There’s Been Another Bizarre Twist In The Johnny Depp Dog Smuggling Drama

Just when you think you’re out, Pistol and Boo pull you back in.

For those of you who’ve forgotten this bizarre chapter in our nation’s history, allow me to catch you back up. In May 2015, Johnny Depp was in Queensland with his now ex-wife Amber Heard filming the latest installment in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, which is somehow still a thing. But the couple soon found themselves on the wrong side of the law, after it emerged they had breached Australian quarantine laws by smuggling their two terriers, Pistol and Boo, into the country on board their private jet.

Upon catching wind of this, then Agriculture Minister, now Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce famously threatened to euthanise the pair. The dogs, that is, not Depp and Heard. The local and international media had an absolutel field day with the incident, while Heard ended up pleading guilty to one count of falsifying border protection documents. She and Depp also recorded an extremely uncomfortable video apology that ranks right up there as one of the least convincing performances of ol’ Captain Jack Sparrow’s career (okay, so maybe Charlie and the Chocolate Factory was worse. But it’s close).

Throughout the entire ordeal, Depp and Heard maintained that the whole thing was just a mistake, and that they honestly thought Pistol and Boo’s papers were all in order. But recent legal documents have thrown that claim into question.

Depp is currently embroiled in an ugly legal battle with his former business managers, The Management Group (TGM). According to People Magazine, TGM recently filed court documents claiming that Depp was “fully aware that he was illegally bringing his dogs to Australia,” and that the actor “falsely claimed to authorities and in public press interviews that the incident was a big misunderstanding because he supposedly believed his staff had obtained the necessary paperwork.”

Not only that, but the documents also allege that when Pistol and Boo were discovered, Depp “pressured one of his long-term employees to ‘take the fall’.” Damn that’s cold.

Barnaby Joyce has yet to comment on these fresh allegations, although I have to imagine he’s feeling pretty damn smug right about now.