Johnny Depp is being sued by two of his former bodyguards.
Johnny Depp
The 54-year-old actor is facing legal action from security professionals Eugene Arreola and Miguel Sanchez, who are suing for a range of reasons, including unpaid wages and wrongful termination.
The duo were employees of the security firm Premiere Group International, but according to the lawsuit, Depp hired them both individually after he'd decided to cut his ties with the company in 2016.
Arreola and Sanchez claim they were told they would be considered "employees" by Depp, meaning they were to receive all of the usual benefits.
The duo said that between 2016 and 2018, "things began to spiral toward chaos", adding that they "found themselves in situations that required more than what a bodyguard would be expected to do".
More specifically, Arreola and Sanchez allege that they were "asked repeatedly to drive vehicles that contained illegal substances, open containers and minors".
In the lawsuit, they also allege that they were "forced to protect [Depp] from himself and his vices while in public, becoming caretakers for him".
The bodyguards explain that the "unsafe conditions and situations" in which they were forced to work led to them developing "stress-related injuries".
Neither Arreola and Sanchez was paid overtime in almost two years, according to the bodyguards, who also claim they weren't afforded meal and rests breaks, which are a legal requirement.
A significant number of the allegations in the lawsuit are actually directed towards Leonard Damian, the head of Depp's private security who is supposed to have been their direct supervisor.
And in spite of the lawsuit, the security professionals insist they don't bear any "ill will" towards the Hollywood star.
A section of the lawsuit reads: "[Arreola and Sanchez] were forced to leave their jobs despite claiming that they enjoyed many of the people they worked with and had no ill will toward Johnny Depp."
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