Teary-eyed Johnny Depp receives 7-minute standing ovation at Cannes

Amber Heard supporters lament with #CannesYouNot

Johnny Depp seemed back in full celebrity mode on Tuesday, signing autographs and taking pictures with fans before the premiere of the Cannes Film Festival's opening film Jeanne du Barry, which marks the actor's first major role since his high-profile defamation trial.

Fans in the French Riviera city were seen hoisting signs that read "Congrats, Johnny" and "We are sorry" with a heart. The festival delivered on its glamorous reputation with a parade of stars including Mads Mikkelsen, a blue-haired Helen Mirren and John C. Reilly making their way across the red carpet.

Michael Douglas, accompanied by his wife, Catherine Zeta-Jones, and their daughter, did not stop to sign autographs as he made his way into the Grand Theatre Lumiere, where the 78-year-old actor was given an honourary Palme d'Or. "There are hundreds of film festivals all around the world, but there's only one Cannes," Douglas told the crowd. "And suddenly, (it's) 76 years old - I'm even older than the festival," he quipped.

French cinema icon Catherine Deneuve, 79, who graces this year's festival poster, was also invited on stage to speak to guests.

Depp plays King Louis XV in Jeanne du Barry, directed and starring French actor and director Maïwenn Le Besco, known as Maïwenn, as the French courtesan Madame du Barry who climbed the social ladder at Versailles to become the king's favourite. Critics highlighted the lush look of the film, which received funding from Saudi Arabia's Red Sea Film Foundation as part of a total estimated budget of $22.4 million - but said it lacked a pulse.

"Even the casting - some would say stunt casting - of Johnny Depp as the king offers a few early thrills and then mostly yawns," wrote The Hollywood Reporter. The French-language film, which does not yet have a release date for North America, marks the start of a comeback for the Pirates of the Caribbean actor, who has made few film or TV appearances since his trial concluded in June 2022.

Depp was handed a near-total victory by a U.S. jury in his defamation fight with former wife and actor Amber Heard, with jurors awarding him more than $10 million in damages. Less than two years before, Depp lost a libel suit in Britain against the Sun tabloid, which called him a "wife beater." Shortly after, Depp was dropped from the Fantastic Beasts movie franchise, a Harry Potter spinoff.

Festival director Thierry Fremaux said on Monday that he was unaware of Depp's image in the U.S. and because he was not banned from acting, there was no reason not to include the film. An open letter signed by more than 100 actors published on Tuesday in French newspaper Liberation criticized Cannes for "rolling out the red carpet to the men and women who assault." It said that sent a message that there were no consequences for such actions, though it did not give any specific names.

Applauded at Cannes

Jeanne du Barry received a rousing reception from the audience, who showed their appreciation with a standing ovation. The film, which opened the festival, showcased Depp's performance as King Louis XV and garnered positive reviews.

Following the screening, the audience erupted in applause, and Depp was visibly moved, holding back tears as he acknowledged the reception. The standing ovation lasted for an impressive seven minutes, indicating the level of admiration and support for Depp's portrayal of the character.

Amidst the emotional moment, director Maïwenn, who collaborated with Depp on the film, also broke down into tears and addressed the audience. Expressing gratitude, she thanked her team and supporters for their contribution to the challenging production process. Maïwenn's comments highlighted the difficulties in financing the film, emphasizing the importance of the film's success at Cannes.

Johnny Depp is teary-eyed as "Jeanne du Barry" receives a seven-minute standing ovation following its premiere at #Cannes2023. https://t.co/vCSwNkhYVL pic.twitter.com/NAigHMBwny

— Variety (@Variety) May 16, 2023

#CannesYouNot

The #CannesYouNot social media campaign has emerged as a critique of the Cannes Film Festival's alleged history of "celebrating abusers" for over seven decades. Launched by supporters of Amber Heard, the campaign gained traction online in the days leading up to the festival.

Eve Barlow, a journalist, activist, and close friend of Heard, shared the hashtag across her social platforms, accompanied by a series of photos featuring accused men who have been prominent figures at Cannes, including Johnny Depp, Roman Polanski, Harvey Weinstein, Woody Allen, Gerard Depardieu, and Luc Besson.

The campaign seeks to draw attention to what its organizers perceive as a pattern of the film industry protecting and supporting individuals accused of abuse. Many of those involved in organizing #CannesYouNot, including its main promoter, Rebecca, identify as survivors of sexual abuse and view the trial between Depp and Heard as disheartening and alarming.

They argue that the trial inadvertently became a platform for the backlash against the #MeToo movement, and by opening the festival with Johnny Depp's film, Cannes appears to be disregarding the larger issue of alleged abusers finding refuge within the film industry.

The city of Cannes has banned physical protests along the Croisette and its surrounding areas during the festival. However, the campaigners emphasize that they can still voice their dissent online, where the campaign is primarily taking place. They contend that while Cannes has claimed to take allegations of abuse seriously in the wake of the Harvey Weinstein scandal, it is hypocritical to open the festival with a film starring Johnny Depp if they truly support an anti-discrimination and anti-abuse policy.

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