Johnny Depp fans grew worried after spotting photographs of the legendary actor looking gaunt and pale.
The pictures showed the Pirates of the Caribbean star looking almost unrecognisable as he posed with fans in St. Petersburg, Russia, while touring with his band The Hollywood Vampires.
The 54-year-old actor looked uncharacteristically thin and exhausted, with a tired complexion. A far cry from the sun-kissed heartthrob who wooed whimsical French ladies in Chocolat.
Some fans were even worried about the health of their usually photogenic hero, panicking over whether or not he was ill.
One person gasped:
I know Johnny Depp is probably getting ready to play Grindelwald again and may be losing weight for a role, but he looks genuinely ill, quite worrying.
I know he’s lost a lot of fans past year or so, so I’m expecting backlash, but *shrugs* concerned anyway.
Another gulped:
Woah! Is Johnny Depp deathly ill or preparing for a ridiculous movie role?
Hot Johnny is something ’90s kids remember – this is not the Edward Scissorhands I had Such a crush on.
Woah! Is #JohnnyDepp deathly ill or preparing for a ridiculous movie role? Hott Johnny is something #90skidsremember – this is not the #Edwardscissorhands I had Such a #crush on pic.twitter.com/LWkXWfpFIi
— Something I Said (@SomethingISaid_) June 2, 2018
Johnny Depp looks so bad omg is he ill or something
— a. (@britneydrews) June 2, 2018
johnny depp looks kinda ill doesn't he? pic.twitter.com/uuoGQDtXpo
— pamtheresa (@pamtheresa2) June 2, 2018
what’s happening to johnny depp? no disrespect but he looks ill.
— ˗ˏˋbeeˊˎ˗ ? (@bizarrodream) June 3, 2018
I know Johnny Depp is probably getting ready to play Grindelwald again and may be losing weight for a role, but he looks genuinely ill, quite worrying :/ I know he's lost a lot of fans past year or so, so I'm expecting backlash, but *shrugs* concerned anyway. #JohnnyDepp #writer
— Gemma 'Dun an Doras' Tarr (@RealTilfsworld) June 2, 2018
However, other fans were enraged by this very personal speculation, noting how the unflattering lighting and stress of travelling while middle-aged are much more likely culprits than illness.
One person fumed:
To everybody bleating about how ‘ill’ Johnny Depp looks – please post photos of yourselves taken in an airport corridor outside a toilet under fluorescent lighting and let’s see how good YOU look, especially if you are days away from turning 55…FFS
Another raged:
People, I don’t get it! Isn’t it normal to look tired on airports after spending many evenings with playing concerts, meeting many fans and flying forth and back for days?
He isn’t 30 anymore! He has the damn right being tired and look like this after a long flight!
People, I don't get it! Isn't it normal to look tired on airports after spending many evenings with playing concerts, meeting many fans and flying forth and back for days? He isn't 30 anymore! He has the damn right being tired and look like this after a long flight! #JohnnyDepp
— Andrelope6695 (@Andrelope6695) June 2, 2018
Speculating on health to get clicks is simply shameful! #JohnnyDepp is in great shape, is touring with his band, it's a very happy moment for him. No journalist hints at the fact that he sings very well and plays even better on his tours. all this for a bad picture! SHAME! SHAME! pic.twitter.com/Xkps0IrqeK
— Martina C. (@martinadeppfan) June 3, 2018
Bodyshaming media dragging Johnny Depp through broken glass and trying to scare his fans is beyond disgusting. Glad to see he just keeps going, doing what he loves the most. I'm so proud of this angel ❤️? #JohnnyDepp #respectforjohnnydepp pic.twitter.com/34ujwrsV3Z
— Because It's Johnny Depp (@MyGrindelwald) June 3, 2018
…Happy with the HV tour, happy to be doing what he loves the most, music. He's just tired, running from January, who would not be? People grow old too, understand this, but he will always have the young spirit and love him. Thank you!! #JohnnyDepp
— Bruna França (@bruniis_f) June 3, 2018
I bet the people that think Johnny Depp is ill because he’s had a fucking shave are the same people that think women wake up every day with a full face of makeup and poppin’ highlight on. Absolute idiots.
— Venus ? (@AutumnOnVenus) June 4, 2018
Celeb make-up artist and Pouts & Pinups owner Stacey Whittaker has now offered her thoughts to the MailOnline about the reason why this onscreen captain looks less than ship-shape.
Whittaker has argued how by ditching his usual heavy eyeliner, Depp is giving off a much different vibe:
Usually Johnny Depp has a cool grunge style, however here he is not sporting his signature smudged guy-liner, which makes his eyes appear smaller.
The make-up guru added:
Dark eyes can look harsh as we get older, but Depp’s normal sultry looking eye would never overpower his face and would actually give him more definition and colour.
Without his attention-grabbing guy-liner it makes his eyes seem tired and dull, and his skin extremely pale, whereas liner would brighten and bring out the whites of the eye.
Check out Depp appearing The Graham Norton Show back in 2017, when similar rumours about his wellbeing were floating around:
Back in 2016, Depp’s ex-wife Amber Heard was granted a restraining order against Depp after making the following statement in her court declaration:
During the entirety of [their] relationship, Johnny has been verbally and physically abusive to [her].
Heard claimed the last violent incident took place just two days prior to her filing for divorce. She provided the court with two witness accounts as well as photographs of her own face as evidence.
Depp has denied the claims and his lawyers have claimed Heard was attempting ‘to secure a premature financial resolution by alleging abuse.’
If Johnny Depp would be weak and ill he would be on bed , not touring the world and rocking concerts which obviously require a lot of energy Its common sense but some people on social media and fake journalists of tabloids are unbelievably stupid lacking common sense too?♀️
— Zahra (@SmartSwag_) June 3, 2018
So called “Fans”,real fans can see that he is happy & healthy. Actually he is ON STAGE NOW with his band playing his guitar in Germany. If a normal person looks thin and skinny and u just post online and say oh this man is ill! Maybe that is BODYSHAMING.#Johnnydepp
— YouKnowWhoIAm (@Kaito15Depp) June 2, 2018
A settlement was eventually reached on August 16, 2017. Heard received $7 million and dismissed the restraining order held against Depp.
If you’ve been affected by any of these issues, and want to speak to someone in confidence contact the 24-hour National Domestic Violence Helpline on 0808 2000 247. Do not suffer in silence.
If you have a story you want to tell send it to UNILAD via [email protected]
Jules studied English Literature with Creative Writing at Lancaster University before earning her masters in International Relations at Leiden University in The Netherlands (Hoi!). She then trained as a journalist through News Associates in Manchester. Jules has previously worked as a mental health blogger, copywriter and freelancer for various publications.