Whitey Bulger’s Lawyer Complains About Johnny Depp’s Portrayal Of His Client

Whitey Bulger’s lawyer, Hank Brennan, has criticised the portrayal of his client in the recently released film, Black Mass. The film, which stars Johnny Depp as Bulger, follows the gangster’s murderous rise to become one of the most notorious in the U.S. Depp has been highly praised for his portrayal of Bulger by critics but Bulger’s lawyers and families of Bulger’s victims have a lot to say about Depp’s performance and his comments about the role.

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Bulger, aged 82, remains incarcerated on two life sentences stemming from a number of charges including murder. Speaking to People, Bulger’s lawyer claims Depp’s portrayal of his client is about as accurate as if he depicted him as “the Mad Hatter”.

"Johnny Depp might as well have been playing the Mad Hatter all over again as far as James Bulger is concerned," Brennan said. "Hollywood greed is behind the rush to portray my client, and the movie missed the real scourge created in my client's case, the real menace to Boston during that time and in other mob cases around the country – the federal government's complicity in each and every one of those murders with the top echelon informant program."

Bulger’s lawyers are not the only ones to complain about the film. Bulger’s victims and their families have objected to Depp’s recent comments about Bulger. Appearing at the premiere of Black Mass in Brookline, MA on Tuesday (15th September), 52-year-old Depp claimed there was some humanity in everyone, including Bulger.

“There’s a kind heart in there,” Depp said at the premiere. “There’s a cold heart in there. There’s a man who loves. There’s a man who cries. There’s a lot to the man.”

However, Depp’s comments have caused controversy and family members of Bulger’s victims have objected to the Depp’s claim Bulger possesses a “heart”. Bill St. Croix’s sister, Deborah Hussey, was 26-years-old when she was murdered by one of Bulger’s sidekicks.

“I wonder how Johnny Depp would feel if his sister got strangled and buried in the basement with two other corpses?” St. Croix told the Boston Globe. “There’s nothing humane about Jimmy Bulger... Shame on [Depp]. That was a very stupid, insensitive comment.”