Rihanna faces backlash after Johnny Depp appears in leaked Savage X Fenty show images
Johnny Depp has been confirmed for Rihanna’s upcoming Fenty fashion show (Noam Galai and Axelle/Bauer-Griffin via Getty Images)
Leaked images have confirmed Johnny Depp will appear in Rihanna’s “Savage X Fenty” lingerie fashion show.
Reports broke on Thursday (3 November) that the actor would star in Rihanna’s upcoming Savage X Fenty Vol. 4 show, which will release on Amazon Prime Video on Wednesday (9 November).
While Rihanna or the brand have not confirmed the reports, images of Depp walking the catwalk have emerged on social media, reportedly after previews of the show were sent to journalists. Variety has also confirmed his casting.
Immediately there was backlash, with many citing Depp’s highly-publicised and controversial defamation trial against ex-wife Amber Heard.
A jury mostly sided with Depp over a 2018 op-ed in which Heard discussed being a victim of abuse. However, the the court also ruled in favour of one claim in Heard’s countersuit against Depp.
A previous case in the UK found that The Sun did not libel Depp when it described him as a “wife-beater” in an article claiming he assaulted Heard.
Olly Alexander took to Twitter to say he will “no longer be wearing” Savage X Fenty items after the news.
“Thank you but after this news I won’t be wearing it anymore,” he said, replying to a fan who told him he wears the brand “so well”.
Another user added: “Rihanna can’t be serious? With all these beautiful and unproblematic men in Hollywood, and Johnny Depp is the one that appeals to you the most?”
thank you but after this news i won’t be wearing it anymore https://t.co/MvW5LuHTow
— olly alexander (@alexander_olly) November 3, 2022
Depp will appear in the Savage X Fenty Vol. 4 show alongside several LGBTQ+ stars, including Drag Race’s Kornbread, social media personality Rickey Thompson, model and actor Cara Delevingne and Lilly Singh.
Amber Heard has stated that she will appeal after she was ordered to pay Depp $10.35 million in damages for being found to have defamed him in a 2018 op-ed for The Washington Post, in which she described being a victim of abuse, without naming Depp.
The trial concluded on 1 June, and saw the seven-person jury mostly side with Depp in the lawsuit.
Throughout the lengthy trial held in Virginia, Depp was accused of sexually assaulting Heard and texting a friend saying that he hoped “Amber Heard’s rotting corpse was decomposing” in the trunk of a car.
Depp denied hitting Heard after her accusations, stating that he would “never strike a woman”, and denied the sexual assault claim.
After the ruling in June, Heard said in a statement: “I’m heartbroken that the mountain of evidence still was not enough to stand up to the disproportionate power, influence and sway of my ex-husband.
“I’m even more disappointed with what this verdict means for other women. It is a setback. It sets back the clock to a time when a woman who spoke up and spoke up could be publicly shamed and humiliated.
“It sets back the idea that violence against women should be taken seriously.”
A spokesperson for Depp said in a statement about Heard’s appeal: “The jury listened to the extensive evidence presented during the six-week trial and came to a clear and unanimous verdict that the defendant herself defamed Mr Depp in multiple instances.
“We remain confident in our case and that this verdict will stand.”
