Johnny Depp fans flock to buy his Dior aftershave after he lost his ‘wife beater’ libel trial

Johnny Depp fans flock to buy his Dior aftershave as the brand sticks by the actor after he lost his ‘wife beater’ libel trial – and internet searches for the fragrance shoot up 23%

  • The Pirates of the Caribbean actor, 57, continues to be face of the Sauvage scent
  • Luxury brand appears to have stuck by Depp despite him losing ‘wife beater’ trial
  • This week the Dior ad aired during the Bake Off final, attracting 11 complaints

Johnny Depp fans are flocking to buy his Dior fragrance after he lost his ‘wife beater’ libel trial against The Sun newspaper.

The American actor, 57, continues to be the face of the Sauvage scent, with a TV advert appearing during this week’s Bake Off final on Channel 4.

The luxury brand appears to have stuck by Depp, despite a judge branding him ‘a monster’ who had battered his now ex-wife Amber Heard 12 times during their marriage.

Following the verdict, the Hollywood star was asked to step down from his role as Gellart Grindewald in JK Rowling‘s blockbuster Fantastic Beasts series.

Johnny Depp fans are flocking to buy his Dior fragrance (pictured modelling for Sauvage) after he lost his ‘wife beater’ libel trial against The Sun newspaper

Depp has been the face of the Sauvage aftershave since it launched in 2015, and was rumoured to have been paid between £2.25million and £3.75million for the advert.

A spokesperson for the Advertising Standards Authority told the Guardian it received 11 complaints from Bake Off viewers who felt Depp ‘shouldn’t be in the ad due to details concerning his recent court case’ after it aired on Tuesday night.

The actor has been ordered to pay The Sun an initial amount of £630,000 in legal fees, but called the judgment ‘perverse’ and ‘bewildering’ as he vowed the appeal the ruling.

Since Tuesday, many Depp fans have expressed their loyalty to the Pirates of the Caribbean star – and flocked to buy bottles of Sauvage in support.

The actor, 57, continues to be the face of the Sauvage scent, with a TV advert appearing during this week's Bake Off final on Channel 4

The actor, 57, continues to be the face of the Sauvage scent, with a TV advert appearing during this week’s Bake Off final on Channel 4

Many Depp fans have expressed their loyalty to the Pirates of the Caribbean star - and flocked to buy bottles of Sauvage in support

Many Depp fans have expressed their loyalty to the Pirates of the Caribbean star – and flocked to buy bottles of Sauvage in support

One Depp fan tweeted today: ‘Thank you@Dior for doing the right thing and standing by the victim (Johnny Depp). I’ll proudly get myself another bottle of Miss Dior Rose and Roses to celebrate. Will get Sauvage too for my bf. #JusticeForJohnnyDepp.’ 

Another wrote: ‘Johnny Depp is still the face of Sauvage, because Dior aren’t idiots.’

And one added: ‘Shout out to Dior for practically being the one sponsor left for Johnny Depp that hasn’t turned their back on him.’ 

The actor, pictured at court this year, has been ordered to pay The Sun an initial amount of £630,000 in legal fees, but called the judgment 'perverse' and 'bewildering' as he vowed the appeal the ruling

The actor, pictured at court this year, has been ordered to pay The Sun an initial amount of £630,000 in legal fees, but called the judgment ‘perverse’ and ‘bewildering’ as he vowed the appeal the ruling

Beauty website Cosmetify claims internet searches for the cologne have increased by 23 per cent. It’s also the bestselling male scent at The Fragrance Shop and is in the bestsellers list at The Perfume Shop, reports the publication.

Beauty website Cosmetify claims internet searches for the cologne have increased by 23 per cent

Beauty website Cosmetify claims internet searches for the cologne have increased by 23 per cent

British PR expert Mark Bokowski, who has worked with Michael Jackson and American Express, told the Guardian: ‘I think it would be sensible for Dior to sever links with Depp. 

‘Anything can be stopped by pressing a button if they really wanted to.’

He added: ‘A brand like Dior is not just looking at this territory. The attitude [toward Depp] in the UK will be very different to the one in eastern Europe, for example.

‘Brands hope for short-term memory loss and long-term amnesia. 

‘These fashion companies live in their own bubble, it’s like The Devil Wears Prada [film]. 

‘They live in a world where they are used to facing controversy.’

Meanwhile Lauren Sherman, chief correspondent for the Business of Fashion, said she suspects Dior is operating under the principle ‘all publicity is good publicity’.