Paul McCartney divides fans after including Johnny Depp video during Glastonbury set

Veteran singer performed an epic set to close the penultimate day of the UK festival

Sir Paul McCartney invited Dave Grohl and Bruce Springsteen on stage to perform with him in the former Beatle's Glastonbury headline set on Saturday night. AP Photo

Sir Paul McCartney waves the Ukrainian flag. AP Photo

Festival goers watch Sir Paul McCartney perform at Glastonbury Festival. AP Photo

Olivia Rodrigo performs on the Other Stage. Reuters

Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds play on the Pyramid Stage. Getty Images

An atmospheric moment from Roisin Murphy's set on the West Holts Stage. Getty Images

Yungblud. AP Photo

Skunk Anansie. Getty Images

Celeste. Getty Images

Billy Nomates on the Left Field stage. PA

Climate activist Greta Thunberg speaks on the Pyramid Stage. Reuters

A 'Glastonbury' sign is illuminated by sunset on day one of the festival at Worthy Farm in Somerset. Getty Images

A festivalgoer walks between the tents in one of the camping areas. The festival has returned for the first time since the coronavirus pandemic began. Getty Images

Festivalgoers watch a recorded message from the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy. EPA

More than 200,000 music fans will attend the festival. PA

Former Spice Girl Melanie C plays a DJ set in the William's Green tent. PA

Festivalgoer Ed proposes to his partner Chelsea as the sun begins to set on day one of the festival. Getty Images

A festival attendee is silhouetted as they stand on top of the stone circle at Worthy Farm. PA

Pete Doherty from the band 'The Libertines' performs. AP

Revellers walk past graffiti attributed to Banksy as they arrive at Worthy Farm. Reuters

A festivalgoer goes down a slide at the festival. AFP

Thousands of tents are set up across the fields. AFP

There may be some inclement weather to deal with at the weekend. AP

Ai-Da is heralded as the world's first ultra-realistic robot artist, and has been producing abstract paintings of this year's Glastonbury headliners. PA

Festivalgoers take part in a laughter-yoga workshop in the Healing Field. PA

A cardboard cut-out depicting Britain's Queen Elizabeth II at the camping site. AFP

Festival founder Michael Eavis opening the gates on the first day. PA

Paul McCartney's hit-laden set at Glastonbury Festival hit a sour note after he played a clip of an old music video featuring controversial actor Johnny Depp.

As part of his performance on Saturday night, which had guest appearances by Dave Grohl and Bruce Springsteen, the former Beatles singer included footage of Depp while performing 2012's My Valentine.

The visuals, which show Depp and fellow actress Natalie Portman using sign language, are part of the song’s official music video.

The inclusion divided fans on social media, with critics decrying the move owing to the domestic abuse allegations surrounding Depp and ex-wife Amber Heard.

Their highly publicised defamation case ended earlier this month in the US, with both sides ordered to pay each other damages.

McCartney did not address the video on stage and has yet to comment on the divided reaction.

Despite the controversy, McCartney’s show fulfilled expectations.

Taking the Pyramid Stage to close the penultimate day of the festival, he played a mammoth 38-song set representing his celebrated six-decade career, and became the oldest solo headliner in the music event's history after he turned 80 this week.

Beatles fans were thrilled with a hefty selection of tracks from the Fab Four, including Hey Jude, Blackbird, Get Back and Can't Buy Me Love.

Hits from Wings were also presented with Live and Let Die, Let 'Em In and Let Me Roll It.

Special guests Springsteen and Grohl appeared in the final quarter of the show.

The former joined McCartney for a triumphant take of The Beatles I Wanna Be Your Man, while Grohl played the Wings classic Band on the Run.

All three rocked together along to The End, the Beatles track that closed the epic performance.

McCartney's set also featured the singer waving the Ukrainian flag in support of the country amid its war with Russia.

This comes a day after Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy addressed the crowd via video link. He described the event as the “greatest concentration of freedom” and called for the world to “spread the truth” about Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

That support was further underlined with the country's Eurovision entry, the Kalush Orchestra, also performing on Friday as part of the festival.

The event continues on Sunday with a final day of big performances led by the night's headliner, hip-hop star Kendrick Lamar.

Also on the programme are New Zealand pop star Lorde, soul singer Diana Ross and pioneering jazz artist Herbie Hancock.

Billie Eilish and Ukraine Eurovision winners Kalush Orchestra rock Glastonbury Festival — in pictures