Johnny Depp Receives Standing Ovation at Cannes Film Festival Despite Backlash

Despite recent backlash over his personal life, Johnny Depp received a seven-minute standing ovation at this year’s Cannes Film Festival. The actor got emotional as those in attendance broke out into prolonged cheers for his performance as King Louis XV in the French biographical drama “Jeanne Du Barry.” Reports indicate that Depp held back tears as he waved to the applauding audience from a balcony inside the Grand Théâtre Lumière. The movie’s director and star, Maïwenn, who plays the king’s lover, reportedly cried as she thanked her team and shared the moment with them.

Controversy Surrounding Depp’s Appearance

While hundreds of fans showed up to support Depp, not everyone was pleased with his appearance. The actor’s first public appearance since his highly publicized defamation trial against ex-wife Amber Heard, who accused him of abuse, made some people unhappy. The jury sided mostly in Depp’s favor last summer, but the 37-year-old actress’ friends still have her back. Journalist Eve Barlow, who now lives with Heard in Spain, criticized the event organizers for “supporting rapists and abusers” and used the hashtag #CannesYouNot on social media.

However, Cannes director Thierry Frémaux defended his decision to include Depp in the festival. He admitted he paid no attention to the actor’s legal woes and emphasized his commitment to freedom of thinking, speech, and acting within a legal framework. Frémaux added that if Depp had been banned from acting in a film, or the film was banned, they wouldn’t be talking about it. He also expressed that he cares about Johnny Depp as an actor and was not interested in his personal life.

In conclusion, Johnny Depp received a standing ovation at the Cannes Film Festival despite controversy surrounding his personal life. The event organizers defended their decision to include the actor in the festival and emphasized their commitment to freedom of thinking, speech, and acting within the legal framework. The emotional response from Depp shows the actor’s gratitude towards the audience and his dedication to his craft.