LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 1: In this image released on October 1, Rihanna attends the second press day for Rihanna’s Savage X Fenty Show Vol. 2 presented by Amazon Prime Video at the Los Angeles Convention Center in Los Angeles, California; and broadcast on October 2, 2020. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Savage X Fenty Show Vol. 2 Presented by Amazon Prime Video)

A few days ago, a report by TMZ went viral when the tabloid wrote that Rihanna’s upcoming Savage x Fenty show, which always includes a slew of musical performances and celebrity cameos, would this year feature none other than Johnny Depp.

The response across the internet was swift, with fans of Rihanna questioning her reasoning for including the actor given his recent court battle with his ex-wife Amber Heard. Though Depp won his defamation suit against Heard and was awarded $10 million, there is a long list of disgusting things he was found to have said and done during the pair’s relationship, all of which was made public during the trial and even more was unsealed afterwards.

Furthermore, Rihanna herself has personal history with domestic violence and has long been a vocal advocate against it.

Many — myself included — chose to believe the news was fake, despite even a confirmation from Rolling Stone, who wrote that Depp “won’t be modelling,” but is “set to make an appearance.” Among the celebrities confirmed to appear are the likes of Burna Boy, Ángela Aguilar, Bella Poarch, Anitta, Taraji P. Hanson, Rickey Thompson, and Cara Delevingne.

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 02: In this image released on October 2, Rihanna is seen onstage during Rihanna’s Savage X Fenty Show Vol. 2 presented by Amazon Prime Video at the Los Angeles Convention Center in Los Angeles, California; and broadcast on October 2, 2020. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Savage X Fenty Show Vol. 2 Presented by Amazon Prime Video)

Following the news, Years & Years singer Olly Alexander announced on Twitter he would no longer be wearing the brand’s clothes as a result of Depp’s casting.

Now, despite having a few days to cut the appearance after the backlash online, unfortunately, Rihanna chose to keep Depp in. According to NME, who published a piece today after seeing an early screener ahead of the November 9th release, Depp appears on screen “for approximately 40 seconds.”

“Wearing a dark-coloured, loose-fitting jacket and trousers with a patterned vest top and multiple necklaces, Depp appears from behind a tree as a troupe of performers dance around him,” the publication writes, adding, “his hair is tied back in a ponytail and he has a goatee.”

Depp reportedly walks “slowly across the set”, “which is filled with smoke and lit brightly, towards another tree and hugs it”, while Outkast‘s ‘So Fresh And So Clean’ plays in the background.

Screaming, crying, throwing up. And not in a good way.