Most people are aware of Johnny Depp suing his ex-wife Amber Heard for defamation. But if you somehow missed all of the hubbub, you should know that Johnny Depp is suing his ex-wife Amber Heard $50 million for defamation for writing an op-ed in 2018 where she declared herself a “public figure representing domestic abuse.”
She didn’t mention Depp by name but she provided the same stories of abuse in the op-ed that she stated during their divorce case in 2016. Additionally, during cross-examination during the trial, she admitted the piece was about it “…I know how many people will come out and say whatever for him. That’s his power. That’s why I wrote the op-ed. I was speaking to that phenomenon. How many people will come out in support of him and will fall to his power. He is a powerful man, and people love currying favor with powerful men.” [1]
Who Abused Who?
Depp claimed this op-ed ruined his career as he lost roles and struggled to find work. Plus, he claimed that she was the abusive one, not him. Meanwhile, Heard is countersuing him for $100 million, claiming he created a smear campaign against her.
Right now, the jury is debating the verdict and it seems like everyone is on the edge of their seat. However, as far as the court of public opinion goes, many people stand behind Johnny Depp. During the trial, he opened up about his struggles with addiction, accusing Heard of picking fights with him and lashing out physically. Most remarkably, he said she threw a vodka bottle that severed the tip of his finger. Meanwhile, Heard claimed Depp had sexually assaulted her while drunk. She described several violent events that often correlated with Depp’s alcohol and drug use. Many witnesses testified for both sides, from Amber’s makeup artist, Johnny’s ex-wife Kate Moss, people who worked in the entertainment industry, police officers and security guards, psychiatrists, orthopedic surgeons, and many more.
Amber Heard is Called a “Liar”
Throughout the six-week trial, social media was flooded with supporters of Depp who seemed to outnumber the supporters of Heard. As a result, Heard spoke about why she thinks she was labeled a liar during one cross-examination. The topic regarded her pledge to give $7 million from the divorce settlement to be split between the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) charity and the Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles.
In 2018, she publicly stated that she had paid half of her pledge; however, the charity was yet to receive the money. During the trial, Heard told the jury she had “not been able to fulfil those obligations yet”.
She said she wasn’t interested in the praise and good press from the deed. Rather she said, “My interest is in my name — in clearing my name. At the time, I was being called a ‘liar’ and my motives were being questioned. I did see it as important to clear that up. I wanted to make a statement to make sure there was not any doubt. That I couldn’t be labelled these things just because Johnny was the bigger star and had more publicity reach.” [2] The label of “liar” continues to spread across social media during the trial, where many claim she was “playing the role of her life.”
Read: Why Does It Seem Like the Entire Internet Is Team Johnny Depp?
Heard Opens Up About Death Threats
But last week, she expounded on how the lawsuit had affected her personally and professionally. She testified that she was being “harassed, humiliated, threatened every single day” by Depp fans since the trial started.
“People want to kill me and they tell me that every day,” Heard said tearfully. “Johnny threatened … promised me that if I ever left him, he’d make me think of him every single day.” Seeming to respond to Depp’s previous testimony, she said, “I’m not sitting in this courtroom snickering. This is horrible and this is painful and this is humiliating for any human being.”
She continued, saying she is not trying to present herself as a saint, but she agreed to the trial to give a voice to other victims of domestic abuse. “I receive hundreds of death threats … people mocking my testimony,” she continued. “It has been agonizing, painful and the most humiliating thing I’ve ever been through.” In her final testimony, she said she just wants “Johnny to leave me alone.” She also said, “Perhaps it’s easy to forget, but I am a human being.” [3]
Depp Had Waited to “Bring the Truth Out”
Meanwhile, Depp continuously denied ever laying a hand on Heard and refuted many of her claims. “It’s insane to hear heinous accusations of violence, sexual violence … that she’s accusing me of. (It’s) horrible, ridiculous, humiliating, ludicrous, painful, savage, unimaginably brutal, cruel,” he said. “…I have never in my life committed sexual battery, physical abuse, all these outlandish, outrageous stories of me committing these things,” he said. “And living with it for six years, and waiting to be able to bring the truth out.” [4]
And speaking of the truth, the jury is now in session to decide on the verdict. It’s unclear how long this will take. Even if you are not actively following this case, it’s highly likely you will hear about the verdict once it’s announced. Theoretically, the news can come at any time.
Keep Reading: Johnny Depp Rumoured To be Signed For ‘Beetlejuice 2’
Sources
- “Johnny Depp trial: Amber accidentally says “That’s why I wrote the op-ed.” YouTube. May 26, 2022.
- “Amber Heard says she’s been labelled a ‘liar’ because Johnny Depp is ‘the bigger star’.” Independent. Jacob Stolworthy. May 22, 2022.
- “Johnny Depp-Amber Heard trial: Court resumes with Heard on stand.” NBC News. May 17, 2022
- “Amber Heard tearfully says she’s been ‘humiliated,’ received ‘death threats’ amid Johnny Depp trial.” USA Today. May 26, 2022.