Johnny Depp is making his big Cannes comeback — but his ex-wife Amber Heard’s friends are trying their best to pour cold water on it.
Depp, 59, will appear on the red carpet for the premiere of “Jeanne du Barry,” which is officially opening the Cannes Film Festival on Tuesday.
He plays Louis XV in the movie, directed by and co-starring the French actor-director Maïwenn.
But even as sources close to Depp say the star is thriving — with a new Dior deal that Page Six is told is worth more than $20 million and a directorial debut with Al Pacino in the works — he’s under fresh fire.
Heard’s close friend, journalist Eve Barlow, posted a photo of Depp on Instagram over the weekend, writing, “Cannes seem proud of their history supporting rapists and abusers. Plus ça change. #CannesYouNot.”
A second image bore the words: “‘Jeanne Du Barry’ Representing Abusers at Cannes.”
Instagram/ Eve Barlow
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She also posted a photo of Depp alongside directors Woody Allen and Roman Polanski, each of whom has been accused of sexually abusing a minor.
Allen has denied abusing his daughter Dylan, while Polanksi pleaded guilty in 1977 to unlawful sex with a 13-year-old girl — but fled to France rather than serve prison time in the US.
The meme, with the headline “Why Does Cannes Platform Predators?,” also included convicted rapist Harvey Weinstein, actor Gérard Depardieu (who has denied any criminal behavior after facing sexual assault and harassment allegations made by 13 women over the past two decades) and Luc Besson.
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The French director was accused of repeatedly raping an actress, but the Paris Court of Appeal dismissed the accusations last year.
However, a source close to Depp told Page Six: “The other people in this post are alleged or convicted child predators and rapists; that is not Johnny. He won his trial and he was not accused of anything like this.”
Barlow is living with Heard and the actress’s young daughter, Oonagh, in Spain.
She posted a claim Tuesday that protest fliers are being handed out at theaters showing “Jeanne du Barry,” reading: “The film you are about to see — Maïwenn’s ‘Jeanne du Barry’ — contains scenes featuring Johnny Depp, who is involved in proven acts of violence against his former wife Amber Heard.”
Source: https://pagesix.com/2023/05/16/amber-heard-pals-protest-johnny-depp-at-cannes-film-festival/