Fans Just Discovered the Dark Secret Behind Jack Sparrow’s Past

Fans of Pirates of the Caribbean have only recently uncovered a hidden part of Captain Jack Sparrow’s past that explains why he’s often seen as the “worst pirate.” The long-running movie series, which began with The Curse of the Black Pearl in 2003, has captivated audiences with its mix of adventure, humor, and a star-studded cast including Johnny Depp, Orlando Bloom, and Keira Knightley.

Despite it being over eight years since the last installment, Dead Men Tell No Tales, viewers are just now piecing together a key detail about Sparrow’s backstory.

According to Corner of Film, a deleted scene sheds light on why Jack Sparrow gained his notorious reputation. In the films, he is repeatedly called the “worst pirate” by other characters, even though he clearly has impressive skills in sailing, navigation, and… drinking rum.

The deleted scene shows that Sparrow once worked as a privateer for the East India Trading Company and was given the task of transporting a ship called the Wicked Wench with supposed “cargo.”

After realizing that the cargo was actually 100 enslaved people, Sparrow freed them and took the ship for himself. In the scene, he tells Cutler Beckett, “People aren’t cargo, mate.” Beckett’s career suffered as a result, and in revenge, he had Jack’s beloved ship burned and sunk.

To save the ship, Sparrow made a deal with the nearly immortal Davy Jones, who agreed to restore the vessel in exchange for 100 souls. The ship, damaged by the fire, became the Black Pearl, and Sparrow turned to piracy as a way to keep it afloat.

Given that Sparrow freed hundreds of people and only turned to piracy to save his ship, the label of “bad pirate” seems misleading. Fans now interpret it as a reflection of Sparrow’s refusal to follow the usual pirate code of selfish plundering.

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