Schitt’s Creek actress apologizes for Halloween Depp-Heard costumes

Reviewing insane celebrity costumes is one of the highlights of Halloween, but a Schitt’s Creek star’s costume has shocked their fans for all the wrong reasons. Emily Hampshire, known for her role as Stevie Budd on Schitt’s Creek, shared a photo of herself and a friend dressed up as Johnny Depp and Amber Heard—from that sentence alone, this is not headed anywhere good.

In the now-deleted Instagram photos (captured by TMZ), Hampshire was dressed as Depp, with goatee and tattoos sharpied on, while her friend took on the role of Heard, sobbing exaggeratedly for the camera. Both were dressed in outfits worn in the Depp v Heard trial, and each held props referencing specific instances from the testimonies, including a bottle of wine and a Mr Hankey-esque fabric poop with googly eyes.

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When it comes to Halloween costumes, people often turn to iconic pop culture moments from the previous year, and the Depp v Heard trial was certainly memorable, if not what you would call fun pop culture.

In 2019, Johnny Depp sued former partner Amber Heard for defamation after Heard alleged domestic abuse in a Washington Post op-ed. The subsequent trial held national attention from April to June in 2022, and ultimately Depp was awarded $10 million in damages (later settled to $1 million).

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A consequence of the high profile status of the trial meant that the internet was plagued with mudslinging, ridicule and misogyny for months (more than usual, that is). And that’s all in addition to the general invasive nature of the trail itself. Needless to say, a case involving such serious topics as physical and emotional abuse is not the best fodder for cosplay.

Shortly after Hampshire’s followers voiced criticism over the photos, she quickly took the post down. On Thursday, Hampshire posted a screenshot of a written apology.

“I want to address what is one of the most thoughtless, insensitive, and ignorant things I’ve ever done,” the Schitt’s Creek actress wrote. “For Halloween, I stupidly thought it would be funny to dress as Johnny Depp and Amber Heard.

“I am deeply sorry and ashamed for putting something that awful out in the universe. Domestic abuse is never, ever funny. These are real issues with real people and I REALLY regret my actions. In the future, I will do better. I’m so sorry.”