Last week, Johnny Depp was in Rome for the film festival, where he received a Lifetime Achievement Award. However, during his visit, Meghan Markle made an unexpected request that Johnny ultimately rejected.

Johnny Depp attended the Rome Film Festival to accept the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award, celebrating his decades-long career in film. This honor comes on the heels of a very public and tumultuous legal battle with his ex-wife, Amber Heard, over domestic abuse allegations. Although he lost a case in the UK, he appears to be regaining his footing in Hollywood after winning a defamation case against Amber in the US.

At the festival, Johnny walked the red carpet, looking happier than ever as he received his award. Photos from the event showed him smiling, waving to fans, and posing for pictures. He also delivered a heartfelt acceptance speech, expressing gratitude to those who have supported him through the highs and lows of his public life. It was a celebratory moment for Johnny, allowing him to put some negativity behind him.

However, Meghan Markle, who now lives in California with Prince Harry after stepping back from royal duties, reportedly reached out to the event organizers with a last-minute request to join Johnny on the red carpet for photos. While Meghan and Harry’s presence would have certainly elevated the event’s publicity, the timing of Meghan’s request—just one day before the festival—raised questions about her intentions. Additionally, it’s worth noting that Johnny has never met Meghan, making her request seem rather unexpected.

The event organizers were uncertain about granting Meghan’s request due to the short notice and potential security issues. Reports indicate that Johnny was informed of Meghan’s interest and explicitly told the organizers that he did not want her on the red carpet or posing for photos with him. He declined her request, which reportedly upset Meghan.

Sources suggest that Johnny, having dealt with paparazzi and publicity stunts throughout his career, likely saw through what appeared to be Meghan attempting to insert herself into his moment of recognition for her own publicity. Even if her intentions were sincere, the last-minute nature of her request, combined with the lack of a prior relationship with Johnny, made it seem opportunistic.

This isn’t the first time Meghan has made unusual requests to insert herself into celebrity situations since moving to LA. She and Harry have been working to establish themselves as a Hollywood power couple, but their efforts often come across as desperate. For example, last year they reached out to pop star Adele, asking for an introduction to Ellen DeGeneres to secure an interview for their Spotify podcast. Adele politely declined, recognizing their intentions.

Meghan has also made headlines for showing up uninvited at political events, such as the Global Citizen Live concert in New York, where she attempted to mingle with members of Congress backstage, even blocking entry for actual ticket holders. This behavior has often been perceived as self-serving rather than altruistic.

In this context, Meghan’s attempt to crash Johnny Depp’s moment at the Rome Film Festival fits her pattern of inserting herself into situations where she has no genuine place. She clearly recognized that photos with Johnny would generate significant media attention, but Johnny was not interested in being used as a prop for her agenda. Good for him for sticking to his principles.