Agriculture minister hits back by saying he’s turning into Depp’s ‘Hannibal Lecter’ after actor mocks Australian dog apology video on US talk show

This article is more than 4 years old

This article is more than 4 years old

Johnny Depp has said the Australian deputy PM and agriculture minister, Barnaby Joyce, looks like he’s “inbred with a tomato” as he continues to mock the apology he made with his wife, Amber Heard, for smuggling their two dogs into Australia.

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Depp appeared on US talk show Jimmy Kimmel Live! where the host labelled Australia a “dumb country” when interviewing Depp about the apology video after Heard was charged with illegally bringing their dogs, Pistol and Boo, into the country.

“He [Joyce] looks somehow inbred with a tomato. It’s not a criticism, I’m just saying, I was a little worried … he might explode,” Depp said.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Barnaby Joyce Photograph: Mike Bowers/The Guardian

At a press conference on Wednesday morning Joyce responded to the actor’s insults with humour.

“I think I’m turning into Johnny Depp’s Hannibal Lecter, aren’t I?” he said.

“I’m inside his head, I’m pulling little strings and pulling little levers. Long after I’ve forgotten about Mr Depp, he’s remembering me.”

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The agriculture minister also thanked Depp for the free publicity on Australia’s biosecurity laws.

Depp suggested the video was not sincere after Kimmel said it was the greatest apology he had ever seen.



“There are things you have to prepare a long time for to be able to tap into the emotion,” he said.

“I played that anti-government Australia, when someone threatens to euthanise your dogs ... tiny teacup things, [that are] clearly dangerous in Australia because of so many poisonous creatures in Australia you could die at any minute, so the dogs were obviously a problem.”

Depp said “an absolute genius” had written the apology and it was directed by an iPhone but there may have been more than one take because “sometimes you have to giggle a little”.

When asked if he watched the video before releasing it, Depp responded: “No, because I didn’t want to kill myself.”

“I think the choice they made to utilise the taxpayers’ dollars to globally chase down teacup yorkies and give them 50 hours to live, I realised the badness of my ways, I was kind of repenting.”

The charges were dropped against Heard after the pair released the video which Magistrate Bernadette Callaghan said at the time was “of far more benefit to this country” as a warning to would-be illegal importers than any conviction recorded against Heard.



The agriculture minister made global headlines when he said the dogs had to “bugger off” to California or face being euthanised within 50 hours after it was discovered they had not been declared when they entered Australia.

Depp has already mocked the apology since the charges were dropped.

ABC reported on Wednesday that Joyce was asked if there was a vegetable he would prefer to be compared to. “Something sleek and sensitive, just like me,” he responded.