Johnny Depp and his co-stars were greeted with a resounding seven-minute standing ovation at the Cannes Film Festival during the screening of the French-language film “Jeanne du Barry.” Videos circulating on social media captured Depp’s emotional response, as tears welled up in his eyes amidst the overwhelming praise.
In recent years, Depp garnered significant attention due to his highly publicized legal dispute with his ex-wife, Amber Heard. Last year, he filed a lawsuit against Heard, alleging that her op-ed about being a victim of abuse amounted to defamation, although she did not mention him by name. The trial, which lasted several weeks, involved both parties testifying in explicit detail about the alleged abuse they endured. Ultimately, the jury awarded Depp $10.35 million and Heard $2 million.
During a panel discussion for “Jeanne du Barry” at Cannes, Depp acknowledged the controversy that has surrounded him. Reflecting on the negative public perception, he remarked, “While we’re here to discuss a film, it feels like you’re asking, ‘How are you doing?’ but what lies beneath the surface is ‘God, I hate you.'”
He further expressed frustration with the way his life has been portrayed in the media, stating, “The majority of what you’ve read over the past five or six years concerning me and my life is a mixture of astonishingly and horribly crafted fiction.”
Depp also addressed the impact of the legal battle on his career, claiming that he lost acting opportunities and suffered financial setbacks as a result of Heard’s op-ed. He alleged that Disney severed ties with him from the “Pirates of the Caribbean” franchise, in which he famously portrayed Jack Sparrow. Heard’s legal team, however, argued that the decision had been made before the publication of her article.
Depp’s presence at Cannes garnered a mixed response. While he received an extended standing ovation and enjoyed the support of enthusiastic fans on the red carpet, there were also dissenting voices. Some individuals expressed their displeasure with the hashtag #CannesYouNot, believing that Depp’s involvement disregarded the concerns of those who felt that Heard had been wronged in their legal dispute.
