Jenna Ortega, 22, has officially addressed the swirling rumors suggesting a romantic involvement with 61-year-old actor Johnny Depp, finally putting the speculation to rest.
The actress, known for her role in Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, a project directed by Tim Burton—Depp’s frequent collaborator—was at the center of fan gossip before the film’s release. Reports had surfaced hinting that the Pirates of the Caribbean icon might make a cameo appearance in the long-anticipated sequel to the 1988 classic. This speculation was enough to ignite rumors about a potential relationship between Depp and Ortega.
Ortega, however, has now broken her silence and decided to put these rumors to rest once and for all.
The rising star, recognized for her role in Wednesday, has been candid about her experiences with negative online interactions in the past. The X actress opened up during a conversation with Elle Fanning for Variety’s Actors on Actors series, expressing how social media amplifies toxicity and manipulative behavior among young people.
Reflecting on her rise to fame, Ortega explained the pressure social media exerts, saying, “Social media, especially for people our age, becomes this endless cycle of comparison. It fuels a mentality where people gang up on others, and it can be incredibly manipulative.”
She shared how her increasing visibility post-Wednesday intensified the negativity she faced online, leading to an influx of unfair criticism and targeted trolling. Becoming emotional, she added, “They see your vulnerabilities and twist them in ways you never expect. It’s a bizarre, unsettling experience. I didn’t mean to get emotional about it, but it’s incredibly difficult to be honest without feeling like you’re risking your well-being. It’s so easy to feel like things are spiraling out of control.”
Currently, rumors surrounding Ortega’s personal life have been dominating headlines, specifically the alleged romantic link to Johnny Depp. Gossip intensified after the celebrity blog Deuxmoi claimed Depp and Ortega had been spotted together while working on the Beetlejuice sequel.
However, Ortega has firmly denied these claims, emphasizing their inaccuracy. Previously, a quote attributed to her circulated online, stating, “This is so ridiculous I can’t even laugh. I have never met or worked with Johnny Depp in my life. Please stop spreading lies and leave us alone.” However, she has since clarified that these words were falsely attributed to her.
During a recent interview with BuzzFeed, she elaborated on the fabricated nature of the quote, expressing frustration with how easily misinformation spreads. “It’s crazy to me. I never gave that quote. I didn’t say anything like that. Sometimes, it feels like articles invent quotes just to fuel the gossip cycle, but honestly, I thought it was hilarious.”
The widespread speculation even caught the attention of her Beetlejuice co-star Richard E. Grant, who playfully addressed the rumors during filming. Ortega recounted the encounter: “Richard approached me on set and jokingly said, ‘So, you and Johnny, huh?’ I couldn’t help but laugh. I mean, I don’t even know the man.”
Johnny Depp’s camp has also stepped forward to shut down the rumors. A representative for the Edward Scissorhands actor issued a clear statement emphasizing the lack of any personal or professional relationship between Depp and Ortega.
Speaking to NME, Depp’s representative confirmed, “Mr. Depp has no personal or professional association with Ms. Ortega. He has never met or communicated with her in any capacity. Furthermore, he is not involved in any projects with her and has no plans to be. These baseless and harmful rumors are entirely fabricated to tarnish his reputation.”
With both Ortega and Depp’s representatives providing definitive statements, the rumors about a romantic connection between the two have been firmly dispelled.