By Jesse Hyland and Mary Mrad For Daily Mail Australia

Published: 00:38 EDT, 29 December 2021 | Updated: 00:41 EDT, 29 December 2021

Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce unleashed on Johnny Depp live on Sunrise on Wednesday - forcing the hosts to cut him off in case his tirade compromised the Hollywood actor's ongoing legal case in the U.S. 

The National Party leader, 54, called the Pirates of the Caribbean star, 58, a 'deads**t' - an Australian slang term for a contemptible person - after being asked about Depp's ex-wife Amber Heard naming her new dog after him.

Heard had announced on Twitter earlier that day that she'd named her dog Barnaby Joyce in reference to the 2015 incident when she and then-husband Depp illegally brought their dogs into Australia and Joyce threatened to have the animals killed.

Baring his teeth: Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce (right) unleashed on Johnny Depp live on Sunrise on Wednesday - forcing hosts Edwina Bartholomew and Matt Shirvington to cut him off in case his tirade compromised the Hollywood actor's ongoing legal case in the U.S.

'I can't work it out. I'd forgotten about her,' Joyce said in response to Heard's choice of dog name. 'She was out of my mind, but I'm in her mind.'  

'I'm in there like a bee, I'm just buzzing around her brain,' he added, before admitting he was 'flattered' the actress had used his name for her new pooch.

Heard avoided a conviction for dog smuggling in 2016 but was issued a $1,000 fine.

Response: The National Party leader, 54, called the Pirates of the Caribbean star, 58, a 'deads**t' - an Australian slang term for a contemptible person - after being asked about Depp's ex-wife Amber Heard naming her new dog after him. Depp is pictured in October 2019

Hilarious: Heard had announced on Twitter earlier that day that she'd named her dog Barnaby Joyce in reference to the 2015 incident when she and then-husband Depp illegally brought their dogs into Australia and Joyce threatened to have the animals killed 

Depp and Heard were then ordered to issue a public apology on camera for border security, which Sunrise hosts Edwina Bartholomew and Matt Shirvington brought up during their interview with Joyce. 

'They look like two terrorists in a basement in Lebanon. They're crazy guys,' Joyce said of the now-infamous video. 

The politician then went on the attack against Depp, who has been accused of verbal and physical abuse by Heard - claims he strongly denies and is fighting in court.

'I got Johnny right. You know, she was all "Johnny is lovely, Johnny is lovely". Johnny is a deads**t,' Joyce said. 

'They look like two terrorists in a basement in Lebanon': Heard avoided a conviction for dog smuggling in 2016 but was issued a $1,000 fine. Depp and Heard were then ordered to issue a public apology on camera for border security (the video is seen above) 

Bartholomew, Shirvington and co-hosts Natarsha Belling and Mark Beretta looked shocked by the comment then quickly wrapped up the interview.

'Well, the jury is still debating that one as well at the moment,' Shirvington said, in reference to the ongoing $50million defamation lawsuit filed by Depp against Heard.

Bartholomew added: 'Quite literally the jury is still debating that, so we'll leave that one there.' 

Depp is suing his ex-wife through a court in Virginia over an op-ed article she wrote for the Washington Post in 2018 where she described how she was a victim of domestic violence.

She never referred to Depp by name but he believes that it was obvious Heard was referring to him as the abuser. Depp has denied any abuse towards her.   

Dog drama: While they were still married in April 2015, Depp and Heard flew their dogs Pistol and Boo into Australia, where he was filming Pirates of the Caribbean. The transportation of their dogs violated bio-security laws as the couple had failed to declare and quarantine them

While they were still married in April 2015, Depp and Heard flew their dogs Pistol and Boo into Australia, where the actor was filming Pirates of the Caribbean.

The transportation of their Yorkshire Terriers violated Australia's bio-security laws as the couple had failed to declare and quarantine them.  

Authorities only became aware of the presence of Pistol and Boo when their visit to a Gold Coast dog-grooming salon was made public on Facebook. 

At the time, a fired-up Mr Joyce insisted that the dogs would be put down if they were not sent home to the U.S. immediately.

Sprung: Authorities only became aware of the presence of Pistol and Boo when their visit to a Gold Coast dog-grooming salon was made public on Facebook

'If we start letting movie stars - even though they've been the sexiest man alive twice - to come into our nation [and break the laws], then why don't we just break the laws for everybody,' he said during an infamous press conference.

'It's time that Pistol and Boo buggered off back to the United States.' 

Depp promptly sent his dogs home and a year later insulted Joyce - whom he called 'Barnaby Jones' - by telling talk show host Jimmy Kimmel: 'He looks somehow, like, inbred with a tomato.'

'It's not a criticism. I was a little worried. He might explode,' he added.

Insults: Depp promptly sent his dogs home and a year later insulted Joyce - whom he called 'Barnaby Jones' - by telling Jimmy Kimmel: 'He looks somehow, like, inbred with a tomato' 

Mr Joyce hit back: 'I think I'm turning into Johnny Depp's Hannibal Lecter.

'I'm inside his head, I'm pulling little strings and pulling little levers. Long after I've forgotten about Mr Depp, he's remembering me.'

Heard was charged with breaching Australian customs laws, but those charges were dropped after she and Depp issued a bizarre video apology. 

She later filed for divorce from Depp and the pair became locked in a nasty court battle that played out this year.

Exes: After the Australian saga, Heard filed for divorce from Depp and the pair became locked in a nasty court battle that played out this year (pictured in 2016 in Culver City)

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