..Gary Dretzka
..Noah Forrest
..Leonard Klady
..R.J. Matson
..David Poland
..Douglas Pratt
..Ray Pride
..Michael Wilmington

April 14, 2003

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Thursday, September 4, 2003

The following is Johnny Depp's statement in reference to the article in German
Stern Magazine:

"Regarding the inaccurate and out of context misquote that is virulently spreading in the news — I am going to settle this now. Taken in context, what I was saying was that, compared to Europe, America is a very young country and we are still growing as a nation. It is a shame that the metaphor I used was taken so radically out of context and slung about irresponsibly by the news media. There was no anti-American sentiment. In fact, it was just the opposite. I am an American. I love my country and have great hopes for it. It is for this reason that I speak candidly and sometimes critically about it. I have benefited greatly from the freedom that exists in my country and for this I am eternally grateful.

My deepest apologies to those who were offended, affected, or hurt by this insanely twisted deformation of my words and intent."