Johnny Depp and Amber Heard issued a somber apology video yesterday for smuggling their dogs into Australia last year, but the Australian Deputy Prime Minister couldn't resist taking a pop at Depp's performance.
Barnaby Joyce, who last year threatened to have the couple's Yorkshire terriers Pistol and Boo put down unless they "buggered off back to the United States", has now criticised Depp's extremely grave delivery of the apology.
He told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
I don't think he'll get an academy award for his performance... he looked like he was auditioning for the Godfather
The Hollywood couple's awkward apology was imposed by an Australian court after Heard was accused to smuggling their dogs into the country while Depp was filming Pirates of the Caribbean 5.
Depp and Heard recorded the video outlining the importance of following Australia's quarantine laws after charges of illegally importing the two Yorkshire terrier dogs were dropped.
The carefully scripted clip shows a sullen Depp and Heard addressing the camera. Depp says: "Australians are just as unique, both warm and direct. If you disrespect Australian law, they will tell you firmly."
Heard said that she is "truly sorry that Pistol and Boo were not declared" as "protecting Australia is important".
Depp finishes the clip by saying "Declare everything when you enter Australia", adding without much conviction: "Thanks."
The Australian Department of Agriculture put the video on YouTube and Joyce said it had already registered more than two million hits and has been widely mocked on social media, where it's been compared to among other things - a hostage plea or North Korean-style propaganda.
"At the end of it we've got a message that is going all around the world right now," the Minister said.
"It's going off like a frog in a sock telling people that if you come into this nation and you don't obey our laws, you're in trouble.
"That's what this is about, it's making sure we keep this nation, protect our flora, our fauna and protect our biosecurity laws."
