Well, that was weird.
Johnny Depp made his first televised appearance since winning the Amber Heard defamation trial Sunday night at the MTV Video Music Awards.
The first blink-and-you-missed-it moment happened after Jack Harlow and Fergie, as well as Lizzo took performed.
Depp’s clean-shaven face and seemingly pulled back hair appeared in a digitally superimposed astronaut floating above the stage,
“Hey, you know what? I needed the work,” Depp said before a narrator announced co-emcee LL Cool J to the stage.
His likeness appeared again in the astro suit after a following commercial break, before Khalid took the stage. “Hey VMAs, let’s get back to the f- -king music, shall we?” Depp quipped before disappearing again.
As the night continued, it was clear the Depp’s hologram would be a permanent fixture throughout the night. His interstitial statements included a plea for work. “I’m available for birthday … Oh, and I’m a dentist,” he joked.
Days before the event, a source close to the award show confirmed to The Post that the “Pirates of the Caribbean” actor would make a surprise appearance likely via video. (TMZ first reported rumblings of his appearance on Aug. 20.)
The surprise drop-in didn’t site well with some audiences on social media.
“I can’t stop laughing, this is what his fans called ‘johnny depp’s big comeback’,” mocked @liliandaisies on Twitter.
“Johnny Depp showing up at the VMAs for funny cameos is really f- -king gross,” journalist Alex Suskind slammed.
Fans of the embattled actor defended the gig. As one insisted, “Johnny Depp saying ‘Hey, I needed the work’ was pretty funny, but you gotta be read well into the Depp drama to know what it’s about. That said, kudos to the #VMAs for giving a defamed man a chance to be back in the limelight.”
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Reps for Depp declined to comment when The Post reached out, but before the event, a source said he was “really excited” to appear at the VMAs — and he is “ready for his comeback.”
In 2012, Depp received the MTV generation award at the network’s movie awards. He also played guitar with the Black Keys during their performance of “Gold on the Ceiling” that night.
But this summer, after coming out legally victorious in the Heard case, Depp has only been publicly spotted on tour with rocker Jeff Beck throughout Europe. He also announced a forthcoming tour with Joe Perry, Alice Cooper and Tommy Henriksen, who make up rock supergroup the Hollywood Vampires.
However, he did address fans on TikTok, with a video montage of his supporters standing outside the courthouse during the trial, as well as shots of him jamming onstage with Beck.
He did not speak to the camera in the video but expressed his gratitude in the caption.
“To all of my most treasured, loyal and unwavering supporters,” he wrote. “We’ve been everywhere together, we have seen everything together. We have walked the same road together. We did the right thing together, all because you cared.”
“And now, we will all move forward together,” he added. “You are, as always, my employers and once again I am whittled down to no way to say thank you, other than just by saying thank you. So, thank you. My love & respect, JD.”
Depp’s appearance is one of many planned happenings during the VMAs. Blackpink,
J Balvin, Lizzo and Panic! at the Disco will all perform, as will co-host Nicki Minaj, who will be honored with the video vanguard award.
