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August 28, 2022 | 9:28pm ET

Johnny Depp made his first televised appearance since his contentious defamation trial against ex-wife Amber Heard — appearing as a virtual Moonman at the 2022 MTV VMAs.

During the awards show, Depp’s face was digitally superimposed on the VMAs’ infamous Moonperson floating above the stage. “Hey, you know what? I needed the work,” he quipped after a performance from Jack Harlow and Fergie.

Later on, he made another appearance after Lizzo’s performance of “About Damn Time” and “2 Be Loved (Am I Ready)” to add, “I just want you guys to know I’m available for birthdays, bat mitzvahs, weddings, wakes — any old thing you need.”

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Depp previously received MTV’s Generation Award in 2012 at the network’s Movie Awards, during which he joined The Black Keys for their performance of “Gold on the Ceiling.”

After winning his case against Heard in June, Depp has stayed busy by appearing on tour with Jeff Beck, with whom he also released a collaborative album named 18. Also on the music front, he announced a reunion with The Hollywood Vampires, his supergroup with Alice Cooper, Joe Perry, and Tommy Henriksen.

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Besides that, Depp has sold his original artwork for $3.6 million and now he’s about to direct his first feature film in 25 years. Titled Modigliani, it’s a biographical drama about the Italian painter Amedeo Modigliani and will be produced by Al Pacino. On the acting front, production has begun on director Maïwenn’s French film Jeanne du Barry, in which Depp will play King Louis XV.