Johnny Depp stars in his first post-trial commercial for Dior’s Sauvage fragrance brand after a high-profile court battle with ex-wife Amber Heard.
Depp, 59, has been the focus of an avalanche of headlines in recent months after a $50 million defamation lawsuit was filed against Heard, 36, in response to a 2018 op-ed in The Washington Post , in which she said she was a domestic abuse survivor.
In June, after a high-profile trial in Fairfax, Virginia, the jury found that Heard had indeed defamed Depp and awarded him more than $10 million. Depp was ordered to pay Heard – who had countersued $100 million – $2 million for defaming her through comments made by his attorney, Adam Waldman.
Johnny Depp is seen on October 17, 2021 in Rome, Italy. He is pictured as an inset on June 19, 2022 in Helsinki, Finland. A new advert for Dior’s Sauvage fragrance has been unveiled on the brand’s verified Instagram account. Daniele Venturelli/Getty Images;/Venla Shalin/Redferns
Immediately following the trial, Depp flew to the UK to perform in a series of concerts with Jeff Beck and later performed at shows across Europe.
The shows were used as the basis for Dior’s new Sauvage commercial, starring Depp as he prepares to take the stage for the final of the concert series, which took place on July 25 at Paris’ famous L’Olympia.
In black-and-white shots by photographer Greg Williams, the star sits backstage, spliced with footage of him walking through the hallowed halls of the venue before taking the stage.
“How do I feel that Paris is the last show on the tour? That’s fitting,” says Depp. “I saw Vanessa [Paradis, former partner] Here at the Olympia. I brought my kids to see Bob Dylan here at the Olympia. I met Charles Aznavour at the Olympia. It’s really a very special place and the sound from the stage is immense.”
Depp swings his guitar and takes the stage in front of a screaming crowd while continuing to share, “Sauvage brings me a lot of memories, a lot of shows brings me right back and I see the person who used to wear it. It’s a sensory reminder, so a smell can make you travel.
With the opening chords of The Troggs’ 1960s classic “Wild Thing” playing in the background, Depp concludes, “Sauvage represents the idea of fearless yet human.” The ad can be seen at the top of this article.
Depp’s commercial was unveiled Monday on verified Dior Beauty’s Instagram account, along with photos of the screen star posing backstage.
The first batch of photos, which has garnered more than 1.3 million likes, was met with a flood of enthusiastic comments from Depp fans, who expressed pride in the actor and thanked Dior for sharing the update.
Depp and Dior’s working relationship dates back to 2015, when the Pirates of the Caribbean star signed on to launch then-new brand Sauvage. The fragrance was Dior’s first eau de cologne in a decade.
Dior quietly stood by Depp during the court battle between himself and Heard, which took place in Fairfax, Virginia. Depp and Heard accused each other of violence during their ill-fated relationship – allegations they both vehemently denied.
On June 18, Dior shared images and footage of a previous campaign Depp shot with the brand, less than three weeks after the jury made its verdict.
Amber Heard is pictured on June 1, 2022 in Fairfax, Virginia. The screen star was sued by ex-husband Johnny Depp over a 2018 op-ed for The Washington Post in which she said she was a domestic violence survivor. EVELYN HOCKSTEIN/POOL/AFP via Getty Images
Shortly after the sentencing, Depp, who had received a strong outpouring of support on social media during the trial, shared a statement on Instagram saying the “jury gave me my life back.”
“False, very serious and criminal allegations were leveled against me through the media, sparking an endless barrage of hateful content, although no charges were ever brought against me,” he said in part in the statement.
“From the beginning, the goal of bringing this case forward was to uncover the truth, regardless of the outcome,” he continued. “Telling the truth was something I owed to my children and to all those who have steadfastly supported me. I feel reassured knowing I’ve finally made it.
“I am overwhelmed by the outpouring of love and colossal support and kindness from around the world.”
Johnny Depp and Amber Heard are pictured in New York City on April 24, 2014. The stars wed in 2015 and announced their split the following year. Bruce Glikas/FilmMagic
Both sides have now announced that they will appeal the verdicts. Details surrounding the trial have also returned to the fore after unsealed court documents shed new light on previously unseen information.
Depp previously lost a 2020 libel case against British tabloid The Sun, which had called the actor a “wife beater” in relation to Heard’s allegations.
Heard accused Depp of domestic abuse during their 2016 divorce proceedings. The stars, who wed in 2015, officially dissolved their union in January 2017, months after Heard filed for divorce.
While Depp repeatedly denied ever having been violent towards Heard during the three-week trial in London, the Superintendent found that the British publication’s claims that the actor had molested Heard were “essentially true”.
Depp was “requested to step down from Fantastic Beasts 3” following the 2020 verdict. He was then replaced in his role as Gellert Grindelwald by Mads Mikkelsen.