Johnny Depp v Amber Heard trial news summary: 3 June 2022
Depp v Heard latest news: live reactions to verdict
Depp v Heard verdict: watch as it happened
The video below offers courtroom footage of Wednesday's verdict in Fairfax, Virginia, as a seven-person jury found mostly in favour of Johnny Depp in his $50m defamation case against Amber Heard.
They awarded Depp $15 million in compensation, which was then reduced to $10.35m by Judge Penny Azcarate, who cited a limit to punitive damages in Virginia state law.
Heard, who was counter-suing Depp for $100m, was successful on one count of defamation and was awarded $2 million. Heard's lawyer has spoken publicly about her client's intention to appeal the verdict.
Both Depp and Heard have responded to the verdict on social media and it has become increasingly clear that much of what transpired in the courtroom only represented a fraction of the complexities of the case and their relationship.
Watch Wednesday's courtroom action:
One of Johnny Depp’s lawyers, Camile Vasquez, took center stage during the trial due to the style of her cross-examination of Amber Heard.
Vasquez subsequently enjoyed social media fame with millions of people wondering who the fast-talking lawyer was and how she came to be at Depp's side during the courtroom exchanges.
Stenographer didn't party with Depp - Law & Crime's Levy
Law & Crime reporter Angenette Levy has moved to scotch rumours that the Johnny Depp v Amber Heard stenographer, Judy, partied with Depp. Images of her allegedly socialising with the actor had emerged online, but Levy has clarified: "Judy was at that event for maybe 10 minutes. The courthouse closes at 4 and her gear was locked inside. Depp’s lawyers collected it for her. She picked up her items and JD hugged her and she left. That’s it."
Johnny Depp joins musician Jeff Beck on stage during a concert at the Sage Gateshead venue in Gateshead, UK, on Thursday.
(Photo: Lianne Templeman/via REUTERS)
Depp v Heard "not a referendum on #MeToo movement"
LA Times columnist Mary McNamara says the Depp v Heard court case was not "a referendum on the #MeToo movement”, arguing: “Obviously, legal decisions set legal precedents, and precedents can create a ‘chilling effect.’ But so can a collective willingness to give Depp vs. Heard the power to undo decades of legal and cultural progress.
“Why are we so eager to see in this very specific and frankly outlier case a template for all trials involving accusations of abuse?
“It makes sense that those who feel #MeToo is nothing more than a witch hunt would try to make the decision into some sort of grand statement about all accusations against alleged abusers, but why are those who have worked so hard to make it safe for women (and men) to come forward so ready to play into their hands?
“[…] To place the future of all domestic and sexual abuse and harassment cases on the shoulders of one couple, to put a jury in the position of deciding not just one case but the fate of all cases involving a woman accusing a man of abuse, is not just absurd. It’s self-destructive and sexist.”
Read McNamara’s discussion with LA Times reporter Meredith Blake in full
AS USA's Jeffrey May discusses what the future looks like for Johnny Depp and Amber Heard after conclusion of their defamation court case.
Depp win may "embolden" those accused of abuse, NY Times told
The New York Times’ Julia Jacobs has spoken to lawyers who feel Johnny Depp’s court victory over ex-wife Amber Heard may encourage people accused of abuse to take defamation cases to trial.
“I do think that well-resourced individuals who feel slighted by speech that embarrassed or criticized them in some way may feel emboldened by this verdict,” Jacobs was told by First Amendment law professor Nicole Ligon.
Legal experts also believe the outcome of the case in Fairfax, Virginia, could “have a chilling effect on the victims of domestic violence or sexual abuse”, Jacobs added.
With Amber Heard set to challenge the verdict in her defamation courtcase against Johnny Depp, AS USA's Calum Roche looks at when the 36-year-old's appeal might be heard.
Depp pictured at wildlife sanctuary
Johnny Depp has been snapped badger-in-arm at a wildlife sanctuary in the UK, where is touring with musician Jeff Beck. Depp was pictured at Folly Wildlife Rescue in Kent, the centre posting on social media: "Guess who's been to see us at Folly Wildlife Rescue - no you're not seeing things - that's the real Johnny Depp!"
Could Johnny Depp sue the Washington Post?
According to analysts, Johnny Depp could have grounds for suing the Washington Post, the publication in which Amber Heard first aired her claims of domestic abuse in a 2018 op-ed.
Depp "will be a leading man again"
Following graphic allegations of abuse, recordings of vicious fights and airings of nasty text messages, will Hollywood be ready to welcome back Johnny Depp or Amber Heard?
Depp, the "Pirates of the Caribbean" star, declared that a US jury gave him his life back when it awarded him a near-total victory in his defamation fight with ex-wife Heard on Wednesday.
Jurors supported Depp's three claims that Heard had defamed him and awarded him more than $10 million in damages. Heard won one counter-claim that Depp's lawyer had defamed her. The jury awarded Heard $2 million.
The verdicts came with a cost. Over six weeks, the televised trial provided vivid detail about a troubled marriage and evidence that both Depp and Heard admitted was embarrassing.
Still, Depp is expected to be offered new movie roles now that the US jury has backed him following a years-long legal battle, said Clayton Davis, senior awards editor at Hollywood publication Variety.
"I think Johnny Depp is going to work again. He's going to get some big project," Davis said after the verdict, noting Hollywood offers plenty of examples of stars who recovered from very public scandals. Robert Downey Jr., Mel Gibson, Hugh Grant, Roman Polanski and others found new opportunities after serious allegations of improper behavior, criminal convictions or missteps.
Kevin Spacey has acted in a handful of independent films after being accused in 2018 of sexual misconduct, which he denies.
"We have a culture that allows these people to work again," Davis said. Less than two years ago, Depp lost a libel suit in Britain against the Sun tabloid, which called him a "wife beater."
A London High Court judge ruled that Depp had repeatedly assaulted Heard. Shortly after, Depp was dropped from the "Fantastic Beasts" movie franchise, a "Harry Potter" spinoff.
Attorney Neama Rahmani called the US trial "PR genius" by Depp and his team to rebuild his reputation and career. On the witness stand, Depp "was likable. He was credible. He was charismatic. He was charming," Rahmani said.
Depp denied ever hitting Heard, while she admitted slapping Depp but said it was only to defend herself or her sister.
Juda Engelmayer, a crisis communications expert who represents Harvey Weinstein and others, said he believes Depp's strong support from fans on social media throughout the trial will boost his standing in Hollywood.
Producers "look at the millions of people who rallied to him, who signed petitions against Amber Heard, and they're going to say 'are they willing to come to movies and pay at the box office?'" Engelmayer said. "I think they will test him out."
Revelations from the trial may restrict Depp from starring in family fare, Engelmayer said, though he predicted Depp "will be a leading man again."
Heard, who has far less of a track record in Hollywood, was vilified on social media throughout the trial, but Engelmayer believes she too will be offered new acting opportunities.
Before the trial, Heard filmed her role in "Aquaman 2," which is scheduled for release in March 2023.
Engelmayer said he believes a "socially conscious" filmmaker will offer Heard at least a small role to provide a fresh start for a woman who went public with claims of abuse.
Given the MeToo movement in recent years, Hollywood would be seen as "hypocritical," Engelmayer said, "if they don't give her a role and give her an opportunity again."
Depp v Heard will be concluded on appeal in "one or two years"
Lawyer Lisa Bloom says she believes the Depp v Heard case is far from over, telling BBC Newsnight that she expects Amber Heard to appeal against what Bloom described as an "inconsistent" verdict.
“I want to emphasise that this is not the end, because most defamation cases are really decided on appeal,” Bloom told BBC Newsnight. “I have handled a number of defamation cases, including representing Janice Dickinson against Bill Cosby. We had to argue two appeals in that case, both of which were successful.
“And I think there are a lot of issues on appeal. For example, I think this is an inconsistent verdict. How can it be that Amber Heard was defamed when Johnny Depp’s lawyer said that her allegations were a hoax, and yet Johnny Depp was also defamed when she said she was representative of domestic violence. I think that’s inconsistent, and you can’t have an inconsistent verdict.
“She also got hit with the defamation verdict for the headline in the article, which she did not write. Now, she retweeted it, but she didn’t write it. I retweet articles all the time. Am I responsible if there’s a false statement within that article? Generally, we think people are not responsible for that.
“So I think this is going to go up on appeal, I think that within a year or two we’re going to have a more definitive answer and outcome in this case.”
Following closing arguments at the end of last week, AS USA's Jennifer Bubel put together a video of some of the key moments of the Depp v Heard trial.
Following the news that he has been awarded multi-million-dollar damages in his defamation case against Amber Heard, AS USA's Will Gittins looks at where this leaves Johnny Depp's net worth.
After she was ordered to pay former husband Johnny Depp damages of $15m (subsequently reduced to $10.35m by the judge), AS USA's Jeffrey May takes a look at Amber Heard's total worth.
Depp awarded $15 million, judge reduces damages to $10.35m
Johnny Depp was awarded $15 million in damages after the jury at Fairfax County Court deemed that Amber Heard defamed her former husband in a 2018 Washington Post op-ed entitled: "I spoke up against sexual violence — and faced our culture’s wrath. That has to change."
In the op-ed, which didn't mention Depp by name, Heard wrote that she had become a "public figure representing domestic abuse".
Following the jury's decision to award Depp $15m, Judge Penny Azcarate reduced this amount to $10.35m, citing limits to damages in Virginia state law.
Amber Heard plans to appeal ruling
Amber Heard will appeal a jury's decision that she defamed ex-husband Johnny Depp when she claimed she was a survivor of sexual violence, her attorney said on Thursday.
A seven-person jury in Virginia ruled on Wednesday that Heard defamed the "Pirates of the Caribbean" star and awarded him $10.35 million in damages. The jury also determined that Heard was defamed, awarding her $2 million.
Elaine Charlson Bredehoft, one of Heard's attorneys, said on NBC's "Today" show that Depp's team was "able to suppress an enormous amount of evidence" that was allowed in a libel case in Britain, which Depp lost.
"She was demonized here," Bredehoft added. "A number of things were allowed in this court that should not have been allowed, and it caused the jury to be confused."
During the trial, Depp said he never hit or sexually abused Heard and argued that she was one who became violent during their relationship. Heard said she slapped Depp but only in defense of herself or her sister.
Depp response to trial verdict
After the trial ended on Wednesday 1 June, Johnny Depp took to Instagram to thank the jury and discuss his happiness with the result. The post has been liked by many celebrities and currently has attracted more than fifteen million likes.
Amber Heard statement on trial verdict
Amber Heard has released a response to the trial verdict where she has been ordered to pay more than $10 million to Depp. Heard spoke to her concerns that this case may be a "step backwards" for other women who have been the victims of abuse and want to speak out against their abuser or their experience.
The jury in the defamation case brought by Johnny Depp against Amber Heard for an opinion piece she published in The Washington Post reached a decision on Wednesday. The court has ordered Amber Heard to pay $10.35 million in damages while also requiring Depp to pay $2 million to Heard for articles written by his publicist in The Daily Mail.
In response to questions from the media over whether Heard is in a position to make these payments to Depp, her attorney, Elaine Charlson Bredehoft, answered, “Oh, no. Absolutely not.”
Read our full coverage for details on what options Amber Heard has moving forward.
Depp v Heard live updates: welcome
Good morning and welcome to AS USA's daily live blog on the Johnny Depp v Amber Heard defamation case. A verdict was reached on Wednesday, 1 June, the seven-person jury in Fairfax, Virginia, ruling mostly in favour of Depp.