‘The Fall Guy’ slammed for ‘distasteful’ joke about exes Johnny Depp and Amber Heard

Ryan Gosling.
Ryan Gosling's movie "The Fall Guy" has a reference to Johnny Depp and Amber Heard.
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They’ve fallen into hot water.

Ryan Gosling’s new action comedy “The Fall Guy” is stirring up controversy before it’s hit theaters.

The movie follows stuntman Colt Seavers (Gosling), who gets called back for one last job after quitting the biz. To make matters more complicated, the actor that he used to be a stunt double for, Tom Ryder (Aaron Taylor-Johnson), has gone missing. Emily Blunt, Winston Duke and “Ted Lasso” star Hannah Waddingham round out the cast.

Hannah Waddingham is in “The Fall Guy.” Getty Images for Universal Pictures
Hannah Waddingham is in “The Fall Guy.” Getty Images for Universal Pictures
Ryan Gosling and Teresa Palmer in a scene from “The Fall Guy.” AP
Ryan Gosling and Teresa Palmer in a scene from “The Fall Guy.” AP
Aaron Taylor-Johnson in a scene from “The Fall Guy.” AP
Aaron Taylor-Johnson in a scene from “The Fall Guy.” AP

During a scene in the movie,  producer Gail Meyer (Waddingham) walks into a trailer that’s in disarray and says to Jody Moreno (Blunt), “It’s like Amber and Johnny were just in here,” in a reference to Amber Heard and Johnny Depp.

“This is so disappointing,” one user on X , formerly Twitter, wrote.

Another person called it “distasteful” and wrote, “It’s 2024, why are we writing these kinds of lines into movies? nasty work.”

“I have absolutely no idea how I missed this when I saw it,” another viewer said. “What an unconscionable and disgusting decision; shame on [director] David Leitch, the writing team, and whoever else contributed to the telling of this ‘joke.’”

Viewers are upset by a joke in Ryan Gosling’s new movie. AP
Viewers are upset by a joke in Ryan Gosling’s new movie. AP
Ryan Gosling plays a stunt man in “The Fall Guy.” AP
Ryan Gosling plays a stunt man in “The Fall Guy.” AP
Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt’s new movie is getting a backlash for a Johnny Depp and Amber Heard joke. AP
Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt’s new movie is getting a backlash for a Johnny Depp and Amber Heard joke. AP

“Damn what the f–k i was so excited for this movie now that’s gone,” another fan remarked.

Depp, 60, and Heard, 38, were married from 2015-217, but their relationship ended in a high-profile and ugly trial, where their dirty laundry was aired in front of the world.

In 2019, Depp sued Heard for defamation over her 2018 Washington Post op-ed about domestic violence (but she didn’t say his name in it).

Amber Heard and Johnny Deppl’s split was ugly. Getty Images for Art of Elysium
Amber Heard and Johnny Deppl’s split was ugly. Getty Images for Art of Elysium
Amber Heard and Johnny Depp. Getty Images for Art of Elysium
Amber Heard and Johnny Depp. Getty Images for Art of Elysium
Amber Heard alleged that Johnny Depp abused her during their court battle. UK Press via Getty Images
Amber Heard alleged that Johnny Depp abused her during their court battle. UK Press via Getty Images

During their highly publicized court battle — which eventually found Heard guilty — Heard alleged that Depp physically and emotionally abused her, and she spoke of his alleged drinking and drug use.

Heard’s whirlwind romance with Depp became a horror film as the actor morphed into a Jekyll-and-Hyde “monster” — who beat and threatened to kill her when he abused drugs and alcohol, she testified on the stand during the trial. 

The “Pirates of the Caribbean” star called Heard’s statements under oath “horrible, ridiculous, humiliating, ludicrous, painful, savage, unimaginably brutal, cruel, and all false — all false.”

“No human being is perfect, certainly not, but I have never in my life committed sexual battery, physical abuse,” he told the jury. Heard was ultimately ordered to pay Depp $1 million in the settlement.

Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt in “The Fall Guy.” AP
Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt in “The Fall Guy.” AP
Fans said that the “The Fall Guy” joke about Depp and Heard was “distasteful.” Getty Images
Fans said that the “The Fall Guy” joke about Depp and Heard was “distasteful.” Getty Images

In a 2022 “Dateline” interview with Savannah Guthrie, Heard said, “One thing I can tell you is one thing I’m not is vindictive. There’s no part of me that sees any … This would be a really lousy way to get vengeance.”

“The Fall Guy” hits theaters on Friday, May 3.