Rihanna went ahead with casting Johnny Depp in her fashion show making a divisive decision (Picture: Amazon Prime Video)
Johnny Depp commanded the runway as he made a special appearance in Rihanna’s anticipated Savage x Fenty fashion show.
This came despite mounting backlash from critics who questioned Rihanna’s decision to cast Depp in the show in light of his bombshell libel trial against ex-wife Amber Heard this summer, which revealed shocking details of their tumultuous marriage.
Rihanna’s fourth Savage x Fenty fashion presentation debuted on Amazon Prime Video on Wednesday featuring appearances from models and celebrities such as Cara Delevingne, Irina Shayk, Joan Smalls, Lilly Singh, Damson Idris and Taraji P Henson.
Burna Boy, Anitta, Maxwell and Don Toliver took charge of performing while Rihanna herself opened the show with a runway strut.
However, all eyes were on the moment Depp, 59, made his brief appearance which saw him standing in the middle of the forest surrounded by male shirtless dancers. The Pirates of the Caribbean actor strutted towards the camera intently staring ahead as Outkast’s classic hit So Fresh, So Clean soundtracked his walk.
After sporting a bare face in recent weeks, the Hollywood star grew out a goatee and pulled his hair back in a messy ponytail. He wore the green Sheer X Smoking Jacket teamed with the Sheer X Sleep Pant from Rihanna’s unisex collection, as well as a vest top which boasted a plunging neckline.
Depp’s ‘star moment’ spanned less than a minute and closed with him leaning against a tree as the scene transitioned into a graphic.
His appearance received heavy criticism before the special was released and some are still unimpressed.
‘We aren’t streaming,’ one commented under a video of Depp’s cameo on Twitter.
Another critic chimed in: ‘This is so embarrassing,’ while one said: ‘As if the disrespect could get worse his part was to so fresh so clean…outkast sweetie I’m so sorry.’
Depp, 59, returned to the runway making a casual strut through a forest (Picture: Amazon Prime Video)
The Edward Scissorhands actor was surrounded by shirtless male dancers as he walked to Outkast’s So Fresh, So Clean (Picture: Amazon Prime Video)
Rihanna herself opened the show with a sultry appearance (Picture: Amazon Prime Video)
Although the singer appeared, she left the performing up to other artists such as Anitta and Burna Boy (Picture: Amazon Prime Video)
Irina Shayk modelling sheer lingerie from Rihanna’s latest collection (Picture: Getty Images)
Cara Delevingne was among the models walking the runway (Picture: Getty Images)
Anitta was among performers (Picture: Getty Images)
Lilly Singh joined the star-studded cast (Picture: Getty Images)
‘We dont want it, We stan with Amber Heard,’ one critic tweeted while another even claimed: ‘Rihanna is so over, I can’t.’
However, others defended both Rihanna and Depp including one supporter who said: ‘Savage show was really flawless, one of my favorites.’
‘He was amazing,’ another stated.
Heaping praise on the singer-turned-beauty mogul, another said: ‘And now I’m a Rihanna fan.’
‘He survived and is THRIVINGGG,’ one other fan chimed in.
Rihanna has not addressed the backlash surrounding Depp’s casting and seemed to have been unphased by calls to boycott the show.
Rihanna’s Savage x Fenty fashion show Vol 4 is available to watch on Amazon Prime Video.
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Rihanna’s fourth fashion presentation has debuted on Amazon Prime Video.
