The entertainment world might seem quite glamorous and spectacular from the outside; however, often, we come across many such issues that show us the controversies between actors and actresses. It is either in their real or reel lives. One of the recent high-profile cases that the entire world had eyes on was the Johnny Depp and Amber Heard defamation trial. So finally, after six weeks of highly publicized testimony, the jury has reached a verdict.
Many of you might have been eager to hear that, right? Well, the news is finally here. As per the sources, following the jury deliberation that began on Friday, May 27, have awarded Depp $15 million as damages. That’s quite a win, right? Johnny Depp has got the justice he deserved. He had also penned down a heart-touching letter expressing his relief after this verdict. So would you like to know more details about this high-profile case? Let us share with you some of the relevant info!
Have A Look At Some of The Significant Aspects of The Defamation Case Between Depp & Heard
Many of you already know what is going on between the two legendary actors, Johnny Depp and Amber Heard, right. The mud-slinging between them had reached such an extent that it became quite frivolous to the public. However, let us discuss some of the significant aspects of the trial so that you have a clear idea about the case.
As you know, Amber Heard alleged that her ex-husband Johnny Depp subjected her to years of abuse. Moreover, she also testified in graphic terms about the tumult of their marriage and the toll of his “pattern” of violence. On the other hand, Depp says, “Heard was the aggressor.” So over the last six weeks, several memes, mockery, and misinformation on social media distorted the reality of those allegations. You can say the situation was no less than a media circus.
Furthermore, a law professor at a prestigious university also commented that the way they framed the trial was deeply problematic. Moreover, it reveals a lot about our society’s relationship between violence and gendered violence. However, since the trial is now a civil matter, it primarily revolves around both the celebrities. In fact, Depp was demanding $50 million from Heard. He alleged that she defamed him when she wrote on the social media platform that she was a “public figure representing domestic abuse.”
Meanwhile, Heard also countersued Depp for $100 million. She alleged that Depp defamed her when one of his lawyers called her abuse allegations a “hoax.” She also testified about several incidents of physical violence and provided evidence. However, Depp’s lawyers objected to it on the grounds of fabrication. So finally, when the verdict is out naturally, everyone is looking forward to it.
Did You Know The Jury Awarded Johnny Depp $15 Million in Damages?
Yes, the verdict of the high-profile case is finally out. Johnny Depp won the case in the end due to the sudden turn of events. So after deliberation began on May 27 and had a pause during the Memorial Day weekend, the jury finally reconvened on Tuesday. Furthermore, it was the very next day that they sided with Depp.
The jury awarded Depp $15 million in damages as per the sources. He has already received $10 million in compensatory damages and the rest of the $5 million in punitive damages in his defamation suit. At the same time, they also awarded Heard $2 million in compensatory damages; however, nothing as punitive damages.
Many of you might be thinking, what has Heard got to say in all of it. Well, here is what we could gather. She is clearly disappointed, as we had expected from the trial’s verdict. She is completely heartbroken right now. This is because even after providing a mountain of evidence, she could not win the trial against her ex-husband. She feels that Johnny’s influence, and power, have turned the case in his favor.
Moreover, she feels even more disappointed about what this verdict means for other women. According to her, she was fighting as the representative of other domestic abuse victims who were women. So with her loss, they have also lost the ray of hope. It is a setback for all of them. In fact, “it sets back the clock to a time when a woman who spoke up and spoke out could be publicly shamed and humiliated. It sets back the idea that violence against women is to be taken seriously.”
When Did The Celebrities’ Lawyers Present Their Closing Arguments?
As per the sources, on May 27, Depp and Heard’s lawyers presented their closing arguments on the case. In fact, Depp’s lawyer Camille Vasquez pointed out a lack of specific evidence and witnesses to all of Heard’s allegations against Depp. Let us find out more about it!
According to Depp’s lawyer Vasquez, Heard did not want a divorce; instead, she wanted to entirely ruin his career and life. At the same time, Benjamin Chew representing Depp spoke about Depp’s childhood in an abusive household. He also noted that no other women who were previously close to Depp have ever had such allegations against the actor.
What Was The Closing Comments of Heard’s Lawyers?
Many of you might wonder what it was like for Heard to lose the trial. Just as Depp’s lawyers dominated the trial, Heard’s attorney Ben Rottenborn was also not silent. He urged the jury to think about the message that Mr. Depp and his attorneys are sending to Amber and other victims of domestic abuse elsewhere.
At the same time, to support his claims, he said that if the victim does not have pictures of the abuser abusing her, the court will overrule it as fake. Also, not mentioning the incident to your friends implies that you are lying. If by chance, you involve your friends, they are also part of the hoax. So it becomes a mammoth task indeed for a victim to prove that they have been abused, which happened with the actor as per Heard’s team.
In fact, Heard’s lawyer also pointed to how this case will set a negative example for other survivors of domestic abuse. Some also feared that the case could provide alleged perpetrators of abuse with more avenues to silence survivors. Many might also worry that the extensive media coverage and social media campaigns against Heard could make survivors hesitant to speak up. So in a way, the verdict was not up to the expectations of Heard’s team.
Ending Note
So as we conclude, we can say that the high-profile case between the two legendary actors involved too much abuse and mud-slinging from both sides. We had never expected to see our favorite stars in such a state. However, finally, the verdict is out. As per all our expectations, Johnny Depp has won the defamation trial. It is finally time for him to clear his reputation and get back to work. So if you want to know the details of the trial and the verdict, you can check it out here.
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