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Johnny Depp received a seven-minute standing ovation at this year’s Cannes Film Festival despite backlash over his appearance.
Following the premiere of French biographical drama “Jeanne Du Barry” during the event’s opening night on Tuesday, Variety reports that the actor got emotional as those in attendance broke out into prolonged cheers for his performance as King Louis XV.
Per the outlet, 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 said into the mic, “I want to share this moment with my lover, with my producer, with Le Pacte. It was a production that was difficult to finance … and I want to share this moment with all my team across the theater.”
Though hundreds of screaming fans showed up to the South of France’s annual film festival with supportive signs and autograph requests, not everyone was pleased to see Depp, 59, there.
The outing marked the Oscar nominee’s first public appearance since his highly publicized defamation trial against ex-wife Amber Heard, who accused him of abuse.
The jury sided mostly in Depp’s favor last summer, but the 37-year-old actress’ pals still have her back.
In fact, the “Aquaman” star’s close friend, journalist Eve Barlow — with whom she now lives in Spain — blasted those in charge of the event for “their history [of] supporting rapists and abusers,” adding, “#CannesYouNot.”
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But Cannes director Thierry Frémaux defended his decision to include Depp in the festival and open with his movie, admitting he paid no attention to the actor’s legal woes.
“I don’t know about the image of Johnny Depp in the US,” he said during a press conference, according to Deadline. “To tell you the truth, in my life, I only have one rule: It’s the freedom of thinking, the freedom of speech and the freedom to act within a legal framework.
“If Johnny Depp had been banned from acting in a film, or the film was banned, we wouldn’t be here talking about it.”
Frémaux went on to add, per the outlet, “If there’s one person in this world who didn’t find the least interest in this very publicized trial, it’s me.
“I don’t know what it’s about. I also care about Johnny Depp as an actor.”
