Depp returned to the glare yesterday after his new movie was chosen to open this class ’s Cannes Film Festival , where he also received a seven - instant standing ovation .
This year’sCannes Film Festivalis officially underway, but not without a helping of controversy.
Yesterday, the annual festival opened with the world premiere ofJeanne du Barry, which starsJohnny Depp— marking his first lead role in three years following his legal disputes with his ex-wife,Amber Heard.
The decision to kick off the festival with Depp’s film sparked a wave of backlash in light of the fallout from Heard’sabuse allegationsagainst the actor during their highly publicized defamation court case last year.
Though Deppwon the trialand was awarded $10 million in compensatory damages in June, some have been disappointed by his swift return to the forefront of the industry, particularly in light of the fact that a UK judge ruled in 2020 that a tabloid’s claims he was a “wife beater” were “substantially true.”
Needless to say, the topic of Depp’s big-screen comeback was a notable talking point as the festival commenced yesterday, resulting inBrie Larson— who is serving onthis year’s jury— being asked about the subject during a press conference.
Seated alongside her fellow jurors ahead of yesterday’s opening night, the Oscar winner was left visibly uncomfortable when a Variety reporter singled her out and asked how she felt aboutJeanne du Barryopening the festival, and if she planned on seeing it. (For context, the film is not in competition for the Palme d’Or, which means as a member of the jury, it’s not mandatory that she should.)
“You’re askingmethat?” Brie responded, looking taken aback. “I’m sorry, I don’t understand the correlation or why me specifically,” she added.
The journalist clarified that the reason they’d aimed the question at her specifically and not her fellow jurors — including actorPaul Danoand a number of notable directors and screenwriters— was due to her “outspoken” advocacy for the Time’s Up movement — a non-profit organization founded in 2018 that raises money to support victims of sexual harassment, with a focus on women in film and TV industries.
TheRoomstar noted that she understood the justification, before offering a succinct response of her own.
“Well, you’ll see, I guess, if I see it, and I don’t know how I’ll feel about it if I do,” she said briefly.
Aclip of the exchangesurfaced online, prompting fans to discuss whether the question was “genuine,” or if it was “designed to set her up for harassment,” both in light of the ongoing contention surrounding Depp and Heard, and the way Brie has been treated by the media in the past.
Brie Larson was surprised to be asked about Johnny Depp ’s initiative film : " You ’re asking me that ? I ’m blue , I do n’t interpret the correlational statistics or why me specifically . “https://t.co/5Ec2S23051#Cannespic.twitter.com / QPfO1Yb4qS
For a bit of context, Brie has facedintense public vitriolsince she joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) as Carol Danvers/Captain Marvel in the comic adaptation back in 2019.
Captain Marvelwas theMCU’s first woman-ledmovie, however, Brie unfortunately wound up becoming victim to intense misogynistic scrutiny from Marvel fans who accused her of “ruining” the character after the movie received middling reviews.
In fact, the backlash was so pervasive online and among Marvel fans that Brieacknowledgedit last year when asked by a reporterhow longshe might play the character, responding: “I don’t know. Does anyone want me to do it again?”
So, in light of the merciless scrutiny she’s faced from trolls in the past, some fans felt she couldn’t be blamed for “not wanting to subject herself to that again” by commenting on the notoriously contentious topic of Depp’s abuse allegations under those circumstances.
Brie Larson was a victim of one of the most degenerate and violent misogynous hatred campaign on the internet and I can not blame her for not want to submit herself to that again .
“Brie Larson has every right not to answer the question. She didn’t pick the film to be on the lineup, she isn’t responsible forJeanne Du Barrybeing at the festival,” oneperson notedon Twitter. “The media would have taken her words and twisted them.”
Brie Larson has every right not to answer the interrogative sentence . She did n’t pluck the film to be on the lineup , she is n’t creditworthy for Jeanne Du Barry being at the fete . And she ’s bring forth so much torment over the years , the media would have taken her discussion and twisted them.https://t.co/YDns4wnNpA
“brie larson herself has been and still is a victim of an insane misogynistic campaign so i actually get why she would choose to be vague and evasive with her answers because whatever she says, on top of what she already experiences, especially online, she’s not gonna win,” agreedsomeone else, arguing that the question was a set up against her.
brie larson has been the face of one of the most widespread and vicious misogynous hate campaigns since she first come along in wonder and this question is plan to set her up for torment . none of you have any damn understanding for this char and it showshttps://t.co/YuJFjE3kpX
On the whole, there were a lot of people who praised Brie’s “excellent” handling of the question, which several fans described as “unnecessary” and intended as “bait” to rile up the “certain contingencies of the internet that don’t like her.”
The perfect response for the unneeded questionhttps://t.co/Jz4k30TQY5
“you can smell the ill intent coming from this question from a mile away,” someonetweeted. “this person knows brie was a victim of misogynist trolls, and they know any woman who was merely photographed next to amber caught a stray in the misogynist hate campaign against her.”
you may sense the ill intent coming from this interrogative sentence from a knot away . this person knows brie was a victim of misogynist trolls , and they know any womanhood who was just photographed next to amber caught a stray in the misogynist hate campaign against her . i m so aggravatedhttps://t.co/LQRk9Nfjak
That said, there were plenty of others who felt that it was warranted to question the actor on the topic given her advocacy for Time’s Up — but also noted that it seemed calculated not to extend the question to her fellow jurors.
“I think everyone participating in the festival should be asked that,” one persontweetedin the reporter’s defense. “I love Brie, but I also don’t think it’s a surprising or gotcha question.”
I think everyone participate in the fete should be asked that . I have it off Brie , but I also do n’t think it ’s a surprising or gotcha question.https://t.co/Wxnblg6Moo
“hollywood feminism is very opportunistic and performative and every criticism about it is warranted, but I don’t condemn brie for refusing to answer that question that seemed deliberately addressed to her in a way that sets her up for harassment no matter what she says,” someoneelse said.
hollywood women’s liberation movement is very opportunistic and performative and every criticism about it is warranted , but i do n’t condemn brie for refusing to answer that question that seemed deliberately come up to to her in a room that sets her up for harassment no matter what she sayshttps://t.co/XUuVqS3bwR
Brie has not commented on the debate. However, she did ultimately attend thepremiereforJeanne Du Barrylater that night alongside her fellow jurors, where Depp earned aseven-minute standing ovationand mediocre reviews for his performance in the film.
