celeb news Johnny Depp's obsession with appropriating/disrespecting Native American Culture

[GentleDance]

Trigger warning: offensive/racist language

 

Use of offensive slur to call a Native American :

On May 30th, 2014, Johnny Depp sent the following text to Paul Bettany

 

“Drank all night before I picked Amber up to fly to LA this past Sunday… Ugly, mate…. No food for days… Powders….Half a bottle of Whiskey, a thousand red bull and vodkas pills, 2 bottles of Champers on plane and what do you get… ??? An angry, aggro [redacted] in a fuckin’ blackout screaming obscenities and insulting any **** who gets near…I’m done. I am admittedly too ****** in the head to spray my rage at the one I love.”

 

This text has been circulated by the few neutral online articles and Twitter users as clear evidence of Depp admitting to his “monster" coming out when he abuses drugs and alcohol. While Depp has used the word “monster” in describing himself, he opts for a different moniker in this text:

 

“An angry, aggro [redacted]”

 

Huh? What is that?

 

According to the Oxford Language Dictionary, it's an offensive, dated slur used to call a Native American. Its usage is considered old and fairly uncommon today, and I suspect that that is the reason for the lack of attention being drawn to Johnny’s use of it.

 

For further understanding of this word, see attached links and pictures which include opinions of Indigenous peoples on the word and things you should never say to a Native person

 

 

Lies about their genetic ancestry to build up his own desired image/ serve himself :

“In interviews in 2002 and 2011, Depp claimed to have Native American ancestry, saying: ‘I guess I have some Native American somewhere down the line. My great-grandmother was quite a bit of Native American. She grew up Cherokee or maybe Creek Indian. Makes sense in terms of coming from Kentucky, which is rife with Cherokee and Creek Indian.’” (Wiki)

 

Wait, so Johnny Depp is part Native American then? Does that mean he can uh..use that word that he used? Not so fast.

 

“Depp's claims came under scrutiny when Indian Country Today wrote that Depp had never inquired about his heritage or been recognized as a member of the Cherokee Nation. This led to criticism from the Native American community, as Depp has no documented Native ancestry, and Native community leaders consider him ‘a non-Indian’.” (Wiki)

 

No, he is not. But Johnny certainly fancies himself as one. He has a long history of appropriating Native American culture and lying about, or at the very least strongly insinuating, his ties to the Cherokee/Creek people.

 

In the 90s and 00s, Johnny Depp’s repeated claims of being part Native American, his sporting of a Cherokee tribe leader head tattoo on his right arm, along with his overall ambiguous, alternative grunge, heart-throb image was largely accepted by the public at face-value.

 

It was not until his decision to play the Native American character Tonto in The Lone Ranger in the early 2010s that his assertions of his Native American heritage got called into question.

 

“Depp's choice to portray Tonto, a Native American character, in The Lone Ranger was criticized, along with his choice to name his rock band 'Tonto's Giant Nuts’." (Wiki)

 

 

Ignores criticism from people who are of the culture :

It was not until his decision to play the Native American character Tonto in The Lone Ranger in the early 2010s that his assertions of his Native American heritage got called into question.

 

“Depp's choice to portray Tonto, a Native American character, in The Lone Ranger was criticized, along with his choice to name his rock band 'Tonto's Giant Nuts’." (Wiki)

 

Ah, in true Johnny fashion (as displayed to us via his other texts, testimonies presented in court, as well as much of he and his team’s behavior throughout this trial), rather than cooling it with the cultural fakery and appropriation when questioned by his critics (a very thorough takedown by Sonny Skyhawk) for his then-upcoming portrayal of Tonto, he doubles down by using Tonto’s name in a silly, immature, and sexually salacious (he loves his vulgar slangs for sexual organs, doesn’t he?) name for his band.

 

“Critical response to his claims from the Native community increased after this, including satirical portrayals of Depp by Native comedians.” (Wiki)

 

 

Play up stereotypes about the culture :

"An ad featuring Depp and Native American imagery, by Dior for the fragrance "Sauvage", was pulled in 2019 after being accused of cultural appropriation and racism.” (Wiki) (Tweet) (Tweet)

 

Sauvage is French for savage. If you have studied any US history at all you would know that there was a time where Native Americans were addressed in official documents and treaties as “savages” and “uncivilized" to justify the seizure of Native lands. While this word (unlike the other slur Depp used) can be said to have evolved from its original meaning, when looking at the images for the ad, there is no doubt as to whom/what they mean. And it is frankly disgusting that thanks to their in-house poster boy alleged abuser Dior is selling a bottle of this racist fragrance every few seconds.

 

 

SOURCE :

 

Edited May 27, 2022 by GentleDance

[Bosque]

No one cares about a text Johnny Depp sent in 2014. Y'all aren't perfect either 

[Karla Cabello]

 

[Ferret]

Get a job

[XAMJ]

Johnny depp is going to get a pass for everything from his delusional fans.

[JonRih]

Why can’t people just admit they were in a toxic relationship and both were horrible to each other? I’ve barely followed this trial but I constantly see people picking sides when it’s obvious both are at fault for why all this mess ended up where it did? 

[thinking]

52 minutes ago, Dephira said:

No one cares about a text Johnny Depp sent in 2014. Y'all aren't perfect either 

this

[Saddy]

56 minutes ago, Dephira said:

No one cares about a text Johnny Depp sent in 2014. Y'all aren't perfect either 

[Alongoria13]

Consiguete un trabajo no mames

[hypnodemiluv]

30 minutes ago, XAMJ said:

Johnny depp is going to get a pass for everything from his delusional fans.

exactly 

[Assassin]

tis disgusting trash human. Hope he loses the trial.

[Mariah's Glove]

LOCK HIM UP

[Solar]

Why are some people here mentioning his trial? What does this has anything to do with Amber lying or not?

[Into The Void]

i thought the trial was about slander of abuse how did it turn into appropriation?

[GentleDance]

9 minutes ago, Solar said:

Why are some people here mentioning his trial? What does this has anything to do with Amber lying or not?

This 

[abeille]

Absolute trash. I can't at people downplaying this when these are actual slurs, meaning he knew the connotations behind them.

[Jjang]

What a Khara 

[LatinFreak]

51 minutes ago, Alongoria13 said:

Consiguete un trabajo no mames

Can't wait for his next blockbuster film! 

[BnPac]

2 hours ago, GentleDance said:

in a fuckin’ blackout screaming obscenities and insulting any **** who gets near…I’m done. I am admittedly too ****** in the head to spray my rage at the one I love.”

So whenever he was drunk and drugged, he would abuse her and everyone near? Wow. 

I can't believe people are this invested in this when both seem to be quite toxic. 

[ANTIclimatic]

He’s always been a narcissist weirdo

[MAKSIM]

Why white women care so much about this man is so weird. 

[NausAllien]

10 hours ago, XAMJ said:

Johnny depp is going to get a pass for everything from his delusional fans.

 

Like Trump said once "I could shoot somebody, and I wouldn't lose any voters."

 

Depp could literally murder someone on national TV, and he's deranged fans would find ways to rationalize it, deny it or come up with an insane conspiracy theory because they just can't face the reality that their idol is a shitty person.

[I♥Toronto]

wow haters are pathetic

[wanderlust]

3 hours ago, MAKSIM said:

Why white women care so much about this man is so weird. 

while this has nothing to do with race, you're wrong. from what i saw on the livestream yesterday, he had many female fans, but very few of them white. just sayin

[terrorblade]

15 hours ago, Dephira said:

No one cares about a text Johnny Depp sent in 2014. Y'all aren't perfect either