Australia politician mocks Depp and Heard apology video
- Published
Johnny Depp and his wife Amber Heard expressed remorse in a video message made public by the Australian Department of Agriculture
The Australian politician who threatened to kill Johnny Depp and Amber Heard's dogs has made fun of the star couple's apology video.
Ms Heard, 29, escaped conviction after pleading guilty to falsifying documents before a Queensland court on Monday.
A video of the pair apologising for flying their dogs Pistol and Boo into the country was played to the court.
Agriculture Minister Barnaby Joyce said Mr Depp looked like he was "auditioning for the Godfather".
"I don't think he'll get an Academy Award for his performance," Mr Joyce told the Australian Broadcasting Corp's AM programme, external.
Johnny Depp appeared to refer to Barnaby Joyce (pictured) as a "sweaty, big-gutted man" when asked about his dogs at the Venice Film Festival
"At the end of it we've got a message that is going all around the world right now, it's going off like a frog in a sock telling people that if you come into this nation and you don't obey our laws, you're in trouble," added Mr Joyce.
"That's what this is about, it's making sure we keep this nation, protect our flora, our fauna and protect our biosecurity laws."
In a separate interview with Channel 7's popular Sunrise breakfast TV programme, Mr Joyce denied directing the video himself.
"As far as me directing this atrocious movie, no, even I could have done a little better than that," he said.
"Do it again Johnny, do it with gusto mate, a little gusto."
Pistol and Boo's presence in Australia last year was discovered when a picture was posted of them at grooming parlour
Mr Depp and Ms Heard recorded the video on the Gold Coast after arriving in Australia on their private jet to face Southport Magistrate's Court.
In the video, Ms Heard calls Australia "a wonderful island, with a treasure trove of unique plants, animals and people".
Mr Depp says at its conclusion: "Declare everything when you enter Australia."
Its release sparked a frenzied reaction on social media, as internet wags compared the couple's stilted delivery to North Korean propaganda videos and hostage films.
The judge in the case handed Ms Heard a one-month good behaviour bond after prosecutors dropped charges of illegally importing animals, reportedly in exchange for her guilty plea to the lesser charge of falsifying documents.
The case, dubbed the "war on terrier", made international headlines in May 2015, when Mr Joyce threatened to have Pistol and Boo put down if they didn't "bugger off" back to the United States.
Actors Johnny Depp and Amber Heard faced a huge media contingent when they arrived at court on Monday
- Published18 April 2016
- Published18 April 2016
