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Depp, 58, lost a libel battle with a British
tabloid that labelled him a "wife beater" last year, when a
London court ruled he had repeatedly assaulted his former
partner, U.S. actor Amber Heard.
Since then the actor has complained of being boycotted by
Hollywood as his latest film "Minamata" struggled to secure a
U.S. release.
On Wednesday, Depp decried "this cancel culture or this instant
rush to judgement based on essentially what amounts to polluted
air that's exhaled."
"I'll go to somebody's house man. I'll perform in your kid's
birthday party at this point," he told a news conference,
shortly before a ceremony where he would be presented with the
Donostia award, San Sebastian's highest accolade.
"No one is safe as long as someone is willing to say one
sentence. It takes one sentence."
Depp ascended to Hollywood stardom in the 1990s with portrayals
of loners and outsiders in cult classics such as John Waters'
"Cry Baby" and Tim Burton's "Edward Scissorhands."
He became a household name with the swashbuckling Disney
franchise "Pirates of the Caribbean," playing fan favourite Jack
Sparrow.
But he was replaced from the third film in the "Fantastic
Beasts" franchise following the verdict against him in the
London libel trial.
Feminist groups and film industry associations criticised the
festival's decision to honour Depp when the award was announced
in August.
The CIMA association of female cinematographers and audiovisual
professionals said it was "an error from an ethical point of
view."
Responding to that criticism, festival director Jose Luis
Rebordinos said the award was a reflection of Depp's cinematic
achievements and unrelated to his personal life.
"The role of a film festival is not to judge the conduct of
members of the film industry," he said at the time.
Depp is the second recipient of the accolade this year. On
Friday, French actor Marion Cotillard received the statue from
Spanish actor Penelope Cruz.
(Reporting by Vincent West; Additional reporting by Nathan
Allen; Editing by Richard Chang)
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