The Years and Years singer has cut ties with Rihanna
Olly Alexander has ditched Rihanna’s brand Savage X Fenty, after she announced Johnny Depp will feature in her next show.
Last week, the Pirates of the Caribbean star was confirmed as being featured in a segment of Rihanna‘s upcoming Savage X Fenty Show Vol.4 on Amazon Prime Video.
Rihanna faced a fierce backlash over the news, given what was revealed during Depp’s highly publicised defamation case against his ex-wife, Amber Heard. The actor faced a string of sexual and abuse allegations, but ultimately won his case and was awarded $10 million in compensatory damages and $5 million in punitive damages (later reduced to $350,000 in keeping with Virginia law). Depp sued Heard over a Washington Post op-ed she wrote in 2018 which he believed implied he was an abuser.
Heard was awarded $2 million in damages, but Depp is challenging that finding.
Alexander – who also starred in Russell T Davies’ Channel 4 drama It’s A Sin – has spoken out about Rihanna’s choice to include Depp on social media.
At first, on 3 November, when Depp’s inclusion was announced, Alexander expressed disappointment.
Underneath the re-tweet, a fan responded: “But, ‘Savage X Fenty’ is you baby……. you wear it so well.”
The Years and Years singer replied: “Thank you but after this news, I won’t be wearing it anymore.”
Despite Depp winning his defamation case in June, many observers have made the point that his case simply questioned whether or not the Aquaman actor defamed him, rather than proving whether or not her allegations she was sexually assaulted and abused by actor were true.
Heard was also often routinely ridiculed in media coverage and on social media during proceedings, with hashtags like #AmberHeardIsAnAbuser and #AmberHeardIsALiar trending, and a study after the trial concluded the abuse was “one of the worst cases of cyberbullying and cyberstalking by a group of Twitter accounts” ever.
And despite not being able to cover Depp’s compensation, he is challenging Heard’s right to hers.
Since the trial, Depp has gone on to appear at the VMAs, whereas Heard could reportedly be replaced in Aquaman 2 by Game of Thrones star Emilia Clarke.
Savage X Fenty Show Vol.4 is currently set for release on Amazon Prime Video on 9 November.
Related links
- Johnny Depp files appeal against single count of defamation against him that Amber Heard won
- Amber Heard deletes Twitter account after Elon Musk takes over
- Johnny Depp and Amber Heard’s trial has been turned into a movie and the trailer is amazing
- Johnny Depp ‘is dating lawyer’ after Amber Heard defamation trial
- Amber Heard’s sister slams Johnny Depp’s VMAs appearance
