The actor’s face and voice gave life to a floating Moonman.
The Moonman is the iconic award piece given to those who are honored during the annual MTV Video Music Awards, and this year, the show breathed new life into the character by enlisting Johnny Depp to embody it. In a surprise twist on Sunday night, Depp’s face and voice were used to bring life to a floating Moonman during the ceremony.
Decider described Depp’s appearance at the 2022 MTV Video Music Awards as “very weird,” as right after opening performances by Jack Harlow, Fergie, and Lizzo, a Moonman suddenly appeared. That Moonman was described as “tiny, computer-generated, distracting, and a non-value add,” but was, in fact, voiced by Depp and featured Depp’s face superimposed in a CGI Moonman.
Johnny Depp appears as the moon person at the #VMAs. https://t.co/K3f4GrgiuJ pic.twitter.com/S0dkWrR6mr
— Variety (@Variety) August 29, 2022
Johnny Depp As a Moonman at This Year’s VMAs
This year’s MTV Video Music Awards was held on Sunday at the Prudential Center in New Jersey, where a number of artists have been awarded their very own Moonman for different music and video categories. One Moonman stood out, however, and that was Depp’s.
As the Moonman hung up from the ceiling wearing the iconic shiny silver astronaut outfit, he opened his visor to reveal Depp’s face. A voice-over by the 59-year-old actor then said, “I just want you guys to know, I’m available for birthdays, weddings, bat mitzvahs, anything you need; anything. Oh, I’m also a dentist.”
“Hey, you know what? I needed the work,” Depp joked, seemingly alluding to his recently concluded legal battle with his ex-wife actress Amber Heard over a defamation lawsuit. The actor emerged victorious in the lawsuit and was awarded $10 million, but the “Pirates of the Caribbean” had lost millions of dollars more in contracts with Disney as the company decided to discontinue working with him over Heard’s allegations of abuse.
Depp’s History with the MTV Video Music Awards
Depp is not a stranger to MTV Video Music Awards shows, as he has already won five Movie Awards from MTV, including the MTV Generation Award in 2012 and the “Best Villain” honor for his portrayal of the titular character in 2007’s musical film “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street,” FOX News reported.
Depp was also honored with two Moonman trophies in 2007 and 2008 for “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest” and “At World’s End,” and his first Moonman in 2004 for “Best Male Performance” in “The Curse of the Black Pearl.” During Sunday night’s 2022 MTV Video Music Awards ceremony, Depp also appeared post commercial to say, “Hey VMAs, let’s get back to the f—ing music, shall we?”
Sunday’s 2022 MTV VMAs ceremony, which was hosted by LL Cool J, Minaj, and Harlow, brought honor to several musical artists. Harry Styles, Doja Cat, and Harlow himself lead the pack with eight nominations each, followed by seven nominations each for Lil Nas X and Kendrick Lamar, Entertainment Weekly reported.
This year’s Global Icon Award was given to the Red Hot Chili Peppers, while the Video Vanguard Award was presented to Nicki Minaj. Taylor Swift unsurprisingly took home Video of the Year for “All Too Well (10-minute version) (Taylor’s version),” while Bad Bunny was named Artist of the Year. Grammy Award winner Billie Eilish was honored with the Song of the Year award for “Happier Than Ever,” while Styles brought home the Best Pop award for “As It Was.” Dove Cameron was named the Best New Artist.