Johny Depp VS Amber Heard

Overview.

The actor Johnny Depp’s defamation case against his ex-wife Amber Heard was resolved only after a unanimous decision in favor of Depp was reached by the seven jurors. Yet what came before the case? More than ten years ago, Depp and Heard started dating. Eventually, their relationship deteriorated into what seems to have been a toxic union. In 2016, the couple divorced. They fought in court over an opinion piece Heard published for The Washington Post in 2018 on surviving domestic abuse, which she did not specifically reference Depp in.

Depp sued for $50 million in damages against Heard for false allegations of abuse in her 2018 essay. The jury found that Heard knew her claims were false and acted with malice. Depp was awarded $10 million in compensatory damages and $5 million in punitive damages. Heard countersued for $100 million, claiming she was only violent with Depp in self-defense or defense of her younger sister. The jury found that Depp, through Waldman, defamed Heard on one count. Heard was awarded $2 million in compensatory damages but no punitive damages. The timeline of Depp and Heard’s relationship leading up to the court case is provided.

1. About Their Relationship.

In 2009, Johnny Depp and Johnny Heard met during the filming of “The Rum Diary.” Depp played Paul Kemp, a journalist obsessed with Chenault, who is engaged to a businessman. In 2012, they began dating, but Depp and Vanessa Paradis ended their 14-year relationship. In 2014, Heard was spotted wearing an engagement ring, and Depp confirmed it in interviews. In 2015, they got married in a private ceremony. However, they faced controversy for sneaking their dogs, Pistol and Boo, into Australia. Heard was charged with illegally importing the dogs and producing a false document.

In 2016, Heard filed for divorce from Johnny Depp, alleging verbal and physical abuse. Heard claimed Depp had thrown a phone at her, leaving her bruised. She claimed Depp had a short fuse and was often paranoid. A judge rejected Heard’s request for anger management classes and extended the protective order to their dogs. Police did not press charges against Depp. Later, the couple announced they had settled their divorce, stating their relationship was passionate and volatile but always bound by love. Heard would donate any proceeds from the settlement to charity. The couple’s divorce was finalized in 2017.

3. The Legal Between Johny Depp and Amber Heard.

Johnny Depp and Amber Heard are in a defamation trial, with the trial starting in April 2022. The lawsuit alleges abuse against Depp in 2018 and is the second related to their relationship, following a UK trial in 2020. The trial has garnered significant media attention due to the popularity of the Hollywood stars and the complex background of the case.

1. Defamation Lawsuit Against Amber Heard.

Johnny Depp filed a defamation lawsuit against actress Amber Heard for $50 million in March 2019, citing an article in the Washington Post that discussed the treatment of women in sexual assault cases and referred to herself as a “public figure representing domestic abuse”. Depp was dropped from his role in Disney’s Pirates of the Caribbean franchise shortly after the article was published, claiming it damaged his professional career. Depp’s lawyers argued that Heard misrepresented herself as the face of the Me Too movement and that her false allegations had a consequential impact on Depp’s family and his ability to work in his profession. In 2020, Depp sued The Sun’s publisher for libel over a headline he was called a “wife-beater.” Amber Heard testified in the trial, making 14 allegations of abuse against Depp.

Amber Heard’s lawyers attempted to dismiss Johnny Depp’s defamation lawsuit, but the judge refused due to UK and US defamation laws differences and Heard’s lack of involvement in the Sun case. The Washington Post’s printing presses and online servers were located in Virginia, allowing the matter to proceed. Heard filed a $100 million countersuit against Depp, claiming she was defamed by his legal team’s characterization of her claims as “fake” and a “sexual violence hoax.”

2. Role of Domestic Violence in This Case.

Domestic violence affects one in three women and one in four men, with severe physical assaults resulting in injuries. Over 4,000 women die each year due to domestic violence. Prosecutors struggle to pursue cases due to victims’ unwillingness to testify against the abuser and their refusal to tell the truth about their injuries. Johnny Depp’s relationship with Heard has been a source of controversy, with Heard alleging that he subjected her to excessive emotional, verbal, and physical abuse throughout the 15-month marriage. She has filed an iPhone incident as a repeat event, claiming Depp subjected her to angry, hostile, humiliating, and threatening assaults.

A police officer testified that she did not identify Amber Heard as a victim of domestic violence at the time, and did not see any evidence of a crime. Johnny Depp denied the allegation and was not charged. He testified that the couple frequently argued but never reached the point of striking her. In the defamation case trial against his ex-wife, he claimed he was frequently physically assaulted by her and was the actual victim of domestic violence in their marriage.

The Depp v. Heard trial highlights the similar motivations for intimate partner violence among men and women, such as control, revenge, anger, or jealousy. The National Library of Medicine’s research indicates that both Depp and Heard were abusive during their relationship, highlighting the need for further discussion on this topic.

3. Defamation Under the Law in Virginia.

Defamation is a legal claim involving injury to one’s reputation due to a false statement of fact, including libel and slander. The crux of a defamation claim is falsity, and truthful statements do not create liability. To state a claim for defamation under Virginia law, a plaintiff must show publication of an actionable statement with the requisite intent. The statement must be defamatory, meaning it aims to harm another’s reputation and deter third parties from associating or dealing with them. To succeed, a plaintiff must prove all these elements. In Virginia, the statute of limitations is 1-year for defamation, and every action for injury resulting from libel, slander, insulting words, or defamation must be brought within one year after the cause of action accrued.

4. What Makes This Case so Complicated?

Defamation cases can be challenging to prove, especially when the parties involved are public figures. The case is complicated by the events that preceded it, including domestic violence claims. Johnny Depp had to prove false allegations that damaged his career, while Amber Heard had to prove abuse during their relationship. The key to proving these allegations is to establish that the allegations were false and damaging to their professional careers.

5. Virginia Jury Decision.

The Virginia jury ruled in favor of Johnny Depp in a defamation case, requiring Amber Heard to pay $10 million in compensatory and $5 million in punitive damages. Heard received $2 million in compensatory damages, while Depp received $10.35 million. The decision was criticized by Amber Heard and other women victims, while Depp expressed his “life back” after the verdict. The jury’s decision was a significant setback for Depp, who has since expressed his satisfaction with the outcome.

6. Amber Heard’s Appeal and Settlement.

Amber Heard and Johnny Depp filed notices of appeal in a defamation case, with Heard pursuing the matter further and Depp allowing both parties to move forward. Heard announced her decision to settle the case on December 19, 2022, stating she lost faith in the American legal system and that her unprotected testimony served as entertainment and social media fodder. Depp’s spokesperson stated that both parties should move forward with their lives.

“We are pleased to formally close the door on this painful chapter for Depp, who made clear throughout this process that his priority was bringing the truth to light,” read a statement from Johnny Depp’s team. The verdict in favor of Depp against Heard, which was reached by the jury in a unanimous vote, is still in effect.

4. Professional Impact and life after the trial.

The televised trial of Johnny Depp significantly impacted his life, leading to his success as the first actor to star in Rihanna’s Savage X Fenty and signing a multimillion-dollar deal with Dior Homme. Depp is expected to return to Hollywood with his upcoming movie, “Jeanne du Barry,” where he plays King Louis XV.

Despite petitions for her departure from the Aquaman sequel, Amber Heard is set to reprise her role as Mera in the sequel and the Lost Kingdom. However, her role has been significantly reduced. She is also set to star in a new movie, “In the Fire,” a period drama by Conor Allyn. The Johnny v. Amber documentary has already aired on Hulu in 2022, and a TV show or book is expected to follow due to the controversial nature of the trial. The trial has been a rollercoaster ride for Johnny Depp and Amber Heard.