Johnny Depp says childhood abuse shaped how he raises his kids: “She taught me how not to raise kids”

Johnny Depp in a July 5 interview with The Telegraph shared some details about his childhood and how it has shaped him as a parent. The Pirates of the Caribbean star who is the father of Lily-Rose Depp and Jack Depp from his former girlfriend Vanessa Paradis, stated that he experienced abuse from his mother growing up.

Johnny Depp stated that he endured beatings from his mother Betty Sue Palmer growing up:

"She beat me with a f--king stick, a f--king shoe, an ashtray, a phone. It didn’t matter, man.”

The Edward Scissorhands actor added that his mother’s abuse had taught him how to raise his kids:

"I thank her for that,” he continued. “She taught me how not to raise kids. Just do the exact opposite of what she did."

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“I cannot tell you how much I loved being papa,” Johnny Depp shares details about raising his two kids in France

The 62-year-old actor had recently opened up about raising his children and watching them leave the house as adults in an interview with The Sunday Times in June 2025.

Depp reflected on how he missed his children being around the home:

“Years get away from us, don’t they?” Depp added, before sharing, “I’m of the empty-nest syndrome.”

When asked if his children’s absence from the home affected him, the actor replied:

"Oh man, my kids growing up in the south of France in their youth? I was Papa. I cannot tell you how much I loved being Papa.”

He continued:

"Then, suddenly, Papa was out the window. I was Dad. But Papa was awesome and I’m getting old enough for Papa to possibly come back.”

Johnny Depp also revealed that he considered the place where he raised his kids in the South of France as home:

"Truly, the first time I felt I had a home was the place in the south of France where Vanessa and I raised the kiddies. That’s the only place that ever felt like home.”

The Hollywood icon also revealed that he had warned his children not to venture into the acting industry:

"Sometimes kids say to me, 'I want to be an actor, what's your advice?" And I say, "Don’t be!'

Johnny Depp added that he had advised his kids to be true to themselves regardless of the circumstances:

"I know what's coming for them. I was chucked on that road and the only advice that I can give is, 'Don't allow anyone to make you something you are not.'

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