Helena Bonham Carter has voiced her strong opposition to cancel culture, describing it as a 'witch hunt' and expressing support for fellow actors Johnny Depp and author JK Rowling. In an interview with the Sunday Times, the 56-year-old actress argued that many public figures could face cancellation if their personal lives were scrutinised too closely.
Bonham Carter, who worked with Harvey Weinstein and Woody Allen, said: 'Do you ban a genius for their sexual practices? There would be millions of people who if you looked closely enough at their personal life you would disqualify them. You can't ban people. I hate cancel culture. It has become quite hysterical and there's a kind of witch-hunt and a lack of understanding.'
Referring to Johnny Depp, the godfather of her children, she claimed he had been 'completely vindicated' after his libel trial against Amber Heard. She said Depp 'certainly went through it' and noted 'there's something quite old-fashioned about Johnny, with these manners.' On the #MeToo movement, she remarked: 'My view is that she got on that pendulum. That's the problem with these things — that people will jump on the bandwagon because it's the trend and to be the poster girl for it.'
Bonham Carter also defended JK Rowling, who has faced backlash over her views on gender and female-only spaces. She called the treatment of Rowling 'horrendous and a load of b****cks,' adding: 'She's allowed her opinion, particularly if she's suffered abuse. Everybody carries their own history of trauma and forms their opinions from that trauma and you have to respect where people come from and their pain. You don't all have to agree on everything — that would be insane and boring.'
The actress declined to criticise her Harry Potter co-stars, including Daniel Radcliffe and Emma Watson, for speaking out against Rowling, saying they were protecting their own fan base and generation rather than being ungrateful.
