Will Smith and Johnny Depp lead celebrity comebacks after being canceled

Will Smith and Johnny Depp are both making career comebacks after being canceled in the court of public opinion.

Smith is currently on a press tour promoting his upcoming film, “Emancipation,” less than a year after slapping Chris Rock on stage during the Oscars. Depp has also been declared “vindicated” following his court win against ex-wife Amber Heard.

“Oh, I think he’s completely vindicated,” Depp’s friend and frequent collaborator, Helena Bonham Carter, told The Times. “I think he’s fine now. Totally fine.”

Will Smith, left, and Johnny Depp have both moved on in their careers after battling a slew of negative headlines.
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Brand expert and senior vice president of Red Banyan, Kelcey Kintner, explained to Fox News Digital how some celebrities can overcome negative press after being canceled while others are never able to reclaim their careers.

“There isn’t one quick fix when it comes to celebrities getting out of cancel culture purgatory. The public’s perception of the person before the controversy, the seriousness of the offense and the celebrity’s response to the firestorm all play a role. But usually, with enough time, a celebrity can slowly work their way back.”

“Fans can be extremely forgiving when it comes to their favorite stars,” she said. “For example, Will Smith may have a few fans that won’t see his movies now, but his huge likability before the infamous Oscar slap will help get him through this. He also did a good job of publicly owning up to his bad behavior.”

Kintner said that if celebrities don’t own up to their wrongdoing right away, it can be harder for them to return to a successful career.

“When it comes to some kind of wrongdoing, it’s always key for any celebrity to take responsibility as quickly as possible for their part. But sometimes stars think they are untouchable and refuse or simply can’t face what they’ve done,” Kintner said. “They can end up defiantly doubling down on inappropriate remarks and actions, and this only stokes the fire, making the pathway to a return even longer or sometimes nearly impossible.”

“But celebrities have the advantage of huge financial resources and being able to push out their positive narrative to the public. So, in general, they are in a far stronger position for battling cancel culture than your average Joe.”

Here are five celebrities who have mounted a career comeback after being canceled:

Johnny Depp

Johnny Depp’s reputation took a hit after ex-wife Amber Heard penned an op-ed in which she labeled herself a victim of domestic violence. Depp won the legal battle in which he accused Heard of defamation in September 2022.
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HELENA BONHAM CARTER SAYS JOHNNY DEPP HAS BEEN ‘VINDICATED’ AFTER AMBER HEARD TRIAL

Johnny Depp lost out on movie roles after he was branded a “wife beater” by the media following an op-ed written by his ex-wife, Amber Heard. At the time, she labeled herself a victim of domestic violence. Even though she didn’t name Depp specifically, Depp claimed his reputation took a hit following the publication of the op-ed.

Depp won his defamation trial against Heard in September. The case made headlines throughout the six-week court trial, and many nasty allegations were presented on both sides. But in the end, many felt Depp had been redeemed.

The “Pirates of the Caribbean” star has been outspoken about cancel culture while dealing with the legal drama.

“It’s so far out of hand now that I can promise you that no one is safe, not one of you, no one out that door. No one is safe,” Depp said while speaking to the press at the San Sebastian International Film Festival in 2021. “It takes one sentence, and there’s no more ground, the carpet has been pulled. It’s not just me that this has happened to, it’s happened to a lot of people. This type of thing has happened to women, men. Sadly, at a certain point, they begin to think that it’s normal, or that it’s them when it’s not.”

Since the conclusion of the trial, Depp has appeared at the MTV VMAs and in Rihanna’s most recent Savage X Fenty fashion show. He’s also slated to direct his first film in the last three decades. He is directing and co-producing “Modi” alongside Al Pacino and Barry Navidi.

Will Smith

Will Smith faced backlash after he slapped comedian Chris Rock during the 2022 Oscars ceremony.
(P. Lehman/Future Publishing)

Will Smith received backlash after he slapped Chris Rock on-stage during the 2022 Oscars ceremony.

Rock had made a joke about Jada Pinkett Smith’s bald head — the “Red Table Talk” host suffers from alopecia and has been outspoken about her diagnosis.

Following the slap, Smith was banned from attending the Oscars and any other Academy-sponsored events for the next 10 years. The actor laid low for a while before sharing a video in which he apologized to many, including Rock.

“Will Smith is an extraordinary talent who will continue to be sought after for years to come. But until he…