RICHARD KAY: What Mohammed bin Salman told Johnny Depp about the murder of Jamal Khashoggi… and why his answer only strengthened the world’s most unlikely ‘bromance’

RICHARD KAY: What Mohammed bin Salman told Johnny Depp about the murder of Jamal Khashoggi… and why his answer only strengthened the world’s most unlikely ‘bromance’

Given Johnny Depp’s troubled past with his ex-wife, Amber Heard, even Hollywood screenwriters wouldn’t make up this outrageous claim about him being asked to see a Saudi prince while on set. But it did occur.

The actor quickly becomes friends with Saudi Arabia’s powerful Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, known as ‘MBS’, despite their vastly different reputations—one as a controversial ruler with a poor human rights record, and the other as a party-loving actor with a troubled past. Vanity Fair describes their unlikely friendship as a unique bromance.

According to a friend of the Pirates Of The Caribbean star, they really connected and many people are surprised. Both Johnny Depp and the prince feel upset about how they’ve been shown to the world. Depp faced tough court cases and his reputation suffered. He lost money and a role in a movie. The prince’s image was tarnished by the murder of Jamal Khashoggi, which went against his image as a reformer.

It’s unclear if this will be a story of both the prince and Depp getting better. The prince, who is wealthy and powerful, doesn’t have much to worry about. But for Depp, there’s a lot at stake. There’s talk that he might become an ambassador for Saudi Arabia, with a big salary. Some people online are upset about this, saying it’s just a way to improve Saudi Arabia’s image. They point to other examples, like when famous athletes joined Saudi teams, as similar attempts to improve the country’s image. But Depp’s involvement is seen as more serious. Some people are angry, calling him names and accusing him of supporting a bad government.

What’s happening with Johnny Depp and his new friendship with the prince? They seem close, going on trips together and spending time on the prince’s luxurious yacht. This friendship might show how Depp is trying to start over after a rough time.

Recently, he faced tough legal battles with his ex-wife, Amber Heard, where disturbing details about their marriage came out. These included fights, substance abuse, and allegations of violence. Depp lost a case in the UK but won one in the US, where he claimed he was the one who suffered abuse. Now, it seems he’s trying to move forward and rebuild his life.

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And the jury agreed. Depp got £12 million, later reduced to £8.3 million, but had to pay £1.6 million to his ex-wife. They both ended up paying less in the end. The messy case caused a big fight online between their fans. Ms. Heard had to sell her house to pay her legal fees and moved away.

Depp turned to music, playing with his friend Jeff Beck on tour in the UK, which helped him connect with fans. But getting back into movies was tough. Hollywood was unsure about him after the court cases. In France, though, people were more open, so he chose a French movie for his comeback. The movie, “Jeanne du Barry,” didn’t get great reviews at Cannes but will be released in the UK and US soon. The Saudis helped fund the movie, and on set, Prince Bader bin Farhan Alsaud interrupted a meeting.

In 2017, Prince Bader made headlines by buying Leonardo da Vinci’s Salvator Mundi painting for $450 million. Depp initially refused his requests but eventually met him. The prince convinced Depp to attend the Red Sea Film Festival in Jeddah in late 2022.

Depp was amazed by Saudi Arabia’s changes under MBS’s plan, spending over seven weeks there. He stayed in royal places, flew on MBS’s helicopter, and even gave the prince a painting. Saudi Arabia invested in Depp’s film “Modi,” and Depp has spent time on his private island in the Bahamas. Despite concerns about his friendship with MBS, Depp’s friends say it’s about film and culture, not politics.

RICHARD KAY: What Mohammed bin Salman told Johnny Depp about the murder of Jamal Khashoggi… and why his answer only strengthened the world’s most unlikely ‘bromance’ first appeared on dailymail