Johnny Depp has made his first major appearance at an event since winning his defamation trial against ex-wife Amber Heard.
Depp floated across the sky as the iconic 'Moon Man' astronaut from the MTV logo at the 2022 MTV Video Music Awards on Monday (NZ time).
After the show's opening sequences touted the upcoming performances, an astronaut could be seen suspended high in the sky, floating past MTV's giant logo.
When the final performer was announced, the astronaut's visor slid open to reveal a live graphic of Depp's face beaming from within the helmet.
"Hey, you know what?" Depp shouted to cheers from the audience.
"I needed the work."
As the digital Depp panned across the screen, he also joked he was up for anything, possibly making fun of his declining career in recent years.
"I just want you guys to know I'm available for birthdays, bat mitzvahs, weddings, wakes, any old thing you need," he said.
"So, oh, I'm also a dentist," he joked.
Online condemnation has been swift after the footage aired.
One person posted on Twitter that the footage "makes me sick."
"Honestly f**k the VMA’s for including Johnny Depp. The entire crowd of Amber's industry peers are cheering for her abuser. It makes me sick. The industry hasn’t changed at all. Not surprised, but still so disappointed," the commenter said.
It's Depp's first major TV appearance since the tumultuous defamation trial against his ex-wife Amber Heard ended in June this year.
A jury in the US ruled Heard defamed Depp in the six-week trial that featured explicit and graphic evidence, and testimony detailing how the former Hollywood couple's soured relationship.
The jury also ruled in favour of Heard in some aspects of her countersuit against Depp.
The jury awarded Depp US$15 million in damages from Heard, and Heard US$2 million in damages for one proven defamation claim.
