A leading group of female filmmakers from Spain is condemning an award show decision to honor actor Johnny Depp following multiple domestic violence allegations against him, The Associated Press reported.

The president of Spain’s Association of Female Filmmakers and Audiovisual Media, Cristina Andreu, told the AP that she was “surprised” that the San Sebastian International Film Festival will honor Depp with their lifetime achievement award, called the Donostia Award. 

Andreu called the festival’s decision to honor Depp a “terrible message,” adding the festival is forgoing his recent allegations just because of his accomplishments, according to the AP. 

“This speaks very badly of the festival and its leadership, and transmits a terrible message to the public: ‘It doesn’t matter if you are an abuser as long as you are a good actor,’ ” Andreau told the AP. 

Depp lost a libel case last year against a British newspaper that accused him of domestic violence in which a judge ruled the allegations were “substantially correct,” AP reported. An appeal was denied in March, with the attempt to overturn the decision determined to have “no real prospect of success.”

Depp is also suing his ex-wife, actress Amber Heard, for $50 million for a Washington Post op-ed on domestic violence. That trial is delayed until April, the AP noted. 

The actor is expected to receive the award in person on Sept. 22.