Johnny Depp, the 61-year-old Hollywood legend known for his iconic roles in Pirates of the Caribbean, Edward Scissorhands, and his recent thriller Day Drinker, has spent the past few years rebuilding his life and career after a tumultuous period marked by legal battles and public scrutiny. But in May 2025, just as he was settling into a quieter phase of his life, news broke that sent shockwaves through his world: his ex-wife, Amber Heard, had welcomed twins, marking her second pregnancy since their highly publicized divorce. While Heard has been living a low-profile life in Madrid, Spain, with her children, Depp’s unexpected reaction to the news has sparked a media frenzy, revealing a side of the actor that few anticipated.
Amber Heard, 39, announced her second pregnancy in December 2024, a development that came as a surprise to many, given her focus on raising her first daughter, Oonagh Paige, born via surrogacy in April 2021. Heard had been open about her desire to become a mother “on her own terms,” a sentiment she expressed during her 2022 defamation trial with Depp, where she stated, “I want to move on with my life. I have a baby. I have to move on.” By May 2025, Heard revealed she had welcomed twins—a daughter, Agnes, and a son, Ocean—bringing her total to three children. Living in Madrid since the trial, Heard has kept her personal life largely private, though she shared her joy in a Mother’s Day post, calling the twins’ arrival “a dream come true” and expressing gratitude despite her “own fertility challenges.”
For Depp, who was in France attending the Cannes Film Festival to promote his latest projects, the news of Heard’s twins came as a jolt. Sources close to the actor say he learned of the twins through mutual acquaintances in the industry, as he and Heard have had no direct contact since their legal settlement in December 2022. That settlement marked the end of a bitter defamation trial in Virginia, where Depp sued Heard over a 2018 Washington Post op-ed in which she described herself as a survivor of domestic abuse. The jury largely sided with Depp, awarding him $10.35 million in damages, while Heard received $2 million in her counterclaim. Since then, Depp has focused on his career and personal healing, while Heard relocated to Spain to escape the media spotlight and focus on motherhood.
According to those close to Depp, the news of Heard’s twins initially left him stunned. “Johnny was completely caught off guard,” a source revealed. “He knew Amber had Oonagh, but the twins—it hit him hard. It brought up a lot of emotions he thought he’d moved past.” Depp and Heard’s marriage, which lasted from 2015 to 2017, was marred by mutual allegations of abuse and a highly publicized fallout that played out in courtrooms and headlines. During Depp’s 2018 lawsuit against The Sun, Heard’s acting coach, Kristina Sexton, testified that Heard had claimed Depp wanted to start a family with her, but she was hesitant due to his struggles with addiction. The couple never had children together, and Depp has two children, Lily-Rose and Jack, with his former partner Vanessa Paradis.
What made Depp’s reaction so unexpected, however, was not the shock itself, but the way he chose to respond. Rather than retreating into silence, as he often has in the face of personal news about Heard, Depp took to social media in a rare and candid move. On May 12, 2025, just hours after Heard’s announcement went viral, Depp posted a cryptic message on Instagram: a black-and-white photo of a vintage typewriter with the caption, “Life moves forward, and so must we. Wishing peace to all who find new beginnings.” The post, which garnered millions of likes within hours, was interpreted by many as a subtle acknowledgment of Heard’s news—and a surprising olive branch from a man who has often been private about his feelings toward his ex-wife.
The internet erupted. Fans and media outlets alike were quick to dissect Depp’s words, with some praising his maturity and others speculating about his true emotions. “Johnny Depp showing grace in the face of Amber Heard’s twin news—this is the growth we love to see,” one fan wrote on X. Others, however, were more skeptical, with comments like, “He’s acting like he’s above it all, but you know he’s hurt. Why even post if he’s really over it?” The post sparked a broader conversation about Depp and Heard’s past, with some fans revisiting the trial and others focusing on Depp’s apparent desire to move forward. The hashtag #JohnnyDeppReacts trended worldwide, and tabloids ran headlines speculating about whether Depp was truly at peace or masking deeper pain.
Depp’s inner circle, however, offered a more nuanced perspective. “Johnny wasn’t trying to make a statement about Amber specifically,” a close friend shared. “The post was more about his own journey. He’s been working hard to let go of the anger and hurt from that chapter of his life. Hearing about the twins reminded him of what could have been, but it also made him reflect on how far he’s come.” Depp has been open about his struggles with the fallout from the trial, which he once said “took away a lot of special time” from his life. In recent interviews, he’s spoken about finding solace in his work and his children, often mentioning how Lily-Rose and Jack have been his anchors.
What truly caused a stir, however, was Depp’s next move. Just days after his social media post, on May 15, 2025, Depp quietly donated $500,000 to a children’s hospital in Madrid—the same city where Heard now resides with her children. The donation was made in the name of “supporting new beginnings,” a phrase that echoed his Instagram caption. While Depp made no direct mention of Heard or her twins, the timing and location of the donation were impossible to ignore. The hospital, which specializes in pediatric care, released a statement thanking Depp for his generosity, noting that the funds would support neonatal care units—a poignant choice given Heard’s recent motherhood journey.
The donation sparked a fresh wave of reactions. Some fans saw it as a heartfelt gesture, with one X user writing, “Johnny Depp donating to a children’s hospital in Madrid right after Amber’s twins are born? That’s class. He’s showing love in his own way.” Others, however, interpreted it as a calculated move to steal the spotlight, with comments like, “He couldn’t let Amber have her moment, could he? This feels like a PR stunt.” Heard, for her part, has not publicly responded to Depp’s actions, though sources say she was “surprised but appreciative” of the donation, given its potential impact on families in her new hometown.
Depp’s actions reflect a man who has spent the past few years rediscovering himself. Since the trial, he has thrown himself into his work, taking on roles that challenge him artistically, such as his recent turn in Day Drinker, a Lionsgate thriller that marks his major Hollywood comeback. He’s also been exploring other creative outlets, including music and art, with his artwork selling out rapidly at recent exhibitions. At Cannes, where he was spotted just days before Heard’s announcement, Depp appeared relaxed and focused, speaking about his desire to “leave the past behind” and focus on projects that bring him joy.
For Heard, the arrival of her twins has been a moment of triumph after years of personal and professional challenges. She has been vocal about her journey to motherhood, emphasizing her choice to raise her children independently. In Madrid, she’s found a sense of peace, often spotted strolling with her children and focusing on her family rather than her acting career. While she’s made brief returns to the screen, such as her role in Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, Heard has prioritized her role as a mother, a decision that has earned her both support and criticism from fans and detractors alike.
The stir caused by Depp’s reaction underscores the enduring fascination with his and Heard’s dynamic, even years after their divorce. While their legal battles may be over, their lives remain intertwined in the public eye, with every move scrutinized for hidden meaning. For Depp, the news of Heard’s twins and his subsequent actions reveal a man striving for closure, using his platform to promote positivity even in the face of personal shock. For Heard, it’s a reminder of the shadow her past with Depp continues to cast, even as she builds a new life for herself and her children.
As both Depp and Heard move forward, their stories serve as a testament to the complexity of human relationships—and the power of unexpected gestures to spark conversation, reflection, and, perhaps, a path toward healing. Whether Depp’s reaction was a genuine olive branch or a subtle nod to his past, it has undoubtedly left an impression, proving once again that Johnny Depp remains a figure capable of surprising the world, even in the quietest of moments.
