Ed Sheeran comes under fire after what he's seen doing with Johnny Depp

Ed Sheeran has been criticised over a resurfaced photo of him with Johnny Depp.

In a photo taken last July, Sheeran was spotted in a photograph with Depp, as well as Russell Crowe.

But, it caused some controversy among fans.

The picture was taken at an Andrea Bocelli concert near Florence in July 2024, and saw the three stars sitting backstage together.

"Teatro del Silenzio backstage shenanigans with Teddy & Johnny," Crowe wrote on X.

"Lubrication by Guinness. Perfect. Grazie Millie Maestro Andrea Bocelli. What an incredible experience."

The three men can be seen smiling while sipping on their pints, but the image was met with a fair bit of criticism from Sheeran fans.

Teatro del Silenzio backstage shenanigans with Teddy & Johnny.
Lubrication by Guinness.
Perfect.
Grazie Millie Maestro Andrea Bocelli. What an incredible experience. pic.twitter.com/plEbq1LMwj

— Russell Crowe (@russellcrowe) July 18, 2024

The focus of the backlash came from Depp's high publicised defamation battle with his ex-wife, Amber Heard, back in 2022.

The actors married in February 2015, but Heard had filed for divorce and a restraining order by spring of 2016. And in April 2022, the world watched as they faced each other in a US court.

This came after Depp lost his libel case in a UK court as a judge found the ‘majority of alleged assaults’ of his ex-wife to have ‘been proved.’

When the pair divorced, Heard claimed Depp had been ‘verbally and physically abusive’ and she wrote a column in The Washington Post with the headline: “I spoke up against sexual violence - and faced our culture’s wrath.”

The Pirates of the Caribbean actor sued Heard for libel over that and during the 2022 trial, he attempted to prove it was her who had violently abused him.

In the end, the jury found Depp to be a victim of defamation and he was awarded roughly $15 million (£12 million) in damages.

Despite the ruling, Sheeran fans had a lot to say on his association with Depp.

One person wrote: “Well that’s Russell and Ed cancelled. Hanging out with that guy. Really?”

Meanwhile, others called it 'gross.'

Plenty of fans had the opposite reaction, however, with another writing: "Legends together. F**k the haters."

While another said: "What I see is three men, not being actors or singers, just being people. Probably catching up on their friendships. Doesn't everyone deserve this. I think we forget, they maybe in the public view but they are people just like you and I. Cheers to all 3."

Sheeran, Depp and Crowe all made an appearance on stage at the event. While Ed performed, Depp played guitar and Crowe also belted out some tunes.