Dakota Johnson slams cancel culture as ‘such a f***ing downer’ and says she had an ‘incredible time’ working with ‘cancelled’ co-stars Johnny Depp, Shia LaBeouf and Armie Hammer
Dakota Johnson has criticized ‘cancel culture’ as being ‘such a f***ing downer’ in a new interview.
The Fifty Shades of Grey star addressed the #MeToo movement that swept through the movie business in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter on Wednesday – which referenced her work with ‘canceled’ male actors such as Johnny Depp, Shia LaBeouf and Armie Hammer.
‘I never experienced that firsthand from any of those people,’ she told the outlet. ‘I had an incredible time working with them; I feel sad for the loss of great artists. I feel sad for people needing help and perhaps not getting it in time.’
Johnson worked with Depp on 2015’s Black Mass, LaBeouf on 2019’s The Peanut Butter Falcon, and Hammer on 2019’s Wounds – and all three male stars have been accused of some form sexual assault.
Speaking out: Dakota Johnson slams cancel culture as ‘such a f***ing downer’ and says she had an ‘incredible time’ working with co-stars Johnny Depp, Shia LaBeouf and Armie Hammer
The daughter of Melanie Griffith and Don Johnson continued: ‘I feel sad for anyone who was harmed or hurt. It’s just really sad. I do believe that people can change. I want to believe in the power of a human being to change and evolve and get help and help other people.’
Johnson goes on to suggest in the interview that there should be some ‘middle’ ground in how things are changing in the film industry – spurred on by the downfall of Harvey Weinstein, who was sentenced to 23 years in prison for various sex crimes last year.
‘I think there’s definitely a major overcorrection happening. But I do believe that there’s a way for the pendulum to find the middle,’ Johnson said.
‘The way that studios have been run up until now, and still now, is behind. It is such an antiquated mindset of what movies should be made, who should be in them, how much people should get paid, what equality and diversity look like.’
‘Incredible time’: Dakota praised working with Armie Hammer – who faced claims of cannibalism last year – on the 2019 psychological thriller Wounds
She added: ‘Sometimes the old school needs to be moved out for the new school to come in. But, yeah, cancel culture is such a f***ing downer. I hate that term.’
Hammer, 35, saw all of his film project vanish last year, after he was accused of abuse by multiple former partners and DMs allegedly sent by him were leaked that described dark fantasies involving cannibalism and rape.
Meanwhile Depp, 58, is still embroiled in a legal war with his ex-wife Amber Heard, 35, who had alleged claims of abuse that the actor vehemently denies.
LaBeouf, 35, faced claimed of abuse from his ex-girlfriend, singer Tahliah Barnet, known as FKA twigs.
Barnet had sued LaBeouf for abuse and sexual battery. He has also denied the claims.