Johnny Depp Makes First Red Carpet Appearance Since Amber Heard Split

Johnny Depp hit the red carpet with Alice Cooper and Cooper’s wife, Sheryl Goddard. (Photo: Getty Images)

Johnny Depp has made his return to the red carpet for the first time since his ugly split with Amber Heard. On Sunday, the actor was one of several stars who attended the annual Starkey Hearing Foundation Awards Gala in St. Paul, Minn., which raised $9.5 million to provide people around the world with hearing aids.

Depp even hit the arrivals line, wearing a black ensemble accessorized with a bunch of colorful scarves and necklaces, but opted not to pose solo. Instead, he hung out with Alice Cooper, his bandmate in the Hollywood Vampires, and Cooper’s wife, Sheryl Goddard.

The musician-actor later shared a few words before he took the stage for a performance.

“I’ve been lucky enough to play characters like Edward Scissorhands, Captain Jack Sparrow,” he said. “My only sort of goal is of making someday a positive change.”

Depp and Cooper addressed the crowd. (Photo: Getty Images)

Depp reminisced about his experience at a Starkey charity event in May in Portugal (which took place just hours after Heard first accused him of domestic violence), where he and his bandmates helped the company to fit and adjust hearing aids for people who needed them.

“It was an emotional experience, the instant change in a person’s face when they’ve only known silence,” Depp said. “It’s a gift, an incredible moment you never forget.”

The Alice Through the Looking Glass star and Cooper’s participation at the gala also included auctioning off two guitars they had autographed for a hefty $60,000 each. They pulled in another $50,000 selling an autographed Muhammad Ali photo collage to pro boxer Andre Berto.

Depp rocks out on his guitar. (Photo: Getty Images)

Depp has continued to make public appearances throughout the drama with Heard, whom he split with in May after 15 months of marriage. She filed for divorce and claimed in court that week that Depp had been verbally and physically abusive through their union.

He has spent some of the time touring with his band in Europe. Then last month, he popped up onstage at the Comedy Store in Hollywood during comedian Mat Egar’s set.

Meanwhile, Depp’s legal woes with Heard continue. She is still seeking a permanent restraining order, and the two are not yet divorced.