Johnny Depp For Dior Sauvage Campaign Launched Days After Domestic Abuse Claims Made By Wife Amber Heard

Johnny Depp’s campaign for Dior Sauvage, launched on May 31, 2016, just days after news broke that the actor’s wife, Amber Heard, claimed she had been a victim of domestic abuse and filed for a restraining order against Depp.

In the past, when celebrities have gotten themselves caught up in the middle of a scandal, brands typically choose to separate themselves from the person in question to avoid being associated with someone who could negatively affect the brand’s image. Instead, Dior chose to launch a TV and print campaign featuring Depp three days after the accusations were made.

The launch was a pretty bold move on Dior’s part considering the timing. We’ll have to wait and see how the accusations against Depp end up affecting Dior’s image.

Some individuals — women, in particular — have already spoken out about their disappointment in the brand’s choice to launch the campaign. Many feel that if Depp is guilty of the abuse claims, he should not be featured as a model for this brand.

If Depp is, in fact, guilty of the abusive accusations that Amber Heard has made against him, should we be admiring and aspiring to be someone like that? Is someone who allegedly caused his wife to suffer years of physical and psychological abuse the appropriate person to be representing Dior’s latest men’s fragrance?

anyone good enough friends with dior to quietly mention pictures of Johnny Depp with SAUVAGE printed across might be a bad idea just now

— Erica Schreiber (@rikkijazz) June 3, 2016

Johnny Depp ran off to Europe for a few weeks with his band, the Hollywood Vampires, as soon as rumors started circling and the Dior campaign was days within launching.

Depp has yet to comment publicly on the situation. The actor’s lawyer’s claim that Heard is attempting to secure herself financially by alleging abuse. A representative for the actor gave a statement on May 26 after the divorce rumors had gotten out but just before the abuse allegations became public.

“Given the brevity of this marriage and the most recent and tragic loss of his mother, Johnny will not respond to any of the salacious false stories, gossip, misinformation and lies about his personal life. Hopefully the dissolution of this short marriage will be resolved quickly.”

Heard filed for divorce on May 23, citing irreconcilable differences. The couple married a little over a year ago, in February of 2015, making the entirety of their marriage just 15 months.

Amber then appeared in Los Angeles Superior Court with the intention of receiving a restraining order against Depp. Heard was photographed entering the court with a bruise on her face.

Heard stated in court that Depp threw a cell phone at her head in their Hollywood home around a week prior on May 21. Heard must have had enough evidence against her husband because she was granted the temporary restraining order.

“[He is] angry, hostile, humiliating and threatening assaults to me whenever I questioned his authority or disagreed with him.

“I live in fear that Johnny will return to [our house] unannounced to terrorize me, physically and emotionally.”

Heard’s claims were followed by a joint statement made by her attorney, Samantha Spector, and her co-counsel, Joeseph Koenig, clearly addressed that Heard was not after Johnny Depp’s money — she is a victim and a hero.

The actress also alleged two other incidents of domestic violence by Depp in the past six months, including one in April on Heard’s birthday, when Depp allegedly threw a magnum-sized bottle of champagne at the wall and a wine glass at her before grabbing her by the hair and shoving her to the floor.

Does this seem like the kind of man that should be the latest face of Dior? The internet became outraged, and fans of both Depp and Dior are calling the ad “tasteless.” Many agree that Dior is sending the wrong message by continuing to associate themselves with the highly regarded fashion brand.

Did Dior make a mistake by launching the Johnny Depp for Dior Sauvage campaign in the middle of a domestic abuse scandal with soon to be ex-wife Amber Heard?

Father’s Day just passed, so how many of people out there purchased Dior Sauvage for a special dad in their life? Were you aware of Johnny Depp’s involvement with Dior despite domestic abuse accusations?

Would this impact your desire to purchase? Would you support a brand that features a man who abused his wife?

To view the TV commercial for Dior Sauvage, click the video below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ohHxujH5HPY

[Photo by Tristan Fewings/Getty Images]