Johnny Depp surprised fans at San Diego Comic-Con by appearing in full costume as Ebenezer Scrooge—and slipping an apparent joke about President Donald Trump’s tariffs into his performance.
According to Entertainment Weekly, Depp visited a Christmas-themed installation in San Diego’s Gaslamp Quarter on Thursday to promote his upcoming film, Ebenezer: A Christmas Carol. Wearing old-age makeup, gray facial hair, a top hat, and Victorian clothing, the Pirates of the Caribbean star remained in character while interacting with performers and fans.
Johnny Depp as Ebenezer Scrooge – Paramount Pictures, YouTube
The crowd responded with laughter. However, as promotional tours have become increasingly derailed by political posturing from celebrities, Depp’s offhand comment risks setting the wrong tone.
Johnny Depp Jokes About Trump’s Tariffs
During the brief live performance, Depp, as Scrooge, began tearing Christmas garlands from a gate surrounding the installation.
“These are poison!” he declared. “Keep these away from children.”
View this post on Instagram
Another performer explained that the decorations were intended to bring Christmas cheer. Depp responded by claiming ownership of anything placed on his property.
“That’s on my property, which means that I own it,” Depp said. “And you’re paying tax on it being there. ’Cause everybody has to pay all that stuff. Putting tariffs on the gate.”
Depp Previously Apologized for Trump Joke
Unlike many others in Hollywood, Depp has not made his political leanings a defining part of his public image. However, he has occasionally taken personal jabs at Trump.
Most notably, in 2017, he asked a crowd at the Glastonbury Festival, “When was the last time an actor assassinated a president?” He appeared to quickly backtrack, adding, “I want to clarify, I’m not an actor. I lie for a living.”
President Donald Trump speaks at CPAC in 2017 – YouTube, The New York Times
After facing sharp backlash, Depp released a statement the following day.
“I apologize for the bad joke I attempted last night in poor taste about President Trump,” Depp wrote. “It did not come out as intended, and I intended no malice. I was only trying to amuse, not to harm anyone.”
Ebenezer Marks Depp’s Hollywood Comeback
Ebenezer: A Christmas Carol represents Depp’s first leading role in a major American studio production since his highly publicized legal battle with former wife Amber Heard.
In 2022, a Virginia jury found that Heard had defamed Depp in a 2018 Washington Post op-ed. The two actors subsequently reached a settlement after Heard appealed the verdict.
Directed by X and Pearl filmmaker Ti West, the movie is described as a gothic reimagining of Charles Dickens’ classic 1843 novella.
The film also stars Andrea Riseborough, Tramell Tillman, Ian McKellen, Rupert Grint, Daisy Ridley, Sam Claflin, Charlie Murphy, Arthur Conti, and Ellie Bamber.
Will Politics Overshadow Ebenezer?
Whether Johnny Depp was making a pointed criticism of Trump’s tariff policies or simply playing to the crowd for an easy laugh remains open to interpretation. Either way, it may not be a moment Paramount executives want him to repeat.
Ghost of Christmas Future – Paramount Pictures, YouTube
This year, Supergirl, Masters of the Universe, and The Odyssey have all provided examples of movies whose stars’ social commentary threatened to overshadow the projects they were supposed to promote.
Their final box office totals may have remained the same regardless. However, many moviegoers probably do not want tariffs—or another celebrity’s political opinions—in the back of their minds when deciding whether to buy a ticket this November.
Do you think Johnny Depp was trying to score political points? Sound off and let us know!
UP NEXT: Paramount Reveals New Star Trek Movie, But is Alex Kurtzman Still Involved?
