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Cannes (France) (AFP) \u2013 Johnny Depp<\/strong><\/a> hit back on Wednesday against years of negative press, telling the Cannes Film Festival<\/strong><\/a> that most of the stories about him were \u201cfantastically, horrifically written fiction\u201d.<\/p>\n Speaking to reporters a day after the premiere of his new film \u201cJeanne du Barry\u201d on the festival\u2019s opening night, he said he did not care about being boycotted by Hollywood.<\/p>\n \u201cDo I feel boycotted now? No \u2018coz I don\u2019t think about Hollywood, I don\u2019t have much need for Hollywood,\u201d said the actor.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a very strange, funny time where everyone must fall into line,\u201d he added. \u201cIf you want to live that kind of life, I wish you the best. I\u2019ll be on the other side.\u201d<\/p>\n Depp lost his part in the Harry Potter spin-off \u201cFantastic Beasts\u201d films after his ex-wife Amber Heard accused him of domestic abuse.<\/p>\n \u201cJeanne du Barry\u201d, in which Depp plays French King Louis XV, who fell in love with a prostitute, received a seven-minute standing ovation, as is customary for opening night films.<\/p>\n Depp received a warm welcome from fans on the red carpet, taking selfies and signing autographs, and teared up during the ovation at the end.<\/p>\n But there was also widespread vitriol online from supporters of Heard. Journalist Eve Barlow, a friend of the actress, accused Cannes of having a \u201chistory (of) supporting rapists and abusers\u201d.<\/p>\n Depp won a defamation trial against Heard last year but lost a previous libel case in London and remains a toxic figure for many.\u00a0<\/p>\n The 59-year-old actor dismissed the years of newspaper coverage as the \u201cstuff you stuff in your shoes or line your parrot cage with\u201d.<\/p>\n Reviews of the film itself were mixed, with The Guardian saying Depp gave a \u201cpurring and peculiar\u201d performance.<\/p>\n Depp speaks French throughout and said he was stunned when director Maiwenn, who also plays the lead role, asked him to join the film.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cI thought it was very brave of her to choose a hillbilly from Kentucky as Louis XV,\u201d said Depp, who lives much of the year in France.\u00a0<\/p>\n Maiwenn, who herself may face criminal proceedings after grabbing the hair of a Paris journalist and spitting in his face, said she had no doubts about choosing Depp for the role.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was someone I had to kiss, so I preferred to have an actor who is sexy,\u201d she told reporters.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cAnd he knew an enormous amount about French history. He knew a lot more than me about Louis XV.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n