"Insiders say Depp is now weighing a seven-figure annual contract."
February 18, 2024 2:47 PM Subscribe
Yes. Gross domestic-abuser Johnny Depp.
posted by maryellenreads at 2:52 PM on February 18 [16 favorites]
posted by maryellenreads at 2:52 PM on February 18 [16 favorites]
Let's not overlook that Mohammad Bin Salman is the person who ordered that journalist Jamal Khashoggi be tortured to death in a particularly horrific manner.
posted by mhoye at 2:54 PM on February 18 [56 favorites]
posted by mhoye at 2:54 PM on February 18 [56 favorites]
Y'all, Johnny Depp is very brave
posted by Nelson at 2:58 PM on February 18 [39 favorites]
One night, Depp summoned the courage to ask a simple but potentially explosive question: What really happened with Khashoggi? ...Case closed, nothing to worry about here. MBS told Depp he took responsibility.
MBS told Depp he didn’t order the murder but nonetheless took responsibility.
posted by Nelson at 2:58 PM on February 18 [39 favorites]
Was just thinking the other day what a creep Johnny Depp is... his over the top PR campaign for his side during the Amber Heard defamation trial already sealed it for me.
posted by maggiemaggie at 3:01 PM on February 18 [12 favorites]
posted by maggiemaggie at 3:01 PM on February 18 [12 favorites]
This is weird. Is it meant to be an investigative look at the way toxic men support each other? A critical take on the way Saudi interest (and vying for their attention) is increasingly driving Western culture? Or just a (potentially paid for) puff piece to show off how powerful MBS is and how interesting Depp is? Don't tell me Variety wasn't required to send drafts to the Prince's PR team for sign off or editing before it was printed.
Grim, either way.
posted by fight or flight at 3:02 PM on February 18 [18 favorites]
Grim, either way.
posted by fight or flight at 3:02 PM on February 18 [18 favorites]
i guess teaming up with MBS is one way to get a head in the movie business
posted by They sucked his brains out! at 3:12 PM on February 18 [28 favorites]
posted by They sucked his brains out! at 3:12 PM on February 18 [28 favorites]
"i guess teaming up with MBS is one way to get a head in the movie business"
posted by "They sucked his brains out!"
Eponysterical! Also, a "Monkey Island" reference! That's a twofer!
posted by techSupp0rt at 3:15 PM on February 18 [13 favorites]
posted by "They sucked his brains out!"
Eponysterical! Also, a "Monkey Island" reference! That's a twofer!
posted by techSupp0rt at 3:15 PM on February 18 [13 favorites]
I feel this is another couple where “…,together in Hell” could be effectively appended.
posted by GenjiandProust at 3:15 PM on February 18 [10 favorites]
posted by GenjiandProust at 3:15 PM on February 18 [10 favorites]
investigative look? A critical take?
Hmm... nope, that's not it...
just a (potentially paid for) puff piece
Yeah, that sounds more like it.
posted by Ghidorah at 3:19 PM on February 18 [9 favorites]
Hmm... nope, that's not it...
just a (potentially paid for) puff piece
Yeah, that sounds more like it.
posted by Ghidorah at 3:19 PM on February 18 [9 favorites]
I wonder if it is tied to some recent kerfuffle over Depp getting replaced in that pirate series he once starred. Gotta feed the PR machine to stay relevant, perhaps.
posted by They sucked his brains out! at 3:23 PM on February 18
posted by They sucked his brains out! at 3:23 PM on February 18
This article equates Depp/Heard with Khashoggi's murder?
I mean it's an interesting approach. Even more interesting to actually post this to MetaFilter. Let's see how it goes.
posted by hippybear at 3:32 PM on February 18 [3 favorites]
I mean it's an interesting approach. Even more interesting to actually post this to MetaFilter. Let's see how it goes.
posted by hippybear at 3:32 PM on February 18 [3 favorites]
So it's gone from sportswashing to Deppwashing?
posted by clawsoon at 4:08 PM on February 18 [3 favorites]
posted by clawsoon at 4:08 PM on February 18 [3 favorites]
21 Chump Street
posted by Abehammerb Lincoln at 4:27 PM on February 18 [11 favorites]
posted by Abehammerb Lincoln at 4:27 PM on February 18 [11 favorites]
They sucked his brains out!: i guess teaming up with MBS is one way to get a head in the movie business
I saw what you did there.
posted by dr_dank at 5:08 PM on February 18 [1 favorite]
I saw what you did there.
posted by dr_dank at 5:08 PM on February 18 [1 favorite]
"Saudi Arabia Finds Surprising New Oily Reserve"
posted by srboisvert at 5:44 PM on February 18 [16 favorites]
posted by srboisvert at 5:44 PM on February 18 [16 favorites]
Depp’s introduction to Prince Badr was set in motion by Sina Taleb, a French wheeler-dealer whose famous friends include Leonardo DiCaprio and Tobey Maguire. During a chance meeting in Cannes, Taleb and Badr got to talking about how to bring more A-list talent to the kingdom to support its burgeoning film industry.
This is actually a pretty good burn paragraph.
posted by srboisvert at 5:46 PM on February 18 [5 favorites]
This is actually a pretty good burn paragraph.
posted by srboisvert at 5:46 PM on February 18 [5 favorites]
Maybe two wrongs do actually make a right after all?
posted by dg at 7:12 PM on February 18 [1 favorite]
posted by dg at 7:12 PM on February 18 [1 favorite]
In some far distant future, maybe there'll be fairy tales about our civilization, except instead of magic, the supernaturally powerful driving force woven through all the stories will be money.
You want a supermodel girlfriend, a palatial home, to eat and drink only the finest and rarest delicacies, to be waited on hand and foot for a lifetime? Trivial, you just need money. You want an unsustainable monument to capitalism and greed, the tallest tower on earth, in the middle of a barren desert? It's yours for the right price. You want fame, power, worship? Money can turn the basest most irredeemable man into a king, or a prince, or a president. You want to control what people read, or talk about, or think? All the tools are for sale, all of the spaces are for sale. You want to lie, cheat, steal, rape, and murder without consequence? Penalties for all of these crimes and more are but a momentary inconvenience, if even that, as long as you have money.
When I was a kid I'd read fantasy and think, it's sad to live in a world that's so mundane, how awesome would it be to live in a world full of magic? And now I realize, we basically live in that world, because the things unlimited money make possible are nearly indistinguishable from magic. And I fucking hate it, because like the ironic twist ending of some of the best fairy tales, like the curl of a monkey's paw, it seems only the very worst people ever get to appreciate that level of magic, and they do only the worst things with it, to the detriment of everyone else.
posted by Two unicycles and some duct tape at 7:13 PM on February 18 [94 favorites]
You want a supermodel girlfriend, a palatial home, to eat and drink only the finest and rarest delicacies, to be waited on hand and foot for a lifetime? Trivial, you just need money. You want an unsustainable monument to capitalism and greed, the tallest tower on earth, in the middle of a barren desert? It's yours for the right price. You want fame, power, worship? Money can turn the basest most irredeemable man into a king, or a prince, or a president. You want to control what people read, or talk about, or think? All the tools are for sale, all of the spaces are for sale. You want to lie, cheat, steal, rape, and murder without consequence? Penalties for all of these crimes and more are but a momentary inconvenience, if even that, as long as you have money.
When I was a kid I'd read fantasy and think, it's sad to live in a world that's so mundane, how awesome would it be to live in a world full of magic? And now I realize, we basically live in that world, because the things unlimited money make possible are nearly indistinguishable from magic. And I fucking hate it, because like the ironic twist ending of some of the best fairy tales, like the curl of a monkey's paw, it seems only the very worst people ever get to appreciate that level of magic, and they do only the worst things with it, to the detriment of everyone else.
posted by Two unicycles and some duct tape at 7:13 PM on February 18 [94 favorites]
box, this was a fascinating read, thanks! Pretty menacing undertones for a puff piece, and I want a VF profile on the "French wheeler-dealer," Sina Taleb. DiCaprio, Maguire, and: "Like Depp, [LeBron] James and [his business partner, Maverick] Carter were introduced to Saudi Arabia by Taleb." What wheels, which deals? (Are paintings involved? Crypto? Yachts?) In Dan McCrum's "Money Men (A Hot Startup, A Billion Dollar Fraud, A Fight for the Truth)," former Wirecard COO/current fugitive from justice Jan Marsalek has an old friend named Sina Taleb. A Sina Taleb was a director with Global Energy Advisors Limited; that company dissolved in 2020.
Another burn: Still, luring the biggest names in Hollywood takes more than cash. Many in the industry are nervous about the reputational risks of associating with Saudi Arabia. Khashoggi’s murder is a major concern, and he’s far from the only critic who has been targeted. Countless others have been arrested and detained. The kingdom also has a dismal human rights record and backward positions on LGBTQ+ rights, freedom of speech, and other issues generally sacred to Western liberals. Martin Scorsese declined an invitation to attend the Red Sea Film Festival last year, but not everyone is so skittish.
posted by Iris Gambol at 7:31 PM on February 18 [6 favorites]
Another burn: Still, luring the biggest names in Hollywood takes more than cash. Many in the industry are nervous about the reputational risks of associating with Saudi Arabia. Khashoggi’s murder is a major concern, and he’s far from the only critic who has been targeted. Countless others have been arrested and detained. The kingdom also has a dismal human rights record and backward positions on LGBTQ+ rights, freedom of speech, and other issues generally sacred to Western liberals. Martin Scorsese declined an invitation to attend the Red Sea Film Festival last year, but not everyone is so skittish.
posted by Iris Gambol at 7:31 PM on February 18 [6 favorites]
like the ironic twist ending of some of the best fairy tales, like the curl of a monkey's paw, it seems only the very worst people ever get to appreciate that level of magic, and they do only the worst things with it, to the detriment of everyone else.
It’s odd how acquiring that level of power in fantasy is usually sought by corrupt evildoers, and requires unholy pacts and sacrificing the innocent.
posted by zamboni at 7:31 PM on February 18 [12 favorites]
It’s odd how acquiring that level of power in fantasy is usually sought by corrupt evildoers, and requires unholy pacts and sacrificing the innocent.
posted by zamboni at 7:31 PM on February 18 [12 favorites]
"Johnny was an actor, once near number one.
Love turns abuse from there it didn't take too long.
Johnny needs millions for is carbon based lifestyle
when he couldn't get it from the West..."
Somewhere, Dodi Fayed must be laughing his ass off.
posted by clavdivs at 8:28 PM on February 18 [3 favorites]
Love turns abuse from there it didn't take too long.
Johnny needs millions for is carbon based lifestyle
when he couldn't get it from the West..."
Somewhere, Dodi Fayed must be laughing his ass off.
posted by clavdivs at 8:28 PM on February 18 [3 favorites]
I'm surprised more kingdoms don't 9/11 us. Evidently it's a great way to make a lot of powerful friends and money, even pal around with our worst celebrities.
posted by GoblinHoney at 8:48 PM on February 18 [8 favorites]
posted by GoblinHoney at 8:48 PM on February 18 [8 favorites]
Evidently it's a great way to make a lot of powerful friends and money, even pal around with our worst celebrities.
The Safari Club
posted by clavdivs at 9:50 PM on February 18 [2 favorites]
The Safari Club
posted by clavdivs at 9:50 PM on February 18 [2 favorites]
I think it's fascinating how at almost thirty comments in we're still doing little jokes and puns around a domestic abuser. As if we haven't been over this so many times. We can make fun of his names as many time as we'd like but I'd like you to know that it does not matter.
I was going to link to Gerard Depardieux. But like, no one cares.
posted by Neronomius at 9:55 PM on February 18 [3 favorites]
I was going to link to Gerard Depardieux. But like, no one cares.
posted by Neronomius at 9:55 PM on February 18 [3 favorites]
our civilization, except instead of magic, the supernaturally powerful driving force woven through all the stories will be money
CAN I JUST MARK THIS AS AN ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT OBSERVATION
posted by Barbara Spitzer at 10:11 PM on February 18 [13 favorites]
CAN I JUST MARK THIS AS AN ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT OBSERVATION
posted by Barbara Spitzer at 10:11 PM on February 18 [13 favorites]
We can make fun of his names as many time as we'd like but I'd like you to know that it does not matter.
Johnny Schlepp. JOHNNY SCHLEPP.
posted by They sucked his brains out! at 10:25 PM on February 18 [1 favorite]
Johnny Schlepp. JOHNNY SCHLEPP.
posted by They sucked his brains out! at 10:25 PM on February 18 [1 favorite]
Johnny who carries things around? I don't even get how that's an insult. I don't think the insults work, but they definitely don't work when they're that opaque.
posted by Audreynachrome at 11:34 PM on February 18 [3 favorites]
posted by Audreynachrome at 11:34 PM on February 18 [3 favorites]
I mean, these days, is there a more insulting name for either than their actual names?
posted by GenjiandProust at 3:10 AM on February 19 [9 favorites]
posted by GenjiandProust at 3:10 AM on February 19 [9 favorites]
What a pair of trumps.
posted by flabdablet at 4:27 AM on February 19 [4 favorites]
posted by flabdablet at 4:27 AM on February 19 [4 favorites]
I recently saw a woman with a giant colour tattoo of Depp as captain thingy on her shoulder/arm and I thought... that's a hell of a statement, quite a position to take. Is this like a vow of celibacy, I wondered? A desire to be left alone, isolated, shunned from society? It is not quite as bad as getting, say, an enormous Winston Churchill tattooed on the small of your back, but if that's a home run nope, then Depp on your shoulder is a solid base hit.
posted by seanmpuckett at 5:06 AM on February 19 [2 favorites]
posted by seanmpuckett at 5:06 AM on February 19 [2 favorites]
Roger Stone has a Richard Nixon tattoo on his back (!) and sadly he has lots of friends.
posted by scolbath at 5:16 AM on February 19 [1 favorite]
posted by scolbath at 5:16 AM on February 19 [1 favorite]
Marilyn Manson is staying up late scratching Johnny's name off his Trapper Keeper.
posted by mittens at 5:22 AM on February 19 [4 favorites]
posted by mittens at 5:22 AM on February 19 [4 favorites]
When right wingers complain about people being cancelled, how can men like Depp ever really be so when you've got very rich men willing to embrace them into their moneyed fold?
posted by Kitteh at 5:23 AM on February 19 [3 favorites]
posted by Kitteh at 5:23 AM on February 19 [3 favorites]
This article equates Depp/Heard with Khashoggi's murder?
Well, the thing about corruption is that it has no bottom.
posted by Halloween Jack at 5:48 AM on February 19 [2 favorites]
Well, the thing about corruption is that it has no bottom.
posted by Halloween Jack at 5:48 AM on February 19 [2 favorites]
Giants: Art from the Dean Collection of Swizz Beatz and Alicia Keys currently on display at the Brooklyn Museum.
posted by armacy at 5:54 AM on February 19 [1 favorite]
posted by armacy at 5:54 AM on February 19 [1 favorite]
Misogyny loves company…
posted by vim876 at 6:04 AM on February 19 [6 favorites]
posted by vim876 at 6:04 AM on February 19 [6 favorites]
"And I fucking hate it, because like the ironic twist ending of some of the best fairy tales, like the curl of a monkey's paw, it seems only the very worst people ever get to appreciate that level of magic, and they do only the worst things with it, to the detriment of everyone else."
Two unicycles, you're so very right. But not only do only the worst people get to appreciate that level of magic, the magic in this (our) setting has a deciteful, corrupting nature. Many are easly taken in by it's promise of easy power, but even those who would strive to do only good with it can lose sight of their goals, of their true cost. Worst of all, the corruption can set in even when you don't have access to the magic - it is so thoroughly diffused through the setting that everyone is afflicted.
posted by Rudy_Wiser at 8:13 AM on February 19 [4 favorites]
Two unicycles, you're so very right. But not only do only the worst people get to appreciate that level of magic, the magic in this (our) setting has a deciteful, corrupting nature. Many are easly taken in by it's promise of easy power, but even those who would strive to do only good with it can lose sight of their goals, of their true cost. Worst of all, the corruption can set in even when you don't have access to the magic - it is so thoroughly diffused through the setting that everyone is afflicted.
posted by Rudy_Wiser at 8:13 AM on February 19 [4 favorites]
If anyone here has any extra corrupting magic laying around that they don't want and are not sure how to get rid of it properly, feel free to send it to me, I'll take care of it for you.
My MagicPal.me link is available upon request.
posted by KHAAAN! at 8:34 AM on February 19 [2 favorites]
My MagicPal.me link is available upon request.
posted by KHAAAN! at 8:34 AM on February 19 [2 favorites]
Johnny Depp is an insulting name in German - no extra creativity required.
posted by syzygy at 11:29 AM on February 19 [2 favorites]
posted by syzygy at 11:29 AM on February 19 [2 favorites]
The kingdom also has a dismal human rights record and backward positions on LGBTQ+ rights, freedom of speech, and other issues generally sacred to Western liberals.
Well, and that whole women are second class citizens thing.
posted by jokeefe at 11:01 AM on February 20 [5 favorites]
Well, and that whole women are second class citizens thing.
posted by jokeefe at 11:01 AM on February 20 [5 favorites]
MBS is a a monarch with more money than anyone can conceive of and, reportedly, is infatuated with western media despite not being schooled abroad. I think this is just a case of a guy with effectively unlimited power just wanting to have famous friends to hang out with. It's gross, of course -- as is Depp, the purported human -- but gulf monarchs do all sorts of upsetting and / or impulsive things with their money.
posted by Dark Messiah at 1:07 PM on February 21
posted by Dark Messiah at 1:07 PM on February 21
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