Actor Emily Hampshire decided to go as last year's big pop culture story for Halloween, dressing with friends as Johnny Depp and Amber Heard.
While she was by no means alone in this choice, people have called her out, saying her costume was "a special kind of depraved."
@emilyhampshire/Instagram
Hampshire's costume was unmistakeable her dressed as Depp, slicked back hair and drawn-on unique tattoos. She also included a prop: a wine bottle as part of the costume, a reference to Heard's allegations first in 2015, then again during the well-publicized trial in 2022 that Depp had sexually assaulted her with a wine bottle. The friends in Hampshire's halloween costume trio also posed with overly-dramatic faces, impersonating pictures from the 2022 trial and mocking them.
@emilyhampshire/Instagram
Heard lost the 2022 libel trial that Depp brought against her in Virginia, after winning one in the UK previously over the same issue. During the course of the trial, which was followed avidly by the public, Heard was often mocked for her reactions to serious allegations.
In each of the pictures on Hampshire's Instagram post, a second prop was seen: a fake turd. This was a reference to another element of the Depp-Heard trial, in which Depp claimed that Heard had defecated on the bed and then blamed it on the couple's dogs.
@emilyhampshire/Instagram
Due to the immediate backlash from people on Instagram, Hampshire quickly pulled the post, but not before people got screenshots.
Folks were pretty disappointed in Hampshire's choices.
Someone said maybe she needs better friends who would have talked her out of this idea.
People were particularly disgusted by the choice of props.
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People pointed out that a Halloween costume mocking victims of domestic violence is not a good look.
People noted that the costume was not only in poor taste but was also late to the party.
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People found it telling who thought the costume was funny.
It is always disappointing when an actor whose characters you like makes poor decisions.
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The post was up for about 10 minutes before being taken down.
Following the backlash, Hampshire issued an apology on Instagram for her "thoughtless" choice.
She said of the debacle:
"I want to address what is one of the most thoughtless, insensitive, and ignorant things I’ve ever done. For Halloween, I stupidly thought it would be funny to dress as Johnny Depp and Amber Heard."
"I am deeply sorry and ashamed for putting something that awful out in the universe. Domestic abuse is never, ever funny. These are real issues with real people and I REALLY regret my actions."
"In the future I will do better. I'm so sorry."
Fans appreciated Hampshire's apology.
@emilyhampshire/Instagram
@emilyhampshire/Instagram
@emilyhampshire/Instagram
Let's hope Hampshire treats this as an opportunity to learn and grow.
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@evanrachelwood/Instagram