Johnny Depp won a defamation suit Wednesday against his former wife Amber Heard after a jury found that she had defamed Depp in saying that he had abused her over the course of their. Depp and Heard's relationship began more than a decade ago, and eventually devolved into what appears to have been a toxic marriage. Depp is suing former wife and fellow Hollywood actor Heard for $50 million over a 2018 op-ed she wrote in the Washington Post in 2018, in which she referred to herself as a public figure representing domestic abuse. In her statement Wednesday, Heard said she believes Depps attorneys succeeded in getting the jury to overlook the key issue of Freedom of Speech and ignore evidence that was so conclusive that we won in the UK., Im sad I lost this case, she said. Heard claims that Depp had thrown a phone at her, leaving her bruised. She countersued, also for defamation, seeking $100 million. Both Depp. "It's a sad situation, in terms of how the public is responding to it," saidSherry Hamby, founding editor of the American Psychological Association journal Psychology of Violence. In response, Depp's brief argued that Heard's legal team failed to present sufficient reasons for setting aside the jury's decision or for retrying the case and that her arguments were "outlandish" and vergesinto the frivolous. While on the stand, Depp claims that Heard would instigate arguments and escalate their feuds. The forensic psychologist hired by Depps legal team testified that she diagnosed Heard with both borderline personality disorder and histrionic personality disorder, which was later disputed by Heards own forensic psychologist. ", Depp said that "the jury gave me my life back. However, things recently went pretty downhill when he had to go through a controversial lawsuit against his ex-wife Amber Heard. Youd get back to the beginning. Amber Laura Heard's recently concluded trial was a civil defamation case filed by plaintiff Johnny Depp alleging three counts of defamation against the defendant Amber Heard. The trial between Johnny Depp and Amber Heard shows how bias impacts moral judgement. Heard's article mentions her experience with abuse from her childhood to adulthood. In that conversation, Depp and Heard argued, and he tossed her cellphone on the couch after he heard her laughing about him to a friend, according to his testimony. Meanwhile, Heard's team told Newsweek: "One of Ms. Heard's disappointments is Mr. Depp's inability to distinguish fact from fictiona malady which appears to have spread to his legal team. Heard and Depp get married in a private ceremony. <p>The statements will be heard from 10 a.m. in Fairfax County Court by a panel of seven jurors, plus four alternates, who were chosen late Monday in the long . Original filing:Amber Heard files to dismiss verdict or grant retrial in Johnny Depp defamation case. And whenever somebody has personal experience with an issue, that often can be very deeply felt.". A lifelong fan of memes (and writing), she's currently in her dream gig. The hashtag #JusticeForAmberHeard has 51 million. The defamation trial between actors Johnny Depp and Amber Heard began on 11 April in Fairfax, Virginia following Mr Depp's lawsuit against his ex-wife in March 2019.. Mr Depp is arguing that she . The actresswho is countersuing Depp for $100 million in damagesdetailed instances of alleged violence she said he inflicted on her and told the jury about her ex-husband's substance abuse issues. Depp sued for $50 million in damages over a 2018 opinion-editorial essay in The Washington Post, in which Heard said she had become a public figure representing domestic abuse., Watch jury award Johnny Depp $15 million in defamation suit against Amber Heard, 2018 opinion-editorial essay by Heard in The Washington Post, Depp's lawyers say claims against actor were defamatory and unsupported by any evidence, Amber Heard 'heartbroken' after jury sides with Johnny Depp in defamation case. The Johnny Depp/Amber Heard trial is being streamed live online by a number of outlets. Falling madly in love with your friend., She continued: You are the last thing in the whole world who deserves it, [the] last person I ever meant to hurt. The couple comes under fire for sneaking their dogs, Pistol and Boo, into Australia. That judgment kicks in a number of motivated processes. It sets back the idea that violence against women is to be taken seriously.". Heard eventually sought him out, continuing the argument, and threw two vodka bottles at him, he said. She alleged that Depp defamed her when his former lawyer referred to her allegations of abuse as a hoax. Pizarro said moral judgments can evolve over time, and he expects people who feel fervent about the case now may think differently about it once it concludes. Depp sues Heard for defamation, claiming the Post article was a ruse for Heard to gin up positive press for herself. So when you measure how many times somebody's seen something, realize that they've been fed that too. Depp was faced with proving that Heard knowingly made false claims. At the crux of the article, Heard asks for support for women experiencing domestic violence. Here's what else you should know about the trial. The actor's lawyers say that while he was not named, it is obvious that Heard was referring to him, which resulted in him being blacklisted from Hollywood and losing out on roles. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. From the headlinesto the memesto the hashtags, these messages are perpetuating stigma and victim-blaming and very likely operating to further isolate and silence survivors," said Deborah J. Vagins, president and CEO of the National Network to End Domestic Violence. Her 2019 pre-recorded deposition was featured in the 2022 court case, in which she . They battled in court over an op-ed Heard wrote for The Washington Post in 2018, in which she described surviving domestic violence -- without mentioning Depp by name. "I don't know if people are watching the trial that closely and the algorithms exist to feed you what you're interested in," she said. He told the lawyers and the judge about the atmosphere of his house and how it was so volatile that he never truly felt safe. Depp lost a defamation case that involved Heard in 2020. Experts say it's a dangerous moment for domestic violence. Stories about inflation, the war in Ukraine and the likely restriction of reproductive rights come as the country continues to suffer from COVID fatigue more than two years into the pandemic. This Wednesday a jury found both Johnny Depp and Amber Heard liable for defamation butawarded more moneyto Depp. On Thursday, the court heard from witnesses such as Johnny Depps former friend Bruce Witkin; Depps former co-star and girlfriend Ellen Barkin; and his ex-agent, Tracey Jacobs. diagnosed her with post-traumatic stress disorder caused by what she said wasDepp's intimate partner violence. Depp sues both executive editor Dan Wootton and The Sun's parent company News Group Newspapers. Mr Depp threw a wine bottle across the hotel room in one instance, while we were shooting Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. Experts in domestic violence say toxic, unhealthy relationships can include bidirectional violence with no primary aggressor, and abusive relationships with a primary aggressor can include victims who use violence as self-defense or as a way to try and reassert control. Fairfax County Circuit Court Judge Penney Azcarate reduced the punitive damages the jury awarded to Depp to $350,000, which is the states statutory cap or legal limit, making his total damages $10.4 million. Heard also returns to the stand on May 26 before closing arguments. "Speaking the truth was something that I owed to my children and to all those who have remained steadfast in their support of me. AS USA's Oli Povey on the revised schedule of the trial, Depp's "star had dimmed" because of "unprofessional behaviour" - former agent. ", Depp's lawyers did not put a domestic violence expert on the stand, though they did call Laurel Anderson, the couple's former marriage counselor who testified thatthere was "mutual abuse" in the relationship. The couple divorced in January 2017, eight months after Heard had filed for divorce and taken out a temporary restraining order against Depp, alleging he had been abusive towards her during their relationship. The couple split in 2016. 0:00. Her experience is reminiscent of other cases where women were publicly scorned and later reevaluated, including Lorena Bobbitt, Monica Lewinsky, Anita HillandBritney Spears. What effect did it have on me? Johnny Depp-Amber Heard Defamation Trial. Videos with the hashtag#JusticeForJohnnyDepphave been viewed a staggering 8.3 billion times on that site. 2023 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Satellite Information Network, LLC. This is hurting you. And it did., She added: His star had dimmed due to it getting harder to get him jobs given the reputation that he had acquired due to his lateness, and other things.. Heard told the court she did not call 911 during the 2016 argument and chose not to cooperate with police because she feared they might arrest Depp, whom she was trying to protect. During the trial, in his testimony in the trail against Amber Heard, Johnny Depp later elaborated on the graphic details of the physical abuse. (Getty Images) In 2018, Heard wrote an op-ed piece for the Washington Post that implied she was a . 2023 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Satellite Information Network, LLC. While their loyal fans made communities and had a social media war, everyone . The statements will be heard from 10 a.m. in Fairfax County Court by a panel of seven jurors, plus four alternates, who were chosen late Monday in the long-awaited and high-profile trial. On Dec. 19, Heard announced in an Instagram post that she settled the defamation case. "It is a setback. On Thursday, the court heard from witnesses such as Johnny Depp's former friend. Were seeing 10 to 15 times the number of viewers for this trial than we normally do across platforms, but most specifically in YouTube.. Pictured, Azcarate speaks during a hearing at the Fairfax County Circuit Courthouse in Fairfax, Virginia, on May 3, 2022. ugly details of their tumultuous marriage, social media, which has played a huge role in the public perception of the trial, Everyone Practices Cancel Culture | Opinion, Deplatforming Free Speech is Dangerous | Opinion. Painful. Testimony for both sides of the Johnny Depp vs Amber Heard trial came to an end on Thursday. He is often paranoid and his temper is exceptionally scary for me. She writes she was living "in fear that Johnny will return to [our house] unannounced to terrorize me, physically and emotionally.. Follow the New York Post's up-to-the-minute coverage as Johnny Depp's defamation trial against ex-wife Amber Heard resumes after an extended break. But revisiting won't be enough," Bedera said. The jury found that Depp, through Waldman, defamed Heard on one count. "Speaking the truth was something that I owed to my children and to all those who have remained steadfast in their support of me. The Pirates of the Caribbean star is suing his ex-wife for $50 million for defamation over an essay she wrote about domestic violence in The Washington Post in 2018. Others are also tuning in on YouTube, withLaw & Crimes Stockman telling Axios: Consumption has changed for trials like this. This story has been shared 111,949 times. Its hard to explain, but the argument would start here, but it would roll around and become this circular thing of its own, Depp said. A judge reduced the punitive damages to $350,000, which is the cap in Virginia. The defamation case brought by actor Johnny Depp against his ex-wife Amber Heard came to an end on Wednesday after a seven-person jury unanimously ruled in favor of Depp. Nicole Bedera, a sociologist who studiessexual victimization and perpetration, says many people who have experienced domestic and sexual violence are avoiding the trial, which mayalso be contributing to bias. "There is no evidence of fraud or wrongdoing", Through one of his lawyers, Benjamin Chew, Depp said he was "most gratified by the Courts rulings.. That has to change." Later, a libel trial is held in the United Kingdom over the British newspaper "The Sun" calling Depp a "wife-beater." The jury awarded Depp $10 million in compensatory damages and $5 million in punitive damages in his defamation suit. While social media reaction to the case has been cruel and derisive, Stewart cautions against making broad generalizationsbased on that content. Heard's legal team filed a 53-page brief arguingthat the verdict was unfair, inconsistent and "excessive,"citing multiple reasons, including that Depp did not present evidence of required "actual malice," and that what Heard wrotein her column was "true" and thus protected by the First Amendment. People across the country were glued to their screens as Heard took the stand to be cross-examined by Depps lawyer. There is enough evidence to support Johnny Depp 's $50 million claim of defamation. "It's unsurprising that the people who were on the front-end really excited to tweet about it, to make TikToks about it, to create an entire following about it are the ones who are going to have the least amount of personal experience with this type of violence," Bedera said. Azcarate said to the jury. Those personal experiences can create empathy or disdain for either Depp or Heard. As Johnny Depp's defamation trial with ex-wife Amber Heard resumes later today, Pirates of the Caribbean seem sure to sign up Margot Robbie to front the sixth instalment. The "Pirates of the Caribbean" star will take the stand again next week and there could be more than 18 hours . Jacobs, who represented Depp for 30 years before he fired her in 2016, said the stars unprofessional behaviour had made it more difficult to find him acting work in the decade before the pair parted company. Last week,jurors were shown love notes written by Amber Heard to Johnny Depp in 2015. The notes describe Depp as a friend who Heard had fallen in love with. Depp's team asks Circuit Court JudgePenney Azcarate to dismiss Heard's countersuit, which was unsuccessful. In December 2018, Heard wrote an op-ed for The Washington Post titled, "I spoke up against sexual violence -- and faced our culture's wrath. Actors Johnny Depp, 58, and Amber Heard, 35, continue the ugly fallout from their contentious divorce. 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