Photographs of actress Lily-Rose Depp wearing a prosthetic cleft lip on the set of her new medieval horror film have triggered a significant backlash from the cleft palate community and leading charities. The images, taken during filming for Werwulf in Surrey, show the 26-year-old star in a 13th-century costume, with the prominent facial prosthetic drawing immediate criticism for its potential to perpetuate negative stereotypes.
Charities Voice Profound Disappointment
Two major organisations, the global non-profit Smile Train and the UK's Cleft Lip & Palate Association (CLAPA), have issued formal statements expressing their deep concern. Smile Train, which provides free comprehensive cleft care to children, took to Instagram to voice its alarm that the film's narrative could reinforce damaging historical connotations. The charity pointed out that the film's title, 'Werwulf', derives from an old German folkloric term meaning 'man-wolf', while 'wolf-lip' was historically a derogatory term for a cleft lip.
Smile Train stated: 'Historically, “wolf-lip” was an old German and Russian term for a cleft lip, associating the condition with werewolf mythology and other negative connotations... Associating a character with a cleft, especially within a narrative tied to potentially harmful imagery, may unintentionally reinforce stereotypes that people with clefts have long worked to overcome.' The charity confirmed it is reaching out to the production team to understand how the condition will be portrayed.
Community Reaction and Fears of Demonisation
CLAPA, the national charity supporting people with clefts in the UK, also released a powerful statement, sharing the 'real unease' the images have caused across their community. They highlighted that public and media reaction to the prosthetic has already revealed how 'easily outdated attitudes resurface'. The organisation declared it would be monitoring coverage closely and challenging irresponsible reporting, stating, 'This is not a statement we expected to issue in 2025. It’s a stark reminder of how far society still has to go.'
The charities' posts were met with a flood of supportive comments from individuals within the cleft community and their families. Many described feeling 'disgusted', 'deeply hurt', and worried that the film was 'demonising' a physical difference. One commenter, identifying as a cleft parent, wrote, 'I really do worry for my son’s future with comments like that,' while another stated, 'A cleft is not a prop.' Others questioned why a real actor with a cleft lip was not cast if the representation was essential to the character.
Understanding Cleft Lip and Palate
A cleft lip or palate is a birth defect that occurs when parts of a baby's face do not fuse together properly during development in the womb. This leaves a gap in the roof of the mouth, the lip, or both. In the UK, around 1,200 babies are born with the condition each year. While surgery is typically performed in infancy, children with a cleft can face challenges with feeding, hearing, dental health, and speech.
Despite these challenges, many individuals with clefts lead full and successful lives. Prominent figures born with the condition include Oscar-winning actor Joaquin Phoenix, NFL quarterback Peyton Manning, and Carmen Bachar of the Pussycat Dolls. The backlash against Werwulf underscores a continuing societal struggle to represent visible differences with accuracy and respect, moving away from harmful historical tropes that belong in the past.
