with the two being on the same stage, just minutes apart, given the allegations of domestic violence.
Australian actress Nicole Kidman was seen hugging Heard during the event.
WB brought Johnny Depp out for the Fantastic Beasts panel (as a surprise!!!) immediately proceeding their Aquaman panel, featuring Amber Heard. That makes me nauseous. — Dana Schwartz (@DanaSchwartzzz) July 21, 2018
just realized amber heard and johnny depp are both in the same building promoting their WB blockbusters 👀👀👀 — lindsey romain (@lindseyromain) July 21, 2018
The allegations of domestic violence againmst Heard made his role in the Fantastic Beasts franchise a controversial one.
JK Rowling, author and producer of the films was forced to defend herself for working with Mr Depp.
“When Johnny Depp was cast as Grindelwald, I thought he’d be wonderful in the role. However, around the time of filming his cameo in the first movie, stories had appeared in the press that deeply concerned me and everyone most closely involved in the franchise,” her statement read.
JK Rowling then went on to say in light of the allegations, she and director David Yates did consider recasting the role.
Ms Rowling referenced the joint statement made by the former couple, “The agreements that have been put in place to protect the privacy of two people, both of whom have expressed a desire to get on with their lives, must be respected.”
To which Ms Heard accused Ms Rowling of taking the statement out of context.
WOW. WB really put Amber Heard and Johnny Depp in the same hall. Unreal and irresponsible. https://t.co/IC3zDkqEzo — Rron R2 is an Ang Lee Shill (@rron007) July 21, 2018
So sad to see how Amber Heard's allegations have destroyed Johnny Depp's career oh what's that he just got introduced at #ComicCon? #MeToo — Amir Talai (@AmirTalai) July 21, 2018
For the record, this was our FULL joint statement.To pick&choose certain lines & quote them out of context, is not right.Women, stay strong. pic.twitter.com/W7Tt6A3ROj — Amber Heard (@realamberheard) December 8, 2017
Ms Heard said in court filings her ex-husband was abusive to her throughout their 15 months of marriage, alleging Mr Depp threw a mobile phone at her face during an argument and breaking several objects in her apartment.
Ms Heard was awarded a $7 million settlement from the divorce, all of which she donated to charity.
In the Rolling Stone article, Mr Depp spoke of his depression, relating it to issues in his personal life and financial difficulties. Due to the non-disclosure agreement both parties signed, Ms Heard was not mentioned directly in the article.
Amber Heard was at Comic-Con to promote her new film, Aquaman, which also stars Game of Thrones star Jason Momoa, Aussie actress Nicole Kidman and Patrick Wilson. Ms Heard was seen embracing her co-stars during Comic-Con.
Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald to be released in November this year and Aquaman in December.
© Getty Images SAN DIEGO, CA - JULY 21: Johnny Depp speaks onstage at the Warner Bros. 'Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald' theatrical panel during Comic-Con International 2018 at San Diego Convention Center on July 21, 2018 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
Actor Johnny Depp received both cheers and jeers at Warner Bros. Pictures' 2018 Comic-Con presentation of "Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald" on Saturday, only an hour and a half prior to his ex-wife, Amber Heard, taking the very same stage with her "Aquaman" cast.
It is uncertain at this time whether the pair, who divorced in 2017, had any interaction with each other at the San Diego convention. Although, according to E! News, they did come within as little as 20 minutes of bumping into each other outside the doors.
The presentations for Warner Bros. Pictures' new movies went down at Hall H. Depp helped promote his film, panel discussions were held for "Lego Movie 2: The Second One," "Godzilla: King of all Monster," "Wonder Woman 1984," and "Shazam!" then Heard, along with Jason Momoa and other "Aauaman" cast members went up on stage.
© Getty Images SAN DIEGO, CA - JULY 21: (L-R) James Wan, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Patrick Wilson, Nicole Kidman, Amber Heard, and Jason Momoa attend DC Entertainment's Warner Bros. Pictures 'Aquaman' Autograph Signing during Comic-Con International 2018 at San Diego Convention Center on July 21, 2018 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Joe Scarnici/Getty Images)
Heard and Depp have not been seen together since before the 2016 separation (after 15 months of marriage).
"I saw Amber down by the loading dock and she was talking to some security guards before her panel," an eyewitness told E! News. "Didn't see her and Johnny in the same place but Johnny did come out to the dock to smoke a cigarette before his panel. He was there about 20 to 30 minutes before I saw Amber."
Another eyewitness said."[Depp] left right after he was done on stage in a white car. I never saw them in the same place."
© Jason Sheldon/REX/Shutterstock Johnny Depp performs with The Hollywood Vampires in concert at the Genting Arena in Birmingham, UK, on June 16, 2018.
Both the insiders confirmed that Heard did hang out in a room backstage before the "Aquaman" event, but that Depp was not with her.
"It was a close call backstage though, but Johnny was done on stage before Amber got to that backstage area," the second source added.
In the initial divorce filing, Heard had gotten a temporary domestic violence restraining order against the "Pirates of the Caribbean" star, where she claimed that during their whole relationship she "endured excessive emotional verbal and physical abuse" from Depp. Although, Depp has denied this claim, news reports have sparked many "Harry Potter" and "Fantastic Beasts" fans to question as to why Warner Bros.' still cast him in the role.
© LAURENT BENHAMOU/SIPA/REX/Shutterstock Amber Heard attends the Valentino show for Haute Couture Fashion Week in Paris on July 4, 2018.
While Depp did not join his fellow cast mates for the "Fantastic Beasts" panel discussion, he did make a surprise appearance at the end of the event, donning a Gellert Grindelwald costume. Fans could be heard earlier booing when Depp's image came on during the movie's trailer, however later, there were reportedly cheers when he took the stage.
"The great gift of your applause is not for me, but for yourselves," Depp told the audience in a Grindelwald's British accent, while waving a wand over them. "Therefore, applaud yourselves."
See all the stars at Comic-Con 2018's biggest panels:
See all the stars at Comic-Con 2018's biggest panels
