The San Sebastian Film Festival is standing by |Johnny Depp in light of criticism over his upcoming appearance at the event. Recently, it was reported that Depp would be given the festival's highest honor, the Donostia Award, and he's scheduled to personally accept. The news was widely celebrated by fans after major studios like Disney and Warner Bros. severed ties with the embattled actor.

This announcement didn't go over well with everyone, however. Cristina Andreu, the President of Spain's Association of Female Filmmakers and Audiovisual Media, told the Associated Press she was "very surprised" by the news. She argued that honoring Depp "speaks very badly of the festival and its leadership," going on to refer to Depp as an "abuser." San Sebastian director José Luis Rebordinos has since responded to the backlash by releasing the following statement.

"In the first place, as the director of and person holding the highest responsibility for the Festival, I would like to repeat our commitment to fighting inequality, the abuse of power and violence against women. As well as meeting the commitments acquired in the Charter for Parity and the Inclusion of Women in Cinema, the Festival has consciously promoted the presence of female professionals at the head of its departments. By means of its September programme and throughout the year it participates in the questioning of society from a critical and feminist point of view. We have also endeavoured to create safe atmospheres for women in the Festival places of work and sites and, in the event of inappropriate behaviour, which has occurred, we have taken tough and rapid action."

Rebordinos then goes on to address the situation with Johnny Depp directly. Recognizing the "lynching on social media" that sometimes happens with celebrities, Rebordinos stresses that what's most important is to look at the facts. As it stands, Depp has never been arrested nor charged for any of the allegations made by ex-wife Amber Heard that he'd been physically abusive. He is therefore presumed innocent, as Rebordinos explains, which is why he will remain a part of the San Sebastian Film Festival.

"In these present times, when lynching on social media is rife, we will always defend two basic principles which form part of our culture and of our body of laws: that of the presumption of innocence and that of the right to reintegration. According to the proven data which we have to hand, Johnny Depp has not been arrested, charged nor convicted of any form of assault or violence against any woman. We repeat: he has not been charged by any authority in any jurisdiction, nor convicted of any form of violence against women."

Last year, Depp sued the publisher of a British tabloid that referred to him as a "wife beater" based on Heard's allegations. The case was tossed when the judge ruled that what Heard claimed was "substantially true," and he was subsequently asked to step down from his role in Fantastic Beasts 3. Depp's fans argue that the evidence suggests Heard was physically abusive to Depp during their marriage and that the allegations against Depp are fabricated.

Meanwhile, Dior has also stood by Depp while companies like Warner Bros. and Disney decided to part ways. The actor recently appeared in a new ad for the company, earning widespread praise for Dior from Depp fans on social media. For them, it's good to know that the San Sebastian Film Festival is standing by him as well. This news comes to us from Deadline.