Johnny Depp and Will Smith traveled to Saudi Arabia over the weekend, apparently to try to recapture some of the red carpet glory they once enjoyed as two of Hollywood’s most beloved and bankable stars.
But the actors, whose careers have been separately damaged by various controversies, are apparently so eager to return to the limelight that they’ve opened themselves up to accusations of turning a blind eye to Saudi Arabia’s “egregious” human rights abuses by attending the Red Sea International Film Festival, the Puck newsletter and Daily Mail reported. The Saudi culture minister chairs the foundation which runs the festival in Jeddah, prompting human rights groups to say that celebrities who participate are engaging in “art-washing,” or “image-laundering,” by lending their names and star power to the event.
TMZ and other outlets reported that neither Depp nor Smith seemed particularly concerned about being complicit in this kind of image-laundering. In fact, both appeared delighted to be there. Depp, for example, was treated “like a rock star,” the Hollywood Reporter said, with people in the crowds outside the venue, shouting, “We love you Johnny!”
Certainly, Depp is no longer “widely embraced by many A-listers,” as TMZ said. But he could count on Smith, another troubled male star, to give him a warm greeting. Smith posted clips of himself and Depp hugging and chatting inside the venue, as if the two hung out together or even bonded over their respective falls from grace.
Meanwhile, other stars also attended the festival — or walked “the Saudi blood red carpet,” as Puck said. They include Sharon Stone, Michelle Williams, Sofia Vergara and Gwyneth Paltrow, the Daily Mail said. Puck also reported that major stars were offered $1 million to attend this “Saudi Boondoggle of Image Laundering.”
Smith, though, may have received even more than $1 million to grace the event with his presence, Puck said. Smith also made headlines by opening up at a festival event about the challenges he’s faced since he seriously damaged his career and his once-amiable reputation by slapping comedian Chris Rock on stage at the 2022 Academy Awards.
As CNN reported, Smith on Saturday spoke about the “unique monster” of fame he’s had to deal with. He also said he’s only ever wanted “to put good into the world” and “make people smile.” He added, “That’s what this next phase of my life is going to be, perfecting and shining my light as brightly as I can, on as many people as I can.”
Meanwhile, Puck reported that Depp may not have received any money for attending the film festival. However, the festival’s foundation financially backed his new film, “Jeanne du Barry,” which screened at the event and reportedly had a budget of $22.4 million.
The French-language historical biography marks Depp’s first feature film in more than three years, after he was mired in the controversy surrounding his lurid and protracted legal battles with ex-wife Amber Heard. After the film premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in May, Depp’s ardent fans hoped it would mark a comeback for the “Pirates of the Caribbean” star, after he won he last year’s defamation case against Heard.
Whether that comeback will happen remains to be seen. Thus far, “Jeanne du Barry,” in which Depp plays 18th-century French King Louis XV, has only played at theaters in France. It also has received mixed reviews, and it’s not known when it will be released in the United States.
Depp also has fierce critics, who are not so sure the actor deserves a smooth comeback, given that his defamation trial against Heard also showed that he could be self-indulgent and prone to threatening, out-of-control behavior and to abusing substances.
It also may not bode well for Depp, already a polarizing figure, to promote his new film at an event that will remind the public of its association to Saudi financing.
When Saudi Arabia launched the first Red Sea Festival in 2021, The Guardian cited critics who said that its government was using the event to try to cover up its poor human rights record. Critics said the government, under de facto ruler Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, crushes political dissent at home and pursues critics beyond the country’s borders, most notoriously by murdering journalist Jamal Khashoggi at a consulate in Turkey.
Earlier this year, a spokesperson for Human Right Watch, condemned the festival and exhorted celebrities to steer clear, the Daily Mail reported.
“For a number of years the Saudi government has been using this high profile festival as a means by which to draw attention from its egregious human rights record – and they are continuing to do this, unfortunately,” the spokesperson said. “The human rights record in the country is only getting worse.”
“It is deeply concerning that this festival is engaging powerful artists and performers and celebrities who have made use of freedom of expression through their art and yet are participating in a festival which is hosted by the government which does not tolerate that freedom,” the spokesperson also said. The message to celebrities from Human Rights Watch is: “If you must go, then use your platform to raise awareness about the human rights situation in Saudi Arabia.”
Unfortunately for Human Rights Watch, Smith didn’t seem inclined to upset his hosts and raise any kind of awareness about anything other than himself. On his Instagram, the actor shared the video of him enjoying the sights of Jeddah, golfing and going dancing. He also thanked the festival for welcoming him.
“Wow! Thank You Red Sea Film Festival!” Smith captioned the video. “You have created real Magic — An Oasis of art & creativity! What’s Next? I’m in.”