Amber Heard’s statement after her loss in the trial: what did she say about Johnny Depp?
Heard was quick to speak her mind after her defeat in the celebrity trial of the century in which she will have to pay millions in damages.
Soon after the jury delivered its verdict in the trial between Johnny Depp and Amber Heard, Heard posted her statement on Instagram and Twitter giving her view of proceedings.
She had just been found liable for defaming Depp in her Washington Post article from 2018. The jury found that not only did Heard knowingly misrepresent the truth in her op-ed, but also that she had acted with actual malice in its publication. The $15 million awarded to Depp is comprised of $10 million in compensatory damages and $5 million in punitive damages.
In contrary to this outcome, Depp lost a libel case against British newspaper The Sun when it described him as a ‘wifebeater’. Judge Mr Justice Nicol found in 2020 that the article was “substantially true.”
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What did Heard’s statement say?
“The disappointment I feel today is beyond words,” Heard said in her statement, “I’m heartbroken that the mountain of evidence still was not enough to stand up to the disproportionate power, influence and sway of my ex husband.”
“I’m even more disappointed with what this verdict means for women. It is a setback. It sets back the clock to a time when a woman who spoke up and spoke up could be publicly shamed and humiliated,” she said. “It sets back the idea that violence against women should be taken seriously.”
“I believe Johnny’s 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.”
“I’m sad I lost this case. But I am sadder still that I seem to have lost a right I thought I had as an American - to speak freely and openly.”
What is going to happen now?
After losing the civil court case Heard could still choose to lodge an appeal against the decision. However it would be required that new evidence comes to light for this to happen, which could be difficult to obtain.
However, Heard’s $100 million countersue is still open and a court will decide in future whether Depp defamed her and may have to pay.