Johnny Depp v Amber Heard trial news summary: 5 June 2022
Depp v Heard: Sunday 5 June
Depp v Heard verdict: headlines
- Heard found to have defamed ex-husband Depp in 2018 op-ed in which she described herself as "public figure representing domestic abuse"
- Depp awarded $10.35m in damages
- Heard to receive $2m after winning on one count of defamation counter-suit
- Heard to appeal and "has some excellent grounds", lawyer says
- GoFundMe takes down fake $1m fundraiser for Heard
Watch video of Wednesday's verdict at Fairfax County Court:
Depp to return as Jack Sparrow?
According to a former Disney executive, Johnny Depp will likely return as Captain Jack Sparrow in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise. “I absolutely believe post-verdict that Pirates is primed for rebooting with Johnny as Capt. Jack back on board,” the former Disney exec, who wasn’t named, told People (via The Wrap). “There is just too much potential box-office treasure for a beloved character deeply embedded in the Disney culture.”
A court in Virginia ruled in favour of Johnny Depp on all three counts brought by his legal team, alleging that the actor had been defamed by ex-wife Amber Heard. As part of the ruling, Depp was awarded $15 million in compensation, while Heard’s countersuit was awarded $2 million.
Heard appears likely to appeal the verdict and will almost certainly appeal the compensatory figures given by the jury. However it seems very likely that Depp will receive a substantial payment as a result of the case, to add to his already-huge personal wealth.
Shouts of "innocent, innocent" as Depp performs in Glasgow
Johnny Depp was greeted by chants of "innocent, innocent" as he performed alongside musician Jeff Beck in Glasgow on Friday night, TMZ reports.
Depp is touring the UK with guitar legend Beck. The pair played in Gateshead on Thursday and Manchester on Saturday, and are also due to perform in Birmingham and York.
Amber Heard's lawyer Elaine Bredehoft has said her client is "absolutely not" in a position to pay Johnny Depp the damages he was awarded in the pair's defamation suit and counter-suit.
Heard intends to appeal the jury's verdict, Bredehoft has said.
With the prospect of having to foot a multi-million-dollar payout hanging over the 36-year-old, AS USA's Jeffrey May looks at how much the Aquaman star is worth.
AS USA's Will Gittins explores some of the strangest moments in the Depp v Heard defamation trial.
"Out of control": Heard abuse says a lot about public's new relationship with celebs
In an opinion piece in the New York Times this weekend, journalist Lindsay Crouse discusses the abuse Amber Heard has received from members of the public as a result of her courtroom battle with Johnny Depp.
Crouse explores the way the relationship between fans and celebrities has changed in an age when stars' social-media profiles often allow us a window into their private lives.
“Among those who didn’t believe Ms. Heard’s accusations against her ex-husband, many seemed to want to punish her for the perceived betrayal, the way they might someone they knew in real life,” Crouse writes.
Full article: Fandom is out of control
GoFundMe removes fake $1m Heard campaign
Crowdfunding site GoFundMe has taken down a fake $1 million campaign claiming that its goal was to help Amber Heard pay the damages awarded to Johnny Depp.
"A spokesperson for GoFundMe says they were able to flag the profile quickly - before a substantial amount of money was raised," TMZ reports.
Domestic violence experts fearful over impact of Depp v Heard case
The director of training at the Houston Area Women’s Center has told an interview with UK newspaper the Guardian that she hopes the outcome of the Johnny Depp v Amber Heard defamation trial doesn’t deter sufferers of domestic violence from coming forward.
“Just because the jury decided that way, doesn’t mean that it didn’t happen,” Michelle Sacks told the Guardian. “I think that’s really important to kind of get across - just to believe anyone that may disclose something to you.
"And if you know that someone is struggling, just let them know that they didn’t deserve it, that it’s not their fault, and that there are services available.”
Full Guardian article: Domestic violence experts lament fallout from Depp-Heard trial
AS USA's Jeffrey May looks at the future prospects of both Depp and Heard following the conclusion of their defamation suit and counter-suit.
Heard will "absolutely" appeal and cannot afford to pay damages - lawyer
Amber Heard's lawyer Elaine Bredehoft told an interview with the Today Show on Thursday that the actor "absolutely" intends to appeal, declaring that she has "some excellent grounds" to challenge the verdict.
“There was so much evidence that did not come in," she said.
Complaining that her client was "demonised" in the trial in Virginia, 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.”
Full story: Heard lawyer sees "excellent grounds" for appeal
Bredehoft also said that Heard cannot afford the damages awarded to Depp, replying "oh, no, absolutely not" when asked by host Savannah Guthrie if the Aquaman star has the funds to pay her ex-husband.
See also: Can Heard afford to pay Depp?
In this video, AS USA's Jennifer Bubel takes a look back at some of the defining moments of the six-week-long defamation trial.
Depp v Heard, live updates: welcome
Good morning and welcome to AS USA's daily live blog on the reaction to Wednesday's verdict in the Depp v Heard defamation case.
A seven-person jury at Fairfax County Court, Virginia, ruled that Amber Heard defamed former husband Johnny Depp in a 2018 Washington Post op-ed in which she described herself as "a public figure representing domestic abuse".
Depp was awarded damages of $10.35m, but must also pay Heard $2m after she won on one count of her counter-suit against the Pirates of the Caribbean actor.