Johnny Depp Responds To Backlash Over Dior Campaign, Says The Ad Was “Made With Great Respect and Love For Native Americans”

Nearly two weeks after Christian Dior’s namesake fashion house pulled its ‘Sauvage’ campaign, following backlash over its depiction of Native Americans, actor Johnny Depp is opening up about the controversial ad. 

“There was never – and how could there be or how would there be – any dishonorable [intent],” Depp, who was the face of the campaign, said in an article published by The Hollywood Reporter. “The film was made with a great respect for the indigenous people not just of North America but all over the world. It’s a pity that people jumped the gun and made these objections. However, their objections are their objections.” 

Dior teased the ad last month, which showed Depp walking through the desert as Native Americans perform a war dance in traditional garb. But, in the wake of the backlash, the fashion house scrubbed its accounts of any trace of the teaser. 

However, according to Depp, the teaser was just a snippet of an extended film, directed by Jean-Baptiste Mondino, and it did not reflect the full depth of the project, which is titled “We Are The Land.”

“A teaser obviously is a very concentrated version of images, and there were objections to the teaser of the small film. The film has never been seen,” he said.

Although the campaign was created with consultants of Native American background, many also called into question the offensive name. But, in French, according to USA Today, Sauvage could mean either wild, unspoiled and/or savage. 

“I can assure you that no one has any reason to go out to try to exploit,” Depp continued, as he maintained that the film was made with “great respect and love” for Native Americans. 

“It was a film made out of great respect and its great respect and love for the Native American peoples to bring light to them. They haven’t had the greatest amount of help out of the United States government,” he said. “The idea is as pure as it ever was, so we will come to an agreement so that everyone is happy.”