Johnny Depp Details Mom’s Alleged Abuse: ‘She Beat Me With a F–king Stick’

Johnny Depp opened up about his challenging upbringing in a recent interview, disclosing alleged mistreatment by his mother, Betty Sue Palmer. He detailed difficult circumstances at home and explained that these early life experiences significantly influence the way he parent’s his own kids now.

Johnny Depp talks about his mom’s alleged abuse in childhood

Johnny Depp discusses the abusive experiences he claims to have faced at the hands of his late mother, Betty Sue Palmer, and explains how these events influenced his parenting style.

In a 2025 interview with The Telegraph, the actor stated, “She used various objects to hit me, such as a stick, a shoe, an ashtray, and even a phone. It didn’t matter what it was, but she did so. However, I want to express my gratitude for this experience. She showed me how not to raise children. All I need to do is the opposite of what she did.

In the year 2016, Palmer passed away at the age of 81. Johnny Depp, who shares daughters Lily-Rose (age 26) and Jack (age 23) with ex-partner Vanessa Paradis, stated that this event influenced his choice on how he wanted to be as a parent. During his defamation trial against Amber Heard in 2022, Depp had previously testified about Palmer’s “aggressive” and “uncompassionate” actions, mentioning his attempts to avoid getting caught in the crossfire of these behaviors.

In his own words, he expressed the heavy emotional burden by saying, “The verbal and psychological abuse I endured was nearly more agonizing than the physical beatings. The beatings were merely physical suffering, a type of pain I eventually found ways to cope with.” He further remembered Palmer hurling various household objects such as ashtrays and high-heeled shoes, and admitted that she frequently struck her children on the head.

In simpler terms, Christi Dembrowski – Johnny Depp’s sister – also shared accounts of their shared experiences. She stated, “She would physically harm us and throw objects.” Dembrowski affirmed that Johnny never responded in kind, stating, “He never resorted to such behavior.” Furthermore, both siblings agreed to create different home environments from their tumultuous childhood.

Dembrowski pointed out that Palmer became more amiable in her latter years, passing away in May 2016. Photos show Depp and Palmer attending public events together, like the 76th Academy Awards in 2004, suggesting a rekindling of their relationship towards the end of her life.

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2025-07-09 10:40