Johnny Depp can probably thank his lawyers and public relations for suddenly having a chance at a dramatic resurgence of public image, but the question remains whether Hollywood will soon return him to the big screen he used to dominate.
Following her dramatic defamation victory over her ex-wife and star partner Amber Heard, although Heard herself also won a charge against her ex-husband’s agent, it is now speculated that Depp may return to cinema, despite his own claims that he has no interest in returning to the franchise’s blockbusters that provided his fortune.
For at least part of this second chance, Depp can thank Matthew Hiltzik, a New York-based public relations manager with a long history of public relations crisis. Unlike Depp’s lawyers, Ben Chew and Camille Vasquez, who this week made joint appearances on talk shows after the trial was concluded, Hiltzik, 50, has strategically remained out of sight.
“If a public relations strategy is, by definition, managing public relations, then any public relations strategy that Depp has cannot be detached from the legal strategy,” said Amber Melville-Brown, head of the U.S. reputation and media team at Withers, a higher law. firmly. “The legal victory in the U.S. defamation court is the tool with which you could regain your reputation, revive the love of any fan, recharge it within your industry, and rehabilitate yourself in the world.”
With the defamation case now settled, it’s up to Hiltzik to continue the process of rehabilitating Depp’s image to the point that Hollywood heads of studies and great directors can no longer deny that his commercial potential as an actor exceeds Persistent concerns about reputation, and the many We heard fans still loudly proclaiming their anger online.
Hiltzik, whose father is a Hollywood entertainment lawyer, began his public relations career at Harvey Weinstein’s Miramax after working on a listening tour that kicked off Hillary’s successful candidacy. Clinton in the United States Senate. Freud Communications launched in the United States before starting Hiltzik Strategies in 2008, where its famous clients in crisis have included Alec Baldwin (expelled from an American Airlines flight), Olympic swimmer Ryan Lochte (falsely reported to have been stolen at gunpoint in Rio de Janeiro). ), Harvey Weinstein (convicted of sex offenses), Brad Pitt after his separation from Angelina Jolie and “conservative” TV presenter Glenn Beck.
Two of Hiltzik’s protégés, Hope Hicks and Josh Raffel, became key confidants in President Donald Trump’s White House and his son-in-law Jared Kushner. According to the Hollywood Reporter, Hiltzik’s public relations approach should be ideologically separated from the client’s offerings.
Depp’s legal and public relations teams, working hand in hand with gloves, probably acknowledged that Depp’s supporters, who had been silent after Heard’s initial allegations of domestic abuse in 2016, began intervening after the Depp’s defamation suit in the United States was filed three years later.
“Depp had a natural fan base and the trial strengthened it, strengthened it and brought other people who were on the fence when they realized it was okay to support Johnny Depp,” Juda Engelmayer told Herald PR , a friend of Hiltzik.
Throughout the trial, and for an interval of one week, the PRs of both sides continued their efforts to spread the press in an effort to mix testimonials with positive “close sources”. Heard, unhappy with his initial representation, changed his press team at the beginning of the case.
“People were initially reluctant to get behind the man in a case like this, because they don’t want to be attacked on social media to support the ‘abuser,'” Engelmayer said. “Until the fans realized that they had a base of support between them, and the trial allowed it, you didn’t see so much support. Then it snowballed. “
But even though the trial is over, some of the flaws that were so brutally put on public display remain. In the days following Depp’s verdict, both sides have continued their respective campaigns – something that could still make a Hollywood studio nervous. Depp went on tour with Jeff Beck; joined TikTok to say it was “moving forward”; and allowed his legal team to point out to Good Morning America that Depp cannot force Heard to a $ 10.35 million court ruling.
At every turn, Heard’s lawyers and the public relations team have tried to get the issue back in the #MeToo movement. “As Johnny Depp says ‘moving forward’, women’s rights are receding,” a Heard spokesman said last week.
Amber Heard in Virginia court during trial. Photo: Evelyn Hockstein / AFP / Getty Images
Depp’s lead lawyer, Vasquez, responded in an interview with People magazine on Friday: “We all believe that women and victims, regardless of gender, should go to court and spend their days in court. domestic violence has no gender. “
But there is a noticeable change in mood. During the trial, Depp’s legal and public relations teams appeared to be careful not to stop at #MeToo or the cancellation. It was left to Richard Marks, the Hollywood deal negotiator, to explain. An actor’s reputation, he said, is synonymous with the product. “You want a reputation that supports the value you put into creating this product, especially in the last five years, with the #MeToo movement. .
But media and entertainment companies appear to be re-evaluating Depp and weighing a possible return. From the verdict, actors and models, including Zoe Saldana, Emma Roberts, Patti Smith, Bella Hadid, Helena Christensen and Jennifer Aniston, have “liked” Depp’s post-verdict statement to his 25 million Instagram followers saying that he was “truly humiliated.”
Thomas Doherty, author of Show Trial, on the Hollywood blacklist of the 1950s and the “red scare,” says Depp’s trial could be seen as that of Fatty Arbuckle – accused and later convicted of rape and murder charges. or Charlie Chaplin – accused of communist sympathies and questioned for his involvement in a paternity suit.
“It’s hard to regain your reputation, and maybe that’s one of the reasons Depp’s case is so resonant,” Doherty said. “This fan letter can be a turning point where you can feel the culture change.”
But as Hollywood weighs its options, another lucrative industry is approaching: fashion.
French luxury brand Dior has never left Depp as the face of its Sauvage fragrance, and sales are reportedly on the rise. Supermodel Kate Moss’ interception at the trial in support of Depp indicated that the fashion world often takes a different approach.
“Fashion cannot afford to exile people for a long time, because it is about constantly recirculating and remodeling ideas, images, people, troops and also overcoming the limits of good taste and ownership.” , said New York fashion marketing consultant Bonnie Morrison.
Hollywood, many predict, may also arrive soon when the weight of public support evident on social media during the case and now, offers the opportunity to try Depp in front of a movie audience. Somehow, Depp’s behavior in the same trial was even a kind of audition. “He was being humorous, distant, commenting or doing things that reminded people why they loved him. He was practically being Jack Sparrow and his fans saw him,” Engelmeyer said.
And of course, in the end, what really matters in Hollywood is the potential end result. Los Angeles attorney Allison Hope Weiner said, “Hollywood is not about politics. It’s about business and making money. They want to make a product that appeals to the general public.”