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Dior airs Johnny Depp fragrance ad despite 'wife beater' ruling, fans flock to buy cologne as show of support

Despite complaints over the ad, resports quoted beauty website Cosmetify as saying that Internet searches for the cologne increased by 23 percent

Despite losing the legal battle against The Sun newspaper that had labeled the actor 'wife beater', Johnny Depp remains the face of Dior's Sauvage fragrance. An advert for the same had aired this week at the Bake Off final on Channel 4 on Tuesday. The 57-year-old actor's advert had resulted in a number of complaints being filed against the advert and the brand but fans are supporting by flocking to buy the aftershave. 

According to a report in Guardian, the Advertising Standards Authority said that 11 complaints had been filed regarding the advert and viewers who had filed it had felt Depp "shouldn't be in the ad due to details concerning his recent court case". Depp has been the face of Sauvage ever since it launched in 2015 with an advertising campaign that received backlash for its racist portrayal of Native Americans.

However, fans of the actor who believe him and his side of the story about how his relationship with Amber Heard panned out took to social media to support him with the hashtag #Justiceforjohnnydepp. According to a report in Daily Mail, fans have supported the fragrance brand and have bought bottles of Sauvage in support. The report also quoted beauty website Cosmetify as saying that the Internet searches for the cologne have increased by 23 percent since the advert had aired on Tuesday. 

One fan wrote, "Johnny Depp is still the face of Sauvage, because Dior aren’t idiots. Be like Dior <3 #JohnnyDepp #JusticeForJohnnyDepp." Another fan said, "This is setting a terrible precedent for male victims of domestic abuse. If Johnny Depp isnt taken seriously in court despite masses of evidence against Heard and multiple personal testimonies what chance does your average man stand. #JusticeForJohnnyDepp."

Another fan wrote, "Man shout out to Dior for practically being the one sponsor left for Johnny Depp that hasn't turned thier back on him. He's still the face for their cologne Sauvage, definitely gonna get me a bottle to show my support. #JusticeForJohnnyDepp #DiorSauvage." Another fan observed, "Anyone else in the uk notice how this comes on nearly every advert cycle. #johnnydepp #JusticeForJohnnyDepp #Dior."

Many fans also thanked Dior for their support. One of them wrote, "Thank you @Dior for doing the right thing and standing by the victim (Johnny Depp). I'll proudly get myself another bottle of Miss Dior Rose and Roses to celebrate. Will get Sauvage too for my bf.#JusticeForJohnnyDepp." Another fan tweeted, "Support Johnny Depp. Be like Dior. #ThankyouDior #JusticeForJohnnyDepp."

When Depp had lost his case against The Sun on November 2, he had been ordered to pay out £630,000 in legal feels to The Sun as the court had found evidence of Depp attacking Heard. Depp had found the judgment 'perverse' and 'bewildering' and had also said that he will file an appeal and fight again. However, the actor had been refused permission to appeal on November 25. Depp was also dropped as Gellert Grindelwald from the 'Fantastic Beasts' franchise following the judgment.