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Fans threatening boycott of Johnny Depp's Stockholm gig

Emma Löfgren
Emma Löfgren - [email protected]
Fans threatening boycott of Johnny Depp's Stockholm gig
Johnny Depp and the Hollywood Vampires performing at the 2016 Grammy Awards. Photo: Matt Sayles/Invision/AP

An iconic Stockholm venue has defended its decision to let Johnny Depp and his Hollywood Vampires band perform, despite fans threatening to boycott the gig following domestic violence claims by the actor's wife.

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Depp arrives in Stockholm amid turbulent times for the actor, who has been grabbing global headlines after his actress wife Amber Heard accused him of assaulting her. He denies the claims and has not been charged with any crime.

The Hollywood couple, who married in 2015, are currently involved in divorce proceedings. Heard has been granted a temporary restraining order, for which the next hearing is to take place on June 17th.

Depp is going on stage for the first time in Sweden at Stockholm's Gröna Lund theme park on Monday evening together with rock legends Alice Cooper and Joe Perry as the Hollywood Vampires band.

But fans have hit out on social media, urging ticket holders to stay at home following Heard's allegations.

"I was planning on going to the concert but I will boycott it," posted one Facebook user on the park's event page, using the hashtag #ImWithAmber.

"Are you taking a stand against this, Gröna Lund?" wrote another. "I hope that as many as possible do the right thing and boycott this."

Gröna Lund meanwhile replied to the criticism on Facebook and in interviews with Swedish media.

"Of course we renounce all violence. However, it is just as important not to judge people beforehand and that you are innocent until proven guilty," press spokesperson Annika Troselius told The Local on Monday.


Gröna Lund in Stockholm. Photo: Janerik Henriksson/TT

Security was being boosted at the park ahead of the gig, but Troselius said they were not expecting any disturbances or live protests: "There have been no such indications. Nobody has been in touch with us about it. (...) We always call in extra security staff for all big concerts, it's nothing unusual."

And it looked unlikely on Monday morning that recent headlines and social media rows would affect audience numbers.

"There are already people queuing outside," Troselius said at around 10am. "If you want to see the concert you should be here in good time. We're expecting a lot of people."

Hollywood Vampires was formed last year by the A-list Pirates of the Caribbean and Sweeney Todd actor and his friends to honour the music of icons who died from excess in the 1970s.

It takes its name from a celebrity drinking club formed by Alice Cooper 40 years ago which apparently included The Who drummer Keith Moon and at least one member of The Beatles.

Gröna Lund is this summer set to welcome other global acts including American soul legend Lionel Richie, New Zealand band Fat Freddy's Drop, Britpop veterans Suede and UK pop group Little Mix.

Last year's star performer was Lenny Kravitz who ended up making global headlines after he ripped his trousers and revealed that he didn't have any underwear on.

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