Actor and talk show host Drew Barrymore issued an apology for comments she made about the Johnny Depp-Amber Heard defamation lawsuit on her show.
Barrymore called the situation "crazy."
Many fans took offense to Barrymore's comments, which they felt were mocking the situation between the two actors, who are suing each other for defamation stemming from allegations of abuse during their marriage.
Amid the backlash, Barrymore took to her Instagram to post an apology and clarify what she meant.
In her video, Barrymore told her followers:
“It has come to my attention that I have offended people with making light of Johnny Depp and Amber Heard and for that I just want to deeply apologize and appreciate everyone who spoke out."
"Because this can be a teachable moment for me in how I move forward and how I conduct myself."
The lawsuit and resulting trial between Depp and Heard has become a media circus in which many deeply private details of both stars' lives and their marriage have become public.
The defamation lawsuit leveled by Depp, and Heard's countersuit, stems from a 2018 op-ed Heard penned in which she discussed experiences of abuse and sexual assault.
Though Heard never mentioned Depp by name, it was widely presumed he was the abuser depicted in the piece. He filed a $50 million defamation lawsuit in response that accuses Heard of abusive behavior, including claims she defecated in his bed and cut off part of his finger.
Like many viewers of the trial, Barrymore couldn't help but laugh about the spectacle the trial has become, telling her audience:
"It’s like one layer of crazy, it’s a seven-layer dip of insanity."
"I know that these are two people’s real lives and I know what it’s like to have your life put out in public."
"I understand all the feelings, but they are actually offering up this information that nobody had to know. This is crazy!"
Because of the serious nature of the allegations in the case, many felt Barrymore was mocking domestic violence.
On Twitter, some rejected what they felt was an insincere and insufficient apology.
Nope. Apology not accepted. \n\nDrew Barrymore is nearly 50 years old. If she still has to learn that someone being abused is not something to laugh about - then I think she\u2019s beyond \u201clearning.\u201d You\u2019re either a good person or you\u2019re not. She clearly isn\u2019t.— CobraEagle42 (@CobraEagle42) 1651436048
No DREW BARRYMORE! we need you to apologies to #JohnnyDepp \nRetweet if a man victim of DV is not a joke\nRetweet to hold this Hollywood people who treated a well known good man with injustice and cruelty & they now need to apologies \nRetweet for a just world for Women and Menpic.twitter.com/EuGkNQrgVR— Abraham Delast (@Abraham Delast) 1651455488
Drew Barrymore posted a half a$ apology on Instagram. Sorry Drew, I don\u2019t accept it!— Wendy Campbell \ud83c\udff4\u200d\u2620\ufe0f\u2693\ufe0f\ud83d\udc9c (@Wendy Campbell \ud83c\udff4\u200d\u2620\ufe0f\u2693\ufe0f\ud83d\udc9c) 1651436290
drew barrymore is only sorry because she got caught & called out. video is yet to be taken down on all platforms & I see no remorse for her wrongdoing in the \u201capology\u201d or her face.— \u1d07. \ud83d\udd4a (@\u1d07. \ud83d\udd4a) 1651449763
But others thought Barrymore was being judged too harshly for her comments.
Imagine being the publicist who had to deliver this news to drew Barrymore: "look, drew, there is a real brouhaha over this 7 layer dip of insanity joke. I think we need to handle this asap my suggestion? Full apology. No qualifications. You\u2019re sorry and it\u2019s a teachable moment."— Ben Dreyfuss (@Ben Dreyfuss) 1651522335
I believe that Drew Barrymore's apology was sincere. I feel that those who don't think she's sincere isn't one of those people who have followed her career for years. She has a kind heart but she made a mistake, who hasn't. No one is perfect. #JusticeForJohnnyDepp— EverLovelyJewelle\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6\ud83d\udc99\ud83d\udc9b (@EverLovelyJewelle\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6\ud83d\udc99\ud83d\udc9b) 1651446113
Drew Barrymore had literally nothing to apologize for.— Pithy Quips (@Pithy Quips) 1651526273
now who's going to apologize to Drew Barrymore for getting her to apologize for having an opinion?— Trans Vampire Carmilla \ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\u26a7\ufe0f (@Trans Vampire Carmilla \ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\u26a7\ufe0f) 1651508445
She has a talk show where she talks about thi gs in the news. She had to apologize for doing her job. What has society come to when you can't even do your job because people label you as insensitive if you do?— Jack Fetch (@Jack Fetch) 1651508085
Whether the apology was warranted or not, Barrymore concluded it by pledging to "be a more thoughtful and better person moving forward."
Hard to fault that sentiment.