An online dispute was sparked by a joke in the most recent episode of Gen V that made reference to Johnny Depp.

Most people are aware of Depp and his ex-wife Amber Heard’s court battle because it was widely publicized and televised during their trial. In response to claims that he had been aggressive towards Heard during their marriage, Depp filed a defamation lawsuit against her, claiming that she had been the one to use violence against him. Heard filed a countersuit for defamation, arguing that her allegations were true. The jury finally decided that the accusations made against the former Pirates of Caribbean star were false and defamatory, and they found strongly in Depp’s favor. Heard blamed her ex-husband’s “disproportionate power, influence, and sway” for the defeat following the trial.

Although Heard’s fans continue to stand by her, some claim that she was also the victim of an attempted smear campaign by her ex-husband to ruin her name. Regardless, the trial result was undoubtedly a major victory for Depp. This sets up a conversation that, according to some, validates Heard in the third episode of Gen V’s debut season. Rich superhero Tek Knight (Derek Wilson), who resembles Iron Man and Batman, informs Godolkin dean Indira Shetty (Shelley Conn) that he intends to utilize his resources to frame an innocent person for Golden Boy’s (Patrick Schwarzenegger) death.

«The Boys» spinoff «Gen V» episode 4 references Johnny Depp and it’s not exactly good news for him.

«You’re going to blame an innocent student-?»

«Oh yeah, I’m gonna Johnny Depp someone so hard-»

Pretty safe to say that the writers are «Team Amber»?

“Well, [I’ll use] the usual. Misdirection. Obfuscation. Find a patsy and destroy their life,” he said. When asked if he was really going to destroy the life of an innocent student, Tek Knight continued, “Oh, yeah. Yeah. I’m gonna Johnny Depp someone so hard, they’re going to want to crawl into a hole and die.” Following the episode’s arrival on Prime Video, Heard supporters took to social media to celebrate the series seemingly showing support for Heard, suggesting he similarly ruined the life of an innocent person.

“Gen V is slandering Johnny Depp and I’m all here for it,” as one X post reads. Another said, “the johnny depp shade in [Gen V] made me so happy i already loved the show but that put a smile on my face.” Other Heard supporters are echoing these sentiments, with another X post reading, “Gen V whacking Johnny Depp was not on my bingo card but I’m liking it.”

However, there are others who got another impression from the reference. They feel the dialogue implies that Depp is actually the innocent person whose life was ruined, perhaps referring to how the actor lost multiple high-profile acting gigs after Heard’s allegations against him emerged. As one person on X noted, “The [Gen V] quote got me thinking and concluding it’s pro Depp and that’s because during Depp’s testimony,he said after the allegations, at the end of a show,he would hide at d back of the bus and cry(…Johnny Depp someone so hard they’re gonna want to crawl into a hole and die).”

In response, another Depp supporter added, “Exactly. He didn’t falsely accuse her, AH falsely accused him. She destroyed his life. She flourished, basking in the limelight of victimhood. The Gen V guy was going to do to somebody what she did to JD. He was going to Johnny Depp them, destroy their life.”

In any case, the reference has gotten a lot of people talking. Gen V can be streamed on Prime Video, and some more reactions to the Depp reference can be seen below.

Source: X

the johnny depp shade in gen v pic.twitter.com/Dv5eXrbbgg

— chaos (@KNTYBYONCE) October 6, 2023

using johnny depp as a verb for ruining an innocent person’s life … gen v i will get you that emmy ‼️#genv #genvonprime pic.twitter.com/8lWR9oOxPX

— adi (@maybegrayson) October 6, 2023