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‘I needed the work!’ Buzz about Johnny Depp’s surprise ‘moonman’ appearance at MTV VMAs

August 29, 2022 | | Print Article

Johnny Depp made a surprise appearance at the 2022 MTV VMAs Sunday night in what was billed as “a bizarre comeback” by some in the media.

The A-list actor took part in a pre-recorded bit at the beginning of the awards show dressed up as MTV’s iconic Moonman logo, with his face digitally superimposed onto the helmet of the floating Moonman.

“I just want you guys to know that I’m available for birthdays, Bar Mitzvahs, Bat Mitzvahs, weddings, wakes, any old thing you need,” Depp can be heard saying.

“And you know what? I needed the work,” he told the crowd

In a second appearance coming back from commercial, Depp quipped, “Hey VMAs, let’s get back to the f—ing music, shall we?”

The gig comes nearly three months after prevailing in his defamation trial against ex-wife Amber Heard and was likely more of an announcement that he is getting back to work after all the drama rather than an actual appeal for work.

Depp was awarded more than $10 million in damages when a seven-person jury found that Heard defamed him in her 2018 Washington Post op-ed about domestic violence that didn’t mention the actor by name. Heard did win one of her three defamation countersuit claims and was awarded $2 million.

There was a mixed reaction to Depp’s cameo online… here’s a quick sampling of responses from Twitter:

Tom Tillison
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