Johnny Depp and his wife, Amber Heard, were forced to mumble their way through a video to explain why you should never disrespect Australia’s bio-security laws.
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She got caught, which, as The Guardian reports, could have carried a maximum penalty of ten years in jail. In the court mandated apology video, the couple asked people to respect the laws of the land.
An Australian politician has mocked a video recorded by Johnny Depp and Amber Heard, apologising for illegally bringing their dogs into the country. Bringing pets into Australia requires obtaining a permit and putting the animal into quarantine for at least 10 days so officials can make sure it’s not carrying an infectious disease like rabies.
There are also plenty of things that are technically allowed into Australia, but that you have to declare them first and have them checked or even treated.
Heard’s defense attorney, Jeremy Kirk said she had nothing to gain from marking “no” on the animal question.
Joyce defended the court action on Monday, saying Australia’s strict quarantine laws are necessary to protect the nation’s unique flora and fauna.
Heard expressed “remorse” over the case, in one of many stiff on-screen moments which raised giggles on social media, where the video was compared with a hostage plea or North Korean-style propaganda.
It was possibly the worst performance Depp has ever turned in (while poor Heard looked like she had a gun held to her and her dogs’ heads), and the Internet noticed.
Depp and Heard quickly returned to California but not before sparking the hashtag #WarOnTerrier. The actress avoided jail time but was given a one month good behavior bond with no conviction.
Depp was in Australia to film the fifth installment of his “Pirates of the Caribbean” franchise “Dead Men Tell No Tales”.
Depp was not charged over the incident but accompanied his wife to appear at the Southport Magistrates Court on the Gold Coast where they received a red carpet-like reception.
Lesson learned: don’t mess with Australian law.
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“She has made a exhausted, awful mistake”, he said.
