Johnny Depp made a bizarre comeback at the MTV Video Music Awards in New Jersey on Sunday, that prompted a mixed reaction on social media.
The pre-recorded bit showed Depp, 59, dressed up as the music channel’s iconic Moonman logo in his first major TV appearance since his defamation trial against ex-wife Amber Heard.
Depp – whose face appeared to be superimposed in the space suit – could be heard in a voice over saying: ‘I just want you guys to know that I’m available for birthdays, Bar Mitzvahs, Bat Mitzvahs, weddings, wakes, any old thing you need.’
Alluding to his drama with his ex-wife Heard, 36, that he claims caused him to lose out on film roles, the embattled actor joked: ‘And you know what? I needed the work.’
Bizarre: Johnny Depp was seen flying into the MTV Video Music Awards on Sunday night in New Jersey in a bit that was pre-recorded
Following the bit, one person raged on Twitter, ‘MTV is so disgusting for this Johnny Depp s***,’ while another wrote: ‘Man f*** MTV for giving Johnny Depp a platform.’
However, Depp also received praise from his loyal followers, with one tweeting: ‘Johnny Depp is so funny and I’m so happy to see him move on from the negative hate and lies.’
Depp shared a clip of the video on his own Instagram account and wrote in the caption for his roughly 27.5 million followers, ‘guess who? #VMAs’.
The MTV Video Music Awards appearance was Johnny’s first major sighting on US television since he was a guest in 2017 on the Jimmy Kimmel Live talk show.
Quip: Alluding to his drama with his ex-wife Heard, 36, that he claims caused him to lose out on film roles, the embattled actor joked: ‘And you know what? I needed the work’
Comeback appearance: Johnny made a surprise comeback appearance with a floating astronaut suit on Sunday during the MTV Video Music Awards in New Jersey
Depp made a few appearances throughout the awards show broadcast from the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.
‘VMAs let’s get back to the f***ing music, shall we,’ he also said at one point from the spacesuit.
MTV launched on August 1, 1981, with NASA footage of the historic Apollo 11 landing in 1969 with the MTV flag being planted on the moon. Those first images were followed by the first music video of Video Killed The Radio Star by the Buggles.
The Moonman has been the centerpiece of the VMA winner’s statue and in 2017 the network unveiled a new ‘Moon Person’ design to mark its 40th anniversary.
Making an appearance: Johnny’s face appeared to superimposed into the Moonman, as his voiceover could be heard on the show
High above: The 59-year-old actor was shown hovering high above the stage as the network’s Moonman logo with only his face visible on a helmet
Iconic imagery: MTV launched on August 1, 1981, with NASA footage of the historic Apollo 11 landing in 1969 with the MTV flag being planted on the moon
Social media: Johnny, shown in September 2021 in France, also shared a clip of the video on Instagram
Johnny sued his ex-wife Amber in February 2019 over her December 2018 op-ed in The Washington Post and she countersued him in August 2020.
The Depp v. Heard trial was held in Fairfax County, Virginia from April 2022 to June 2022 and its livestream was widely watched and generated heavy traffic on social media.
The jury found in favor of Johnny who was awarded $10 million in compensatory damages and $5 million in punitive damages from Amber. The punitive damages were later lowered to $350,000 due to a limit imposed by Virginia state law.
Giving testimony: Amber Heard is shown in May giving testimony in the explosive Depp v. Heard defamation trial in Virginia
Public trial: Johnny sued his ex-wife Amber, shown together in October 2015 in London, in February 2019 over her December 2018 op-ed in The Washington Post and she countersued him in August 2020
Johnny over his long career has won five MTV Movie Awards, including Best Male Performance, Best Villain, Global Superstar and the Generation Award in 2012.
His appearance at the 2022 VMAs was met with mixed reactions on social media.
Some users on Twitter loved seeing him again and appreciated his self-deprecating sense of humor.
Others, however, thought MTV made a ‘poor decision’ and one tweet criticized Johnny for engaging in a ‘humiliation ritual to be accepted back into Hollywood.’
Mixed reactions: The actor’s appearance at the 2022 VMAs was met with mixed reactions on social media with some happy to see him
Clever guy: A tweet praised Johnny for his ‘extremely clever’ choice of words
Poor decision: Another Twitter user thought Johnny as Moonman was a ‘poor decision’
Humiliation ritual: Johnny’s comeback was viewed by a Twitter user as an embarrassing ‘humiliation ritual to be accepted back into Hollywood’
Johnny will be making his return to acting in the upcoming period piece Jeanne du Barry that began filming last month in France.
Images were shared earlier this month of Johnny as his character King Louis XIV in the film directed by French director Maïwenn, 46, who also stars in the movie.
Johnny also will direct an upcoming film about Italian artist Amedeo Modigliani, co-produced by Al Pacino and Barry Navidi.
Acting return: Johnny, shown in May 2017 in Los Angeles, will be making his return to acting in the upcoming period piece Jeanne du Barry that began filming last month in France
Source: | Dailymail.co.uk