Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

As it happenedended1668069000

Rihanna Savage x Fenty - latest: Fans say Johnny Depp and Rihanna are ‘over’ amid controversial appearance in fashion show

Depp enslited for ‘star’ moment in singer’s fourth showcase

Meredith Clark
New York
,Chelsea Ritschel
Thursday 10 November 2022 08:30 GMT
Comments
Johnny Depp To Make Guest Appearance in Savage X Fenty Show

Rihanna’s highly-anticipated Savage x Fenty Vol 4 show has finally landed, but it was already making headlines ahead of its release due to the presence of a controversial figure.

The singer’s fashion show, which aired on Amazon Prime Video on Wednesday (9 November), included a star-studded cast of models, musicians, and celebrities modelling pieces from her lingerie brand.

Rihanna, 34, described the fourth installment of her Savage x Fenty show as a “fashion exhibition,” featuring “new bodies, new silhouettes, new personalities, new characters, new energies” showcased on the runway.

The most-talked about moment of the event was undoubtedly Johnny Depp’s one-minute appearance. The actor was seen emerging from a dark, woodland landscape while Outkast’s 2000 single, “So Fresh, So Clean”, played in the background.

Depp sported his signature look for the feature, wearing multiple necklaces, silk Savage pyjamas, and a short robe, worn open at the front.

The controversial appearance comes after Depp’s high-profile legal battle with ex-wife Amber Heard over a 2018 op-ed written by the Aquaman star. The case concluded earlier this year when a jury ruled that Heard had defamed Depp in the op-ed. Heard was ordered to pay Depp US$10m (£8m) in compensatory damages and $5m (£4m) in punitive damages.

After news of Depp’s cameo was confirmed last week, many critics called for a boycott of the lingerie brand and of Rihanna’s cosmetic company, Fenty Beauty.

Former brand ambassadors like Olly Alexander have now vowed to ditch Savage x Fenty, while social media users have expressed their own disappointment in the fashion show’s casting.

1668024052

‘Rihanna’s casting of Johnny Depp in the Savage X Fenty show is a bizarre joke on us all'

“The joke seems to be on us – the public – and Savage X Fenty’s customers. What kind of statement does the casting of Depp – a man who’s said such obscene dehumanising things about women – make for a brand that’s supposed to be all about the celebration of women, inclusivity and diversity?”

Read more from Katie Edwards below:

Opinion: Johnny Depp at Savage X Fenty is a bizarre joke on us all

What kind of statement does the casting of Depp make for a brand that’s supposed to be all about the celebration of women, inclusivity and diversity?

Saman Javed9 November 2022 20:00
1668029618

Interestingly, not everyone was criticial of Depp’s cameo in the show, as some fans have applauded Rihanna for the inclusion.

Others have revealed that they’ve purchased Savage x Fenty items worn by the Pirates of the Caribbean actor during the fashion show.

Chelsea Ritschel9 November 2022 21:33
1668035396

While the Savage x Fenty show made headlines ahead of its release over the controversial decision to include Depp, many viewers revealed they were ultimately unimpressed by the latest instalment of the lingerie show, with some declaring Vol 4 “boring”.

“So is anybody going to talk about how boring the #SAVAGEXFENTYSHOW was this year?” one person tweeted.

Chelsea Ritschel9 November 2022 23:09
1668040256

There were also those who were impressed by the latest Savage x Fenty show, with one fan describing the fashion exhibition as “everything”.

The praise comes after Rihanna revealed in an interview with the Associated Press that she worked hard to top shows from previous years.

“It’s always challenging to beat the one before,” she said of her goal to outdo herself. “Next year is going to actually be the main challenge because this year was such a huge scale of a show and I don’t know how we’re going to beat it, but we’re going to have to try.”

Rihanna talks ‘obnoxious’ Savage x Fenty show amid backlash over Johnny Depp cameo

Singer has faced criticism since it was revealed Depp will make ‘star’ cameo in upcoming fashion show

Chelsea Ritschel10 November 2022 00:30
1668049796

As for how she described this year’s show, Rihanna told People that the fashion show was “obnoxious”.

“This show is obnoxious,” the Fenty Beauty founder said. “This one takes the cake. This is gonna be the show to beat. It is on a scale unlike anything we’ve ever done. It’s huge.”

She did not, however, address any of the backlash over Depp’s involvement in the show.

Rihanna talks ‘obnoxious’ Savage x Fenty show amid backlash over Johnny Depp cameo

Singer has faced criticism since it was revealed Depp will make ‘star’ cameo in upcoming fashion show

Chelsea Ritschel10 November 2022 03:09
1668056940

Since the show’s release, a significant amount of the reaction has been focused on Depp’s involvement. However, others have praised Rihanna for the “inclusion” displayed in the show.

This is not the first time the singer has been praised for using an inclusive and diverse cast of models to showcase her Savage x Fenty designs.

People are praising Rihanna for using diverse male models for lingerie line

Singer’s Savage X Fenty Vol 2 lingerie fashion show aired on Friday 

Chelsea Ritschel10 November 2022 05:09
1668065400

The singer also used the opportunity to make her modelling return, as the show saw Rihanna model her lingerie brand for the first time since she gave birth to her and A$AP Rocky’s first child in May.

Rihanna makes modelling return in Savage x Fenty show

The singer put on her first show since giving birth in May

Kate Ng10 November 2022 07:30
1668069000

As for Depp’s controverisal cameo, the actor made a one-minute appearance about halfway through the 40-minute show.

During the moment, Depp is seen dressed in khaki green as he walks towards the camera as OutKast’s “So Fresh, So Clean” plays.

Johnny Depp makes controversial appearance in Rihanna’s Savage X Fenty show

Actor was confirmed to be in the lingerie show last week

Kate Ng10 November 2022 08:30

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in