Paul McCartney plays video of close friend Johnny Depp during Seattle show
It could be interpreted as a show of support for the embattled actor
By Joe Goggins
Paul McCartney played a video of long-time friend Johnny Depp at a recent concert in Seattle.
In what might be construed as a show of support for the ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ star, who is currently locked in a vicious defamation trial with ex-wife Amber Heard, McCartney played clips from the video to ‘My Valentine’ as he played the track at Climate Pledge Arena on Monday (May 2).
The video also stars Natalie Portman. Playing it to back the track has been a staple of his concerts for some time, but with Heard taking the stand in recent days to make distressing accusations about her time with Depp, the continued inclusion of the footage has raised eyebrows.
Video of the song, with Depp’s image clearly visible behind McCartney as he performs on piano, was posted to Instagram by Jill Vedder, a philanthropist and the wife of Pearl Jam frontman Eddie. She accompanied it with a caption defending the actor, saying: Might be controversial to post this video with J.D / Don’t care / Know him only to be a gentleman .. And while I support women and the “me too” movement / I also know some women who have destroyed the lives of innocent & good men. .. @johnnydepp … p.s verbal abuse is not cool either.. watch your tongue.”
Social media reaction was mixed. In among a slew of messages backing Depp, @LeenerLeft said on Twitter: “Shame on @PaulMcCartney. After the stuff he went through with Heather Mills, he should know better.” Meanwhile, @LloydLittle added: How could you possibly be team Depp? Please don’t tell us this is just a Yoko backlash? Wounded…”
McCartney is touring across the US on his ‘Got Back’ tour, which wraps up in East Rutherford, New Jersey on June 16, just two days before his 80th birthday. He headlines the Saturday night of this year’s Glastonbury festival a week later. On the opening night of the tour in Spokane, Washington last week (April 28), he used clips from Peter Jackson‘s ‘Get Back’ documentary to give the impression that John Lennon was duetting with him from beyond the grave.
Depp is suing heard for $50 million, alleging that she defamed him in a December 2018 opinion piece for the Washington Post, in which she discussed being a survivor of domestic abuse. She has filed a $100 million countersuit, claiming that her opinion is protected as free speech, under the first amendment to the US constitution. Yesterday, she gave harrowing testimony, claiming that Depp sexually assaulted her during their marriage. The trial continues.
McCartney will return to the UK in June when he headlines Glastonbury Festival.