"Our relationship was intensely passionate and at times volatile, but always bound by love," the pair said in a joint statement at the time. ", JOHNNY DEPP V. AMBER HEARD: THE SHOCKING TRIAL'S WILDEST MOMENTS. "One of them that's really simple, and that we cannot overlook is, in a defamation case, Johnny Depp gets to go first. Again, what may be true or not is impossible for bystanders to guess. Depp is known as a prolific imbiber of drugs and alcohol and has testified about how his frequent inebriation enraged his wife. LIMBONG: Now, I should add that Heard did countersue, and then the jury also awarded her $2 million. John C. Depp v. Amber Laura Heard (Depp v Heard) is an ongoing defamation trial in Fairfax County, Virginia that began on April 11, 2022. In fact, forensic and clinical psychologist Dr. Shannon Curry testified Tuesday on behalf of Depp's legal team that Heard has BPD and histrionic personality disorder (HPD). Its also about what message is being sent by these vicious online attacks on Amber Heard. Theres no way for an outsider to easily judge the dueling claims in the court battle between Johnny Depp and Amber Heard. Mr. Depp has accused his ex-wife of revenge defecation in their marital bed, and of throwing a vodka bottle at him, which severed the tip of his finger. Countless videos skewer Heard on TikTok; the NSync member Lance Bass joined in the trend of mockingly re-enacting her testimony. What does she wear? You know, she's parodying what Johnny is wearing. Every facial expression she made was mocked and demeaned. And heres our email: letters@nytimes.com. I know it lasted a long time. One month after tying the knot, according to Depps lawsuit against Heard, she threw a vodka bottle at him in Australia. Heard published an op-ed in The Washington Post, and in it, she wrote that she had become a, quote, "public figure representing domestic abuse," end quote. Johnny Depp and ex-wife Amber Heard are continuing to face off in a highly publicized libel trial. This article was published more than 6 months ago. Amber Heard attends trial at the Fairfax County Circuit Courthouse in Fairfax, Virginia, on April 19, 2022. Some. The video ends when he sees that she is recording him and furiously grabs the phone. (He claimed on the stand that the text messages were intended to be humorous.). I do not believe that he was abusive with Amber," Constantine told Fox News Digital. It was so important for Depp to clear his name on the domestic violence accusations that he was willing to air his other dirty laundry in the process including his battle with alcohol and drugs. It may not make much difference, though. Now that the 58-year-old Pirates of the Caribbean star has told his side publicly, legal and PR professionals told The Post a jury ruling in his favor doesnt matter as much. Butin the court of public opinion, Depp was announced the winner from day one thanks to internet trolls. Heard won $2 million in compensatory damages. His fans are basically doing a smear campaign around Amber Heard without him even having to do anything. "Given the timeline of the events leading to Heard's statements, including inconsistencies in the couple's joint statement just one year before her statements in the Washington Post op-ed, it doesn't surprise me that there is more sympathy for Depp than Heard in this case," Lau said. appreciated. Her ex-husband, Johnny Depp, is suing her for $50 million. Legal Statement. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. He said he was looking for his drugs, his cocaine, his coke. Ever, ever, ever. Get the best of Fox News' entertainment coverage, right in your inbox. twitter. It's more prevalent than you might think. Visit our website terms of use and permissions pages at www.npr.org for further information. Toplines: Results among U.S. adult citizens for every question. There is enough evidence to support Johnny Depp 's $50 million claim of defamation. He says he didnt come close to hitting her, nor have I ever struck any woman in my life. He further accuses her of having thrown a vodka bottle his way that smashed and severed a finger. MARTINEZ: That was NPR's Andrew Limbong. Heards lawyers had tried to block the cameras in the courtroom, but were unsuccessful. In 1994, he trashed a $1,200-a-night Manhattan hotel room he shared with then-girlfriend Kate Moss and paid nearly $10,000 for the damage. But he's denying that Amber Heard's story of it is trustworthy, and instead saying that she drove him to violence." But theyve hit a snag, Op-Ed: I pushed my kids to succeed academically to escape racism. Fifty-eight-year-old Johnny Depp brought the defamation action against 35-year-old Amber Heard (to whom he was married between 2015 and 2017) following an article in the Washington Post in which . Depp is suing Heard, his ex-wife, for $50 million over a 2018 op-ed she wrote for The Washington Post in which she described herself as a "public figure representing domestic abuse." Though . Meanwhile, every platform appears to be full of adoring pro-Depp memes. A makeup brand even took part in the anti-Heard melee, posting a TikTok video meant to contradict her lawyers description of how she covered up bruises. Amber Heard testifies that Johnny Depp hit her on May 4, 2022. This story has been shared 156,414 times. Its like vitriol, the California lawyer added. The current chapter of their domestic warfare is taking place in a Fairfax County, Va., courtroom, where Depps defamation lawsuit against his ex-wife Heard is unfolding before a jury of seven. Whether or not he wins I dont think it matters to him or even to the court of public opinion, Lizardo said. On Weekend Edition Sunday, sociologist Nicole Bedera, who specializes in sexual violence, spoke to NPR about the trial and its implications for discussions about intimate partner violence and why social media seems to have far more sympathy for the former Pirates of the Caribbean star than for his ex-wife. There are ambiguities in the sordid conflict between the divorced actors Johnny Depp and Amber Heard, but some things are clear. A jury in Fairfax, Va., on Wednesday ruled in Johnny Depp's favor, and he will be awarded more than $10 million in his defamation case against his ex-wife Amber Heard. "One question I have right now, in our sort of post-#MeToo moment," Bedera commented, "we're trying to decide what the consequences should be for intimate partner violence. Closing arguments in the case are expected to begin this Friday. Heard wrote that Depps alleged use of drugs and alcohol periodically led to violence, after which he would sober up and apologize. But he did occasionally smirk in response to her testimony or lean over to his lawyer, Ben Chew, to whisper in his ear. Thats what a six-week trial, televised every day, thats what they were counting on would happen, Ahouraian said. Heard has also denied allegations of abuse, and her legal team. In a highly-publicized court case, his ex-wife Amber Heard appeared as a witness on . The seven-member jury - made up of five men and two women - is simultaneously deciding on Johnny Depp's defamation suit and Amber Heard's countersuit. Actor Johnny Depp waves to the gallery as he leaves for a break Monday during his defamation trial in Fairfax, Va. against his ex-wife, Amber Heard. Amber Heards lawyer grills Johnny Depp during cross-examination with a slew of embarrassing messages that might undermine parts of Depps testimony. Perhaps its predictable that after all hes been though, Depp still cant seem to fathom his own part in the mess. At the time, he blamed the destruction on an armadillo hiding in the closet. In court on Monday, Depp's medical team testified about the night his finger tip was severed, with the actor saying that Heard threw a glass vodka bottle at him, leading to it getting cut off. Depp and Heard were married between 2015 and 2017. hide caption. You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! Why is there such a disparity? There are ambiguities in the sordid conflict between the divorced actors Johnny Depp and Amber Heard, but some things are clear. Tables: Results for every question, broken down by attributes such as race, age, gender, and political party For this list, we'll be looking at what doctors, attorneys, and other professionals have. Myths and stereotypes about domestic abuse also influence the public's reactions. Women dont have to be believed. And she could also go on talk shows to discuss her experience after going through two trials. ", Then in 2018, Heard published an op-ed in The Washington Post titled: "I spoke up against sexual violenceand faced our culture's wrath. Depp is suing Heard for $50 million over a 2018 op-ed she wrote for The Washington Post in which she described herself as a "public figure representing domestic abuse." Though Depp was not. Dont these institutions have an obligation to first determine the truth behind the charges and if they find reason for concern, how serious the misdeed? "He ripped my dress," she recalled, fighting back tears. Sign up today. She has indeed faced the cultures wrath. Related:How Amber Heard Really Felt About The Public Hate During The Johnny Depp Trial Depp lost his libel battle against the Sun in London's high court in November 2020, after the judge found the majority of alleged assaults made by Depp against Heard were "proved to the civil . Depp won$10 million in compensatory damages and, $5 million in punitive damages. Now the question is, these fans who are rallying behind him, do they have more sway than a potential financier or investor who is still putting the risk up? Ahouraian said. Opinion: Jurors in Johnny Depp and Amber Heard case face choice over which actor to believe. However, Heard has claimed that his finger was cut when he smashed a phone against a wall repeatedly. However, there was a subsequent outpouring of support from Twitter users who pointed out systemic disbelief of women who come forward with stories of abuse. We know that domestic violence is a hidden epidemic, and is vastly underreported. She would rather be in a fight than have him leave.". The only thing that one could do, really, was try to stay out of the line of fire., The couples therapist, Laurel Anderson, testified in a videotaped deposition that Heards father beat her as a child and that it was a point of pride to her if she felt disrespected to initiate a fight. Also, said Anderson, she felt she had to hit him back if he hit her and so she always did., The therapist described the couples dynamic as mutual abuse.. The authoritative record of NPRs programming is the audio record. How humiliating to have your therapist testify to the world what awful spouses you were. "A woman never wears black in the courtroom. This is also not unusual. She will hit the wall hard!! Actor Johnny Depp sued his ex-wife actress Amber Heard for libel in Fairfax County Circuit Court after she wrote an op-ed piece in The Washington Post in 2018 referring to herself as a. Photos introduced as evidence depict a gruesome injury. Here are 10 you cant miss, Editorial: Ousting L.A. Countys chief probation officer isnt enough. The lawsuit opposing him and Heard in Fairfax, Virginia, which has unfolded over the course of the past . And while Depp may come out a little tarnished and is not a family man anymore after the trial, Engelmayer says Depp has shown how vast his base of supporters and fans is, which could appeal to studios considering hiring him for new projects. I didnt know what to do," she recalled. I daresay this marriage was doomed from the start and not just because of the couples 22-year age difference. Because he already obtained the favor of the court of public opinion once he told his story.. If Heard wanted out of such a marriage, she certainly had good reason. Johnny Depp looks on in the courtroom at the Fairfax County Circuit Court in Fairfax, Virginia, on May 3, 2022. View more opinion articles on CNN. More Americans Believe Johnny Depp Tuesday, April 26, 2022 Although most Americans aren't paying much attention to the defamation trial between actor Johnny Depp and his ex-wife Amber. Have a look at social. But even if you believe that Heard acted inexcusably, the idea that she was the primary aggressor against a larger man with far more resources who was recorded cursing at her for daring to speak in an authoritative way defies logic. After a man burst in with a gun, a San Francisco synagogue confronts hate, 19 cafes that make L.A. a world-class coffee destination, The chance of a lifetime: Five friends ski the tallest mountain in Los Angeles, Shocking, impossible gas bills push restaurants to the brink of closures, Im visiting all 600 L.A. spots on the National Register. Already, the singer Marilyn Manson has filed a defamation suit against his ex-fiance Evan Rachel Wood, one of several women who have accused him of sexual violence. For too many social media users, Depp fandom and a bizarrely inflated sense of purpose and self-righteousness around this trial have become pretexts for a familiar hobby: harassing women online. It was about, like, six weeks. And a lot of people made up their minds after week one of the case or day three of the case. There are no heroes in Johnny Depps defamation trial against his ex-wife, Amber Heard. It wants a hero and a villain, and it wants to drive that villain into the ground. When you look at this parroting of how they're dressed alike, this definitely is a power-play between the two of them. Depp claims that Heard falsely and maliciously accused him of domestic abuse, damaging his career and. Heard says Depp physically, emotionally and sexually. Some information may no longer be current. . But this, I suppose, is the result of the misguided righteousness that has blinded Depp and Heard to their own faults. Johnny Depp has lost his court case against a British tabloid that labelled the actor a "wife beater." The judge said he believed the claims were "substantially true." According to a Statistics. And so his side of the story has been told in full. Ironically or perhaps predictably the protestations of Depps total innocence have turned into online mobs swarming anyone who disagrees and believes that Heard is the victim. The lesson seems to be that who is believed in a situation in which there are mutual accusations of domestic violence will depend on popularity and that men will be given the benefit of the doubt, while women will be ridiculed for their tears. Johnny Depp looks on as he testifies during his defamation trial in the Fairfax County Circuit Courthouse in Fairfax, Virginia, on April 19, 2022. https://www.nytimes.com/2022/05/18/opinion/amber-heard-metoo.html. Both Depp and Heard seem to have a loose relationship with the truth. How much more himpathy is afforded Mr. Depp because hes the Captain Jack Sparrow and Edward Scissorhands of childhood dreams? Neither of them seem like particularly pleasant people. On the other hand, Because [Depp is] a natural star who is always entertaining, hes in front of the TV camera and hes entertaining once again, Engelmayer said of the televised trial. But Depp neednt succeed in court to achieve his ends. Depp's reputation in Hollywood has already taken a hit. Johnny Depp alleges Amber Heard hit him repeatedly, details finger-disfiguring fight April 20, 2022 Rhetorical contortions aside, it seems that both Depp and Heard have anger issues. The trial between Johnny Depp and Amber Heard shows how bias impacts moral judgement. A small number of accounts can drive conversations on Twitter, he said. Johnny Depp won his defamation trial, and Amber Heard has partially won her countersuit against Depp. Depp testified at length about the childhood abuse he suffered at the hands of his mother, Betty Sue, even flinching on the stand as he described how hed protect himself when she walked past him at home. One almost suspects that, for some of the most vociferous defenders of Depp online, the misogyny is the point. Amber Heard on April 13 and Johnny Depp on April 11. And this is really common in cases like this, where perpetrators will claim that they are the true victims. Still one can find fault with the tactics applied by one of the combatants. He also claimed on the stand that it was Heard who turned their fights physical.). Proving libel is much easier in Britain than in the United States, because there the burden of proof rests with the defendant. Market data provided by Factset. Its more important than the actual lawsuit, Ahouraian said. A cellphone video she entered into the record depicts an apparently drunken Depp storming into their kitchen, grabbing a bottle of red wine, and slamming and breaking glass cabinet fronts. So this was back in 2018. The volatile actress who at times was violent toward Depp, and who never made good on a promise to donate her entire divorce settlement to charity is very far from a perfect victim. The actor has accused Heard of throwing a bottle of vodka at him, smashing his hand and slicing his finger; throwing a bottle of mineral spirits at his face; and being emotionally abusive. She also said that Heard often exhibited "manic episodes similar to if someone was on some kind of amphetamine drug. Actor Johnny Depp testifies as an article seen on a screen is entered into evidence, during the trial at Fairfax County Circuit Court in Fairfax, Va., Wednesday, April 20, 2022. During the trial, Depp has also accused Heard of assaulting him, and claimed that he is a victim of domestic violence as well. And if Depp joked about killing her Lets burn Amber!! (In a series of 2016 texts, Depp and fellow actor Paul Bettany discussed the idea of killing Heard, which he said on the stand was "abstract humor." Depp, also an actor, does not face the same volume of accusations of artificiality. Millions more will see the short, fan-made clips . The actors completed their whirlwind divorce years ago but. And the reality is that Johnny Depp is facing a lot of consequences for committing acts of violence, not just to Amber Heard but also for volatile behavior on set. So far, so common: Research shows that women going through the criminal justice system after surviving abuse often find themselves revictimized by a process that is hostile to their interests. BENJAMIN CHEW: We are also most pleased that the trial has resonated for so many people in the public who value truth and justice. Heard has been sued by her ex-husband, Johnny Depp, over a 2018 op-ed she wrote in which she stated that she had been the victim of domestic abuse. It isnt going to go flawlessly and she is going to make mistakes, Engelmayer said. Inside Johnny Depp and Amber Heard's legal battle At issue in the trial is Ms Heard's 2018 opinion piece in the Washington Post, describing herself as a "public figure representing. If Depp somehow prevails, one can expect similar lawsuits against other women who say theyve survived abuse. A color of control, power and dominance. LIMBONG: Yeah. FAIRFAX, Va. ( NewsNation) Actor Johnny Depp told jurors Tuesday that he felt compelled to sue his ex-wife Amber Heard for libel out of an obsession for the truth after she accused him of domestic violence. Heard, 36, countersued for $100. The publication had described him as a "wife-beater.". From the beginning of his testimony, Depp emphasized that he brought the lawsuit to clear my name, for his sake and that of his children, Lily-Rose, 22, and Jack, 20, as well as for those in the movie industry who trusted him. Depp didn't appear to look at Heard a single time during her afternoon on the witness stand. On sites like Twitter and TikTok, the actress was branded a psycho, a witch, a liar and much worse. 141. This doesnt mean that the case is entirely straightforward. So what's this all about? Heard said she confided in her therapist and her mother, who has since passed away. All rights reserved. Mr. Depp testified that he, not Ms. Heard, was the victim of domestic abuse. Last Thursday, Depp's former agent testified that studios were less willing to work with him because of his "unprofessional behavior" and rumored substance abuse. Not literally, of course: I could look away if I chose. He has denied it and no charges were filed, but she was granted a temporary restraining order after swearing to the court that she feared for her life. We can choose to look at conflicting accounts and evidence and conclude that we just dont know what exactly happened. So far were experiencing a textbook case of what philosopher Kate Manne has labelled himpathy the tendency to extend undue empathy to men, and make excuses for certain behaviours. 20. So, really, a bad move on Amber Heard's legal team," Constantine said, adding that Heard's pantsuit mimics her ex-husband. Amber Heard enters the courtroom at the Fairfax County Circuit Court in Fairfax, Virginia, on May 3, 2022. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. There are so many other newsworthy stories on this issue: the number of Republican candidates seeking office in the United States who are accused of domestic violence, for instance. Johnny Depp and Amber Heard attend the UK Premiere of "Mortdecai" at Empire Leicester Square on January 19, 2015 in London, England. Depp texted a friend that he wanted to kill Heard and. But it doesnt work that way, Amber Heards defense team raises lurid details of Johnny Depps alleged drug use, Johnny Depp alleges Amber Heard hit him repeatedly, details finger-disfiguring fight, Letters to the Editor: Yes, L.A. drivers are getting worse. Heard supporters are routinely attacked and abused online; their accounts are mass reported and sometimes suspended, and they are subject to streams of misogynist vitriol, all, apparently, to make the case that Depp isnt an abuser. Were supposed to believe that the trial is a grotesque celebrity sideshow, a media circus, a distraction from the ongoing crises of war and climate change. But its not just the internet. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. Right now I think its undisputed that the court of public opinion favors him and heard him and are now supporting him. The problem of choosing facts to believe is not confined to celebrities. Johnny Depp is suing Amber Heard, 36, for $50 million in a defamation lawsuit over her 2018 Washington Post op-ed in which she referred to herself as "a public figure representing domestic abuse.". Heard was granted a restraining order against Depp in 2016 after claiming he had struck her face with a phone and she was then subjected to an online backlash from fans of the star. The couples marital counselor testified that they engaged in mutual abuse, saying of Heard, It was a point of pride to her, if she felt disrespected, to initiate a fight.. You could ask his fans, who are in the courtroom and nearly got kicked out by the judge when they laughed at one of the actors drolleries. Meanwhile, Heards testimony is mocked and ridiculed. Depp denies all claims of abuse and is suing Heard for $50 million, seeking to prove she damaged his career with the Post piece. But its also something much more valuable: an insight into the way we think about and, much more often, ignore intimate partner violence. MARTINEZ: Now, what was the trial like? Ahouraian says if the jury finds that Heard defamed Depp, her career would be done., Similarly, Lizardo said Heards reputation has been severely damaged and Depps planned rebuttal witnesses might just demolish her credibility altogether.. A jury in Fairfax, Va., on Wednesday ruled in Johnny Depp's favor, and he will be awarded more than $10 million in his defamation case against his ex-wife Amber Heard. The trial has drawn endless commentary on social media that is largely heavily critical of Heard. Primary Menu Sections Skip to search results Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Amber Heard testifies that Johnny Depp hit her on May 4, 2022. CNN Sans & 2016 Cable News Network. And that's the fight we're having in public right now.". Her profession is used against her, as Depp fans claim that shes acting her way through her testimony and is clearly insincere. Hes trying to be witty, hes trying to be funny., Thats his way of winning over audiences whether hes on stage or in front of a camera or in front of a jury.. I need him on his best behavior and he gets one shot.. Could it be possible also that the public might be more sympathetic toward Depp because he is such a big movie star, and so well-liked on screen for decades? We know that men's rights activist forums, for example, have been following the Heard case pretty carefully.". Or, in Canada, the pressing issue of training judges to recognize intimate partner violence, which is the subject of a current private members bill in the House of Commons. In May 2016, just after she filed for divorce, Heard accused Depp of throwing a cellphone at her face during a fight. A Canadian couple with an uncanny resemblance to Amber Heard and Johnny Depp has gone viral on TikTok after imitating the actors amid their blockbuster defamation trial. On June 1, Johnny Depp was awarded $15 million in damages following a highly publicized defamation trial with his ex-wife Amber Heard over a 2018 Washington Post op-ed in which she claimed to be a "public figure representing domestic abuse." Depp, 58, has sued Heard, 35, for $50 million, saying she defamed him when she penned. "This is my biggest concern about this case, and I think it's something that's really gotten lost in the sensationalism around the trial," she added. On TikTok, as of Monday morning, #IStandWithAmberHeard has garnered about 8.2 million views, while #JusticeForJohnnyDepp has earned about 15 billion views. A judge, evaluating 14 incidents of Depps alleged abuse of Heard, found that 12 of them had occurred and concluded that The Suns words were substantially true., Now Depp is suing Heard in Virginia for $50 million, saying that she defamed him when she described herself, in a Washington Post opinion essay that didnt mention Depp, as a public figure representing domestic abuse. His case seems absurd, since even if he were entirely innocent, the British verdict was well known, and Heard was referring to what she symbolized, not what she allegedly endured. Results, interactive data, and methodology on Americans' attitudes on the defamation trial with Amber Heard and Johnny Depp, from a May 20 - 22, 2022 YouGov survey. I often write about intimate partner violence (most recently in an ongoing series with my colleagues Tavia Grant and Molly Hayes), and whats frustrating is how much attention this trial is sucking up.